If you don’t know what half-timbered architecture is, then you should remember the characteristic german houses, which appeared in the Middle Ages, but are still popular today. This style is characterized by facades with characteristic dark timber paneling and light wall fillings. Because of the beauty and organic nature of this style, half-timbered construction technology still remains popular in Germany and the countries of Northern Europe.
Properties of modern half-timbering
Construction of houses using half-timbered technology can be confidently attributed to frame housing construction. In fact, this is one of its varieties. In this case, the functions of load-bearing structures are performed by a frame made of wooden beams. Glued laminated timber is ideal for the frame, as it can easily withstand various deformations. To connect frame elements in the corners and among themselves, special methods are used that give additional rigidity to the entire structure.
Important: the main feature of this style is that metal fasteners are not used to connect the frame elements. Beams and beams are connected using dowels, wooden dowels and other wood products.
A half-timbered frame house can be built from different wall materials. In the Middle Ages, adobe was used to make walls. Today, brick, OSB, and sometimes glass are used to fill the wall structure between the beams. In principle, any material can be used, since the wall itself does not serve as a load-bearing structure. The entire load falls on the frame. Characteristic style - the frame is not hidden in the wall structure, but rather is put on display, being an architectural element. Most often, frame beams are made in contrasting dark color against the backdrop of light, sometimes white walls.
The half-timbered house is very warm. This is achieved through the use thermal insulation materials in wall construction. An additional advantage of such buildings is their virtually unlimited planning possibilities. Since the wall does not serve as a load-bearing structure, partitions and partitions can be easily removed, moved, changing the layout.
Half-timbered construction technology frame house quite complicated due to the peculiarities of the frame installation. However, if you have certain skills in working with wood, you can easily build such houses yourself. In addition, spatial thinking and knowledge of spatial geometry will not be superfluous.
Advice: it is better to build half-timbered houses from a ready-made house kit. If you want to get a high-quality, strong and durable structure, then it is better to entrust the work of assembling the house to professionals.
Advantages and disadvantages
A frame house in the half-timbered style has the following advantages:
- The main advantage of such buildings is their aesthetic appeal and unlike other frame buildings. Such houses should be chosen by those who want their home to stand out from the general development with its originality and unusual beauty.
- To build any frame house, including a half-timbered one, powerful foundation structures are not needed. A shallow strip foundation or another structure (column or pile-screw) will be sufficient, depending on the geological features of the area.
- Since laminated veneer lumber or other wood material that has undergone chamber drying is usually used to install the frame, the structure practically does not shrink. For this reason, the installation of windows and doors, as well as finishing the house, can be done immediately after the construction of the frame. Thanks to this, moving into the house will happen much faster than in other wooden buildings.
- Despite the fact that frame structures are exposed, engineering communications, on the contrary, can very easily be hidden inside the wall or floor structure.
Half-timbered houses have some disadvantages, which are also worth mentioning:
- Open wooden structures the frame must be processed periodically protective compounds so that their load-bearing capacity does not decrease. So, you will need fire retardants to protect against burning, antiseptic compounds will help protect the wood from rot and damage by insects, and you will also need solutions to protect from moisture.
- When building such a house in a harsh climate, it is necessary to thoroughly insulate the walls. As a result, the thickness of the wall structure increases, which entails the need to use more massive beams for the frame.
- Ordinary frame houses will cost less than buildings built using half-timbered technology.
Installation technology
When installing the frame, a special technology for connecting wooden elements is used, which only professionals can design correctly. Thus, the following types of connections are used:
- mann;
- polumann;
- corner mann;
- wilderman;
- "St. Andrew's cross" and others.
Foundation and frame
Pouring the foundation on the site is carried out independently. In parallel with it, a frame can be manufactured at the factory. It will be much faster if these two operations are performed simultaneously.
After pouring the base and delivering lumber for the frame to the construction site, work is carried out in the following order:
- Horizontal waterproofing is required on the foundation.
- After this, the top trim is made. To do this, a support beam is installed. It must be firmly attached to the base. Anchor bolts are used for fixation.
- Logs are attached to the strapping beam. Rolling boards are laid on the cranial bars fixed to the joists. At this stage it is worth insulating the floor. To do this, waterproofing is laid on the floor structure, and thermal insulation material is placed on top of it in the gaps between the joists.
- The floor is covered with a layer of vapor barrier on top, and a rough covering is laid.
Next, the vertical beams are installed. For joining inclined, vertical, horizontal and spacer beams, a tenon connection option called “warm” is used. For rigid fixation are used wooden dowels. The most common options for warm connections:
- dovetail;
- secret thorn.
Further installation of structures is carried out in accordance with the project, observing the sequence of stages. Simultaneously with the construction of the supporting frame, partitions are made, which are also mounted using frame-frame technology.
Fillers for walls
After the process of constructing the frame is completed, you can begin to fill the gaps between the frame elements of the walls. It’s easier to say that the sieve of the walls is being filled.
Stone, brick, cellular concrete elements (aerated concrete, foam blocks, etc.) can be used as fillers. IN modern houses in most cases, wood sheets and slab materials, namely OSB, moisture-resistant plywood, cement-bonded particle boards, lining, gypsum fiber sheets, etc. When choosing a material for walls, it is worth considering that the products must meet the following requirements:
- high moisture resistance;
- excellent strength;
- low specific gravity;
- environmental cleanliness;
- low thermal conductivity.
Important: if you use heavy materials (stone, brick) as wall filler, then this should be taken into account at the design stage, because under such a house you need to lay powerful buried foundations. Foundation calculations must be made taking into account the material of the walls.
When filling the frame, it is worth remembering that from the outside of the walls the frame beams should be visible, that is, the filling material should not completely cover the entire outer surface walls Can be used on the inside of the house different variants, here everything depends on the style of the interior.
If you want to build an extraordinary house, then you can use double-glazed windows as wall filler. As a result, you will get maximum natural lighting in the rooms and a panoramic view of the landscape around the house. However, the abundance of glazing does not help retain heat in the house. Even if you put energy-saving double-glazed windows, in areas with harsh winters it won't help keep you warm.
As finishing walls you can use any materials:
- facing tiles imitating brickwork;
- plaster with decorative compounds;
- clapboard covering.
Roof of a half-timbered house
Most often, in a half-timbered house, the usual gable roof. It harmonizes perfectly with the overall architectural style of the house. A characteristic feature of such buildings is the absence attic floor and attic. In addition, half-timbered houses are characterized by wide roof overhangs. They protect the walls of the house well from precipitation, and the rooms from the abundance of sunlight in summer.
In the role roofing may act:
- euroslate;
- soft roll roofing;
- metal tiles;
- corrugated sheeting
Important: due to significant specific gravity It is not recommended to use natural tiles as roofing.
Home interior
Many people who have never been inside a half-timbered house believe that the inside looks the same as the outside. Sometimes the interior of a house is actually decorated in the same style as the exterior. In this case, white tones predominate in the decoration of the room; the style is characterized by a lot of free space and some asceticism.
But besides this, you can use other styles in decorating the premises of such a house. For example, the high-tech style with its abundance of metallic shine and minimalism is ideal for a half-timbered house. Any metal parts, especially forged items, look quite organic in the interior.
Advice: it is worth considering that beams in the interior can be used not only as decorative element, but also as a basis for hanging shelves, hanging cabinets, installing lighting and other interesting solutions.
Half-timbering is a technology for building houses in which the capital load of the building is carried by vertical supports - racks made of timber in the walls of the building. Unlike traditional frame walls, the space between the supports is occupied by dense, heavy material - brick, wood, concrete, adobe, clay. At the same time, the load-bearing racks made of timber are not masked in the wall, but remain visible, creating characteristic appearance buildings, a special “European” flavor.
Half-timbered buildings have proven their durability. The first peak of their popularity occurred in the Middle Ages. Built several centuries ago, these buildings still perform their functions. Today technology is experiencing its peak in fashion for the second time. Wide design possibilities and reliability of houses make them popular among customers frame construction.
History of origin
The history of half-timbered buildings began in the 11th century. Half-timbered timber became widespread in the 14th and 15th centuries in the northern coastal regions, where timber was available and shipbuilding was developed. The ability to carpenter and build ships allowed craftsmen to easily build strong wooden frames for future buildings.
German style.
In the 15th century, half-timbered buildings spread throughout Europe - the northern countries, Holland, England, France, and Switzerland. The reasons for its popularization were the following factors:
- The buildings made it possible to save expensive wood and use it only for the construction of the frame, and not the entire wall mass.
- The level of carpentry skill has increased, which ensured the reliability of the frames and the strength of future walls.
The peak of popularity of the technology falls on the period from the 15th to the 18th century. Hundreds of thousands of buildings were built in Europe during this period. Half-timbered houses in Germany are called Fachwerk, which translated into Russian means “wall of cells” (Fach is a section, cell, panel, “Werk” is a structure).
Modern style. In England, buildings with a wooden frame were called "half-timber", and in France the technology was called "colombage". In one of the modern versions, half-timbering received another name - Post & Beam or post and beam technology. Its main feature is the use of hand-cut logs.
On a note
According to psychologists, the open demonstration of a load-bearing frame in the walls instills a sense of confidence in a person.
Half-timbered buildings with a frame visible from the outside have become a hallmark of northern Europe. Today the technology is experiencing a second wave of popularity. With some changes, it spreads beyond Western Europe, to Canada, America and Russia.
Half-timbering and frame technology
At its core, a half-timbered house is a frame structure with wooden frame from load-bearing posts and floor beams that support the main load of the walls and roof. Unlike traditional modern frame houses, the gaps between the beams are filled not with synthetic insulation, but wall material- brick, stone, concrete, clay, which can be found at the link. The filling material of the walls, “half-timbered” and “frame,” determines the differences in construction technology and in the characteristics of finished buildings.
| Comparison factors. | Half-timbered building | Frame. |
| Service life of the building. | Long service life - several hundred years. This is confirmed by hundreds of houses built in the 15th and 16th centuries in Europe. | - several decades. |
| Energy efficiency. | Average. | High. |
| Construction speed. | Average. | Minimum time - the building can be erected in a few months. |
| Lightness of walls and foundation costs. | The walls are heavy; a strong, deep foundation or columnar foundation is required. | The walls are light; you can get by with a small, shallow foundation. |
| Construction cost. | The price of a half-timbered house is minimal; the walls are based on the cheapest building material - clay. | Medium - requires purchase good insulation and high-quality wall cladding. |
| Environmental friendliness. | High - built from natural materials. | Low - built from artificial insulation. |
| Fire safety. | The walls are 80% fire-resistant and smoke-free. Only people can burn out wooden supports and roofing. | All materials are flammable and emit acrid, toxic smoke during combustion. |
| Difficulty in self-construction. | Half-timbered houses are simpler than frame technology, especially if you use ready-made half-timbered house kits. | More difficult to implement, but also available as a ready-made frame house kit. |
| Possibility of wall restoration. | Without removing the roof and disassembling the frame, the wall material can be replaced with another, new one. | |
| Interior design. | Any layout is possible because interior walls do not bear capital loads. You can arrange large spacious rooms. | |
A comparative description of half-timbered and frame buildings clearly shows the main differences between the two technologies. The technology of half-timbered houses is a structure made from natural materials, environmentally friendly and durable. Frame construction – new prefabricated building partly made of synthetic materials. Moreover, their construction is equally accessible. Erect half-timbered house it is possible with your own hands, as well as from a house kit.
Half-timbered building in the forest. In modern technologies, half-timbered houses are acquiring more and more features of traditional frame buildings. The supports are often masked with panels; for better energy efficiency, the walls themselves are sheathed with insulation or replaced with a layer of heat insulation. Which leads to a mixture of styles, the creation of a new construction option using the characteristics of a half-timbered house and a frame house at the same time. This is how it works.
Construction of half-timbered houses
The design features of half-timbered houses determine their differences from frame buildings. Here are the projects and prices for half-timbered houses, what elements and features are their characteristics:
- Each subsequent floor protrudes above the previous one. This is due to the need to protect wooden beams lower floors from getting wet. Floor projections are provided only on the front side. The side walls are blank and smooth. This is due to the history of construction. The density of buildings in the Middle Ages was so high that only the facades of buildings remained open. The ends were tightly adjacent to each other, without passages and the possibility of constructing protruding floors or hanging structures.
- Visible beams in the walls of the building.
- Inexpensive available wall filler - clay, lightweight concrete.
On a note
Today outdoor frame elements are often decorative. They are traditionally used in construction, but do not always carry a semantic load; more often they are a sign of style. Such a structure turns into a traditional frame building.
Sometimes style elements are used as external design for brick walls. Beams are attached on top of the brick, which imitate the frame of the building. At first glance, houses with such decor differ little from how half-timbered houses look in the photo. They have the same appearance, but a different construction technology.
Projects and prices
Projects of half-timbered houses are very diverse interior design. Since walls and partitions do not carry load-bearing loads, their location is subject to design requirements, and not technological necessity.
Building frame. Designing half-timbered houses often involves large spacious rooms and huge windows. Glazing often takes up most of the exterior walls. The use of laminated veneer lumber allows you to reduce the size of its cross-section without reducing strength. Thanks to the small massiveness of the load-bearing elements and the sufficient glazing area of the half-timbered houses, the walls became panoramic. Such buildings give rise to a unique decor in which the outdoor garden forms part of the interior design of the house.
The turnkey price of a half-timbered house does not exceed the cost of frame construction. Therefore, elite panoramic walls have become available to the majority. Thanks to the technology of half-timbered houses, exclusive buildings became the property of the middle class. A real design that transforms half-timbered houses, the video allows you to see all the intricacies of construction.
Technology of half-timbered houses
Today, the technology of constructing half-timbered houses is experiencing a second peak in popularity. Based on this technology, one-, two- and three-story houses are built. At the same time, the technology itself is used in a modified and improved form.
Instead of solid wooden logs, glued and profiled timber is used. They are additionally impregnated with antiseptics and fire retardants to prevent rotting and increase resistance to fire.
Panoramic glazing of the house. The gaps between the vertical supports are filled with insulation, and multi-chamber double-glazed windows are installed. Energy-efficient glazing of half-timbered houses, along with insulation, ensures their heat capacity and reduces energy costs during the heating season.
To ensure that the outside walls of the house are not completely transparent, surface coating of glass is used - lamination. From the inside and outside, such a house looks like a spacious, fairy-tale palace.
Step-by-step technology of half-timbered houses
- Foundation: USHP + its surface waterproofing.
- Frame:, vertical columns, top trim, rafters. A one-story half-timbered house - the rafters are placed on top of the frame of the first floor. In two- or three-story construction, the second floor frame is constructed, the supports are attached, and then the second upper frame, rafters. The roof overhang is designed to be quite large - up to 1.5 m. This protects the walls and wooden frame from getting wet.
- Roof: traditional choice for frame houses, light metal profiled sheets, flexible roofing.
- Filling cells: glass unit, brick, arbolite blocks(lightweight concrete with wood shavings, wood chips), foam concrete, clay concrete, multilayer cake with insulation and wall cladding.
Frame features
The frame of a modern half-timbered house is not only a load-bearing structure, but also a decorative element. It divides the wall into segments and gives appearance structure clarity and expressiveness.
Double decker frame house. The frame of a half-timbered house consists of vertical, horizontal, and inclined elements. Vertical supports support the main load-bearing loads. Horizontal - distribute the pressure of vertical load-bearing elements, making it uniform over the entire area of the walls of the house. Inclined - create additional strength, strengthen the structure, make it stable for lateral loads.
The frame elements are connected to each other using metal pins. One of the options for half-timbered construction uses studs along with the excavation of the timber at the joints - the so-called groove.
This system was called Herrenbald. It differs from the traditional frame in the absence of jibs. The stability of the frame is ensured by precise selection of wood at the joints, as a result of which adjacent elements fit tightly together and are additionally secured with through metal pins.
Construction with flat roof. The technology of half-timbered houses does not require time for shrinkage. However, we must make allowances for mentality. If the timber is solid and dry, shrinkage is not needed. It is also not needed for laminated timber. If the timber is solid and fresh, raw, it is necessary to firmly fasten the frame (with metal pins, nails, with grooves at the joints) and condition it for at least several months. Turnkey half-timbered houses can be completed when the walls of the frame have been insulated and finishing work remains.
The frame is laid on an insulated foundation. The ideal combination is an insulated Swedish plate or USHP, which simultaneously provides strength, rigidity and insulation of heat loss to the base of the house.
Interior of half-timbered houses
The construction of half-timbered houses ends with the creation of an interior design that can be anything. Traditional classics, medieval Provence or modern minimalism– any style will fit into a real European home.
Often modern trends are used - minimalism, hi-tech, brick style- unplastered walls. Natural wood has retained its popularity in Russia.
The space between beams and cross members, which are usually left visible from the outside, is filled various materials, these are frame houses, it doesn’t matter whether it’s board or board, they use it in half-timbering.
In ancient times in Germany, the Germans used clay mixed with. There is even a house dating back to the 13th century, which was built by a German builder in 1347.
During this time, the timber beams did not rot, and the wood became as strong as stone. This house will stand for many more centuries. Europeans have long realized the reliability of these houses, and gradually they are beginning to appear in Russia. And all this was done by hand, without the use of power tools.
It is amazing that a half-timbered house can stand for more than 500 years, this proves the reliability of this type of construction.
Today, technological solutions can be very diverse; in half-timbered construction, instead of walls, panoramic double-glazed windows, brick, wood, a natural stone and etc.
Features of German frame houses in Germany
A characteristic feature of a half-timbered house is the protrusion of each upper floor above the previous one. This historically established feature is not at all connected with the desire to increase the area of the upper floor. This was done in order to protect the facade of the house, which is also the supporting frame of the entire building, from precipitation and excess moisture. Thanks to such indentations, water flowing down the walls of the upper floors flows directly to the ground, and the facade of the lower floor remains dry.
Half-timbered houses
Despite the fact that the widespread use of half-timbered houses was associated to some extent with the desire to save wood, this technology has shown itself to be excellent and has whole line benefits.
This is a fairly inexpensive and environmentally friendly type of construction that you can afford to build with your own hands. Half-timbered houses are unusual and beautiful.
In modern construction, laminated veneer lumber is more often used. coniferous species, which provides buildings with strength and durability, but can also be used ordinary timber, the main thing is to choose dry timber of good quality.
Modern houses using half-timbered technology
Thanks to the use of modern materials, a modern house in the half-timbered style will not only be aesthetically attractive, but also warm and cozy.
When choosing a material to fill the space between the beams, you can show your imagination and use it, along with traditional building materials, glass, carved wood, clay mixtures, etc. Painting beams or fillers with modern paints and varnishes will be beneficial and protect against moisture.
Having all these advantages, half-timbered houses are still being built today; many are ready to build such structures with their own hands. In addition, being quite lightweight in nature, half-timbered houses do not require construction. Perfect for them, which will allow you to build such a house even on a slope and on the purchase of land.
Video about modern glass frame half-timbered houses
Half-timbered houses are a kind of symbol of the Middle Ages, which found their rebirth in the 20th century. Their architecture invariably amazes with the uniqueness of its image, efficiency and thoughtfulness of the design scheme. Feature facades - not hidden behind the cladding, but, on the contrary, a wooden frame exposed. Such ancient streets are very romantic, and modern buildings are a reflection of an elite lifestyle, the desire for freedom and originality.
The current trend in luxury housing today is a combination openwork wooden elements And large glass surfaces:
History of half-timbered construction
Thousands of years ago, ancient architects noticed that the most effective and economical use of wood is to use it not for the construction of solid walls, but for the construction spatial frame made of vertical, horizontal and inclined elements, which will serve as a support for the roof. This scheme has gained particular popularity in areas characterized by a shortage of wood. It was known in ancient times to the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese. In particular, a large part of the population of Pakistan and India currently lives in such houses.
Interesting! The oldest frame building made of wood, preserved to this day - this is a temple in Japan, built from cedar more than 1300 years ago.
Half-timbered buildings in European countries
The improvement of carpentry skills, the accumulation of construction experience, and the desire for cheap housing led in the 15th century to the emergence of half-timbered building construction technology in Germany. Such houses have become widespread throughout Europe, in particular in its northern regions, from Poland to Brittany. The name of the design scheme fully reflects its essence and comes from the German “Fach” (panel) and “Werk” (structure).
Medieval buildings on Römberg square in Frankfurt am Main, Germany:
In Europe in the Middle Ages, structures were made of solid wood, and the free space of the wall planes was filled with a mixture of clay with straw, branches and other debris. The combination of posts, beams and braces, left in their original form, and plastered surfaces gave the narrow facades a special uniqueness. Wealthy citizens could afford to use expensive wooden panels, decorated with carvings. At the moment, such houses are preserved, the age of which exceeds 500 years.
Since 1995, the historical part of the German city of Quedlinburg, where more than 1,300 objects of colorful architecture have been preserved, has been protected by UNESCO:
Interesting! A characteristic feature of old buildings is the overhang of the upper floors over the lower ones. This is due to the abundance of precipitation and strong winds in Germany, as well as the narrowness of the streets at the birth of half-timbered buildings. As a result, the upper floors protect the lower tiers from getting wet, thereby extending the life of the buildings.
Revival of the popularity of half-timbered wood
Traditional half-timbered structures made from modern materials look no less impressive than medieval ones.
The era of mass individual construction in the 1970s it gave a new birth to technology, but in a rethought, futuristic form, in which the famous German Bauhaus school played a significant role. At this time, architects began to use reinforced concrete and steel instead of wood. Large glass planes have gained popularity, replacing blank walls. The invention of laminated wood several decades later made it possible to realize in a new way old technology construction. This material is more durable and advanced compared to traditional timber. At the moment, such houses in their updated form are very prestigious and popular in Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and many other countries, with the USA and Canada being no exception.
Thanks to the development of technology and changing architectural tastes, the style has now acquired new variations:
- frame without diagonal elements;
- big panoramic windows , providing excellent lighting and having good thermal insulation qualities;
- imitation of half-timbering, performed using overhead wooden elements attached to pre-plastered walls - this option is purely decorative.
Advice! Cottage owners recommend installing panoramic glazing on facades facing the courtyard and garden, or in case of significant recessing of the building relative to the street - this way you will get a magnificent view outside the window, a feeling of unity with nature and good lighting. Otherwise, there may be some discomfort caused by the need to constantly keep the curtains down to protect yourself from prying eyes.
The Kager house has picture windows and offers beautiful views of the surrounding area.
Features of the design of the house
The main characteristic of a half-timbered structure is that the frame performs load-bearing functions, while the walls serve solely to enclose the premises. The use of frame-frame technology allows you to simultaneously save building materials and reduce the weight of the building, which makes it possible to build a lightweight structure, ensure the stability and rigidity of the structure, and minimize construction time.
Frame design
The load-bearing elements of the walls and roof are made of, mainly pine. Racks and horizontal purlins form the frame of the walls. Diagonal braces ensure frame rigidity and earthquake resistance of the structure. timber bottom trim is attached to the foundation, covered with a layer of waterproofing, using anchor bolts. The floor side is insulated with polystyrene foam.
Internal partitions have frame structure and are made from timber attached to load-bearing elements using frame dowels and filled with soundproofing material.
Installation of load-bearing parts is traditionally carried out using rather complex and precise connections - notches, dovetails, hidden tenons and the like. At the moment, it is allowed to use metal corners, plates, and staples in especially critical fastenings. It is advisable to arrange them in places out of sight.
Important! All wooden elements must be impregnated with special oils to increase strength and protect against rot and insects. Treatment with fire retardants significantly reduces the flammability of the material.
External cladding
Filling the frame cells is carried out after installing the window and door blocks. Almost any slab materials are used for this purpose:
- antiseptic pine wood;
- polymer panels are the most common and budget option;
- cement particle boards (CSB);
- lining;
- gypsum fiber boards (GVL);
- waterproof plywood.
A variety of finishing options allows you to create both strict and elegant facades, for which the blanks are pre-painted with moisture-resistant compounds or choose colored cladding. Then the material is attached to the frame of the structure with screws. The house is insulated using mineral wool made from basalt or quartz fiber.
Exterior finishing options:
A currently popular solution is stained glass glazing made from heat-saving low-emission double-glazed windows based on argon fillers. They reduce heat loss and, accordingly, heating costs. Most of the glazing is solid; packages with opening transoms are mounted in separate cells. Windows are inserted directly into the frame with a pre-selected quarter.
Interesting! Since ancient times, the facades of half-timbered houses were decorated with amulets:
- imitation of the letter “S” on the corners - lightning protection;
- rosettes symbolizing the sun attract abundance and prosperity;
- creepy masks on corners ward off evil spirits;
- a symbol resembling “F” protects against fire.
Facade decorated with rosettes
Engineering Communication
The wiring of electrical cables and water supply is carried out inside the floor pie. All communications are laid in corrugated hoses. Polyethylene pipelines are used for water supply. In houses, especially stained glass type, a practical solution is to install heated floors. Wiring to sockets, switches, and lighting fixtures is carried out inside the partitions. Often arranged a complex system forced ventilation.
Roof structure and covering
The roof of the house is traditionally rafter with two or four slopes, but modern ones are also found architectural solutions With flat roof. A characteristic feature is the absence of an attic and attic, the presence of wide overhangs that protect the walls from precipitation.
Metal tiles, ondulin, various types can be used as roof coverings. soft roof. The use of natural tiles or slate with significant weight is undesirable - they increase the load on the supporting structures. The concept of stained glass glazing can be continued on part of the roof. Modern technologies offer electrochromic translucent fillings for this purpose, providing automatic shading and high coating strength.
At the moment, the roof can have quite bizarre configurations while maintaining the traditional overhang of levels and large overhangs.
Features of interior design
The most common styles of shaping the interior space of a house correspond to its external appearance - these are country, Provence, eco-style, Scandinavian, minimalism, which are characterized by an abundance of light, open layouts, some asceticism and light shades. Less often you can find classics or postmodernism. A high-tech interior with its minimalism and abundance of metal looks ideal.
Advice! When decorating a room, you should not consider frame elements solely as decoration - beams can be used for installation lighting fixtures, devices hanging shelves and cabinets, implementation of other original ideas.
Structural elements in the interior:
The minimalist bedroom interior is formed by dark ceiling beams, contrasting with light shades of finishing:
Ultra-modern interior in high-tech style, built on contrast:
With a view of the forest:
Living room option with river panorama: 
Wood in the interior sets its style:
Pros and cons of half-timbered technology
The buildings please the eye with their neatness and airiness, and from a practical point of view, they are characterized by the convenience of the construction process - it is similar to the assembly of a construction set and is completed in a short time with minimal labor costs. However, the buildings are different long term operation and durability - three-hundred-year-old buildings are still preserved in excellent condition.
The advantages of the houses include:
- the ability to design premises of any size without building internal ones load-bearing walls;
- aesthetic appeal;
- high speed of construction relative to brick, stone and timber houses;
- environmental friendliness;
- absence of shrinkage and lightness of construction, allowing the use of lightweight foundations;
- ample opportunities to implement design ideas;
- resistance to deformation and seismic activity;
- possibility of application panoramic glazing due to the fact that there is practically no shrinkage;
- ease of camouflage engineering communications;
- possibility of covering large spans with beams.
The style allows you to implement the most daring architectural ideas, creating spectacular exteriors - light external stairs are perfectly combined on facades with structural elements and a roof of an unusual configuration:
Unfortunately, humanity has not invented an ideal construction style, but most of the problems have been solved over several centuries of building half-timbered houses. The walls made of adobe were significantly inferior brick buildings in the ability to retain heat, but at the moment the situation has been changed by the emergence of new innovative insulation materials.
Attention! Most thermal insulation materials need to be replaced approximately every 25-30 years.
The disadvantages of the technology include:
- high construction costs:
- low fire safety, which is typical for all wooden houses;
- need for regular processing by special means to protect wood from damage by insects, fungi, and mold.
Impressions of people living in half-timbered houses
From cozy country house The stained glass windows on the first floor offer views of the lawn and the surrounding forest, which makes it possible to feel unity with nature.
Reviews from cottage owners are varied, but they are mostly positive or neutral. The owners emphasize that it is advisable to build them, especially projects involving panoramic glazing, outside the city. Such houses are distinguished by increased comfort, excellent natural light, sound insulation and heat-saving qualities. But when choosing an option with large glazed planes, even in middle lane In Russia, heating costs are 30% higher than for the operation of ordinary buildings.
The reviews specifically emphasize the spaciousness of the rooms and the fact that all communications are hidden in the floor and do not spoil the appearance of the interior. The versatility of the architecture is noted - the interior space can be decorated in any current modern style. The most popular styles at the moment are country, minimalism, and hi-tech.
Some people who want to become the owner of a half-timbered cottage are put off by the high cost of its construction. Then people resort to cunning - they build an imitation of the style, which is much cheaper.
The reviews also note such inconveniences of buildings that are inherent in all wooden houses. This is a need for strict adherence fire safety and regular treatment of structures to protect them from mold and insects.
Project options
Buildings can be erected according to ready-made drawings or individual projects. The main difficulty in their development is the required maximum detail of all structural elements. For example, if 1000 of them are needed for construction, then each of them must be separately calculated and drawn. The same applies to all nodes, connections, and so on.
The house project “Davinci-haus” with an area of 579 m2 on a slope and river bank from Leadwood House LLC is distinguished by its originality and harmoniously fits into the surrounding landscape:
Building interior: 
Pool interior overlooking the river: 
Layout of the lower tier with pool, bar and gym: 
Second tier with a spacious living room: 
Upper tier: 
“Copenhagen” with an area of 381 m2 with panoramic glazing from the company “freeDomHaus” in the Liikola Club village, located in the Leningrad region:
1st floor plan with office and SPA area:
2nd floor plan with 4 bedrooms and spacious dressing room: 
Project “Accord 162” with an area of 241 m2, developed by the Finnish company “Lumi Polar”:
1st level with two terraces, a veranda and a flowing space of the common area:
2nd level with second light living room and internal balcony:
A mansion with an area of 224 m2 with partial panoramic filling of the planes with double-glazed windows from the ASPDOM studio:
Level 1 Plan:
Four bedroom attic floor plan:
Project of the company “Good Wood” with an area of 184 m2
Layout of the 1st floor:
Layout of the attic floor:
Option for an unusual cottage with an area of 244 m2 with a flat roof from the Fachwerk studio:
Living room - wooden beams create coziness in the room:
1st floor plan with spacious terraces and free connection of zones:
Plan of the 2nd floor with a second light living room and gallery:
The Euro-House project with an area of 259.47 m2 is the development of the Drevgrad studio. Dark wood and panoramic glazing fit harmoniously into the forest landscape:
Layout of the 1st floor with a garage, two terraces, a common area and an office: 
Layout of the 2nd floor with two bedrooms and a second light above the living room:
One-story cottage from the company "Modern wooden houses» - painted in White color wood is combined with large glass planes:
Plan of a cottage with a free-flowing common area, 4 bedrooms and a sauna:
Mansion "Hannover" with an area of 234 m2 from the company "INTEK" with a roof made of cement-sand tiles:
1st floor plan with common area, garage and guest room:
3 bedroom attic floor plan: 
Project of a cottage with an area of 118 m2 with walls filled with ceramic blocks and a tiled roof from the Z500 company:
1st level with common areas, office and terrace:
Attic level with 3 bedrooms: 
Modern half-timbered houses
Historically, such houses in different countries differed depending on what was relevant at the time of construction architectural style and according to national characteristics. Currently, the most elite option is the presence of panoramic glazing that fills the frame. A comfortable microclimate in the premises is created through the use of modern technical equipment of the home. Traditional bricks can also be used to fill the walls, concrete blocks, sandwich panels.
Fachwerk architecture - non-standard approach:
The originality of “village romance” in a modern version:
Cottage-castle from a childhood fairy tale:
A terraced half-timbered structure is the optimal solution for the southern regions:
Examples of German half-timbered houses
In modern Germany there are approximately 2 million buildings of this type. There are several styles of German buildings, but their general tendency is the desire for original decor facades.
Modern application of structures for a bridge in Berlin:
Another interpretation of half-timbering in high-rise architecture in Germany:
Option for preserving historical buildings in Kramerburg:
Half-timbered buildings with stained glass windows
Glazing can reach 60% of area external walls , which today is a sign of luxury construction. This solution “blurs” the boundaries of the house, promoting the unity of people and the surrounding landscape.
Panoramic glazing in a modern variation of a house is, first of all, an opportunity to merge the interior and the surrounding landscape, an opportunity for a person to feel one with the world, without distinguishing yourself from it:
For example, while in the house, stay on the shore:
The forest is also not bad, despite the radically modern approach to architecture:
Notice! Outside, the landscape may also be reflected, but your personal life remains hidden from prying eyes:
And this is an office - a half-timbered structure filled with innovative double-glazed windows:
One-story half-timbered houses
This is the most affordable option cottage of this type, despite the use of modern materials and technologies. The height of one floor, without an attic, ensures extreme lightness of the structure, which allows saving on the construction of the foundation and the entire building. The area of such houses, not exceeding 100 m2, makes it easy to place them in small areas and provide comfortable conditions for a family of 3 people.
Cottage "Kova Fahverk" designed in a traditional style with the addition of a spacious terrace and large windows on the facade, illuminating the living room:
Compact house unusual shape with sun protection details ideal for privacy:
The cottage with an area of 122 m2 provides comfortable conditions for a family:
An unusual implementation of technology from “wild” logs:
Price and terms of turnkey construction
Due to the specifics of design solutions, the cost of designing and constructing a half-timbered building is significantly higher than that of a conventional frame house. The total amount depends on the complexity of the architectural, structural, engineering parts of the project, and the materials used. Construction of a load-bearing frame for a house costs on average close to $300. The remaining means are filling wall structures, erecting partitions, installing a roof, finishing work, laying utilities.
Important! Construction price square meter a turnkey cottage of domestic production is about 500-1000 dollars, imported - 1400-2000 dollars.
The choice of project depends only on your needs, taste preferences and financial capabilities: 
The complete construction period, which can be carried out at any time of the year, ranges from 3 to 6 months. When the project is completely ready, manufacturing the frame in production takes up to 2 weeks, and the same amount of time to assemble it on site. The remaining work can be completed in 2 months.
Important points of DIY construction
Fachwerk is one of the most complex frame technologies, therefore, it is most reliable to trust the construction of such a building to specialists. Self-construction cottage requires serious skills and experience in working with wooden structures, thorough knowledge of calculating the rigidity of spatial patterns. A negative example now exists near St. Petersburg - a large number of The half-timbered structures soon collapsed due to technology violations, although they have stood in Europe for centuries.
Not the most technologically difficult option for DIY construction:
Important! If you have certain construction skills, you can still build such a structure yourself - in this case, it is advisable to use a factory-made kit made according to a project, where all the elements are carefully calculated and made in strict accordance with the drawings. As a result installation work reminiscent of assembling a construction set according to instructions.
The manufacturer delivers ready-made wooden structures to the construction site, pre-treated with insect and rot repellents and having grooves for connecting parts. When assembling a house with your own hands, you need to take into account technological sequence works:
- the first stage is the construction of a foundation, usually of a lightweight type, up to 0.5 m wide;
- installation of waterproofing and laying of strapping with securing the timber with anchors;
- assembly of a frame made of laminated veneer lumber exactly according to the diagrams provided by the manufacturer;
- construction internal partitions from timber of a smaller cross-section, secured to the floor with frame dowels;
- installation of roof rafters;
- installation of wall panels in such a way that the frame elements remain outside;
- performing thermal insulation;
- laying utility lines in the floor and frame;
- when using panoramic glazing - installation of heated floor systems;
- roof covering decking;
- external and internal finishing.
Even such a seemingly complex project can be brought to life with your own hands:
Choosing a half-timbered style - great option demonstrating one’s own originality and at the same time a certain commitment to the classics. It is especially relevant now, when people, thanks to modern technologies, are practically independent of climatic conditions. Today, wide opportunities are opening up to replace simply copying a style by introducing new extraordinary elements into it.
The process of assembling a half-timbered house
The video below simulates the dynamics of assembling a half-timbered house, which allows you to understand the essence and features of the construction of the building in a few minutes.
1. Half-timbered frame filled with laminated cork timber
Structurally, it is 100% true half-timbered timber filled with composite timber (120 mm laminated wood with 80 mm cork agglomerate). The direction and cross-section of the beams can be changed at the request of the customer. It is also possible to make a composite beam in the form of a log. The proposed option, today, is the most technologically advanced product in the field of wooden house construction!
2. Half-timbered frame filled with wooden CLT slabs
Structurally, it is 100% true half-timbered timber filled with CLT slabs. Facades and interiors, if desired, can be made of plaster or wood or combinations thereof. External plate five-layer 5S 95 mm (category B). Internal three-layer 3S 99 mm or 3S 120 mm (category A), depending on the design of the project. Any type of insulation - at the request of the customer (cork, linen, jute, wood-fiber), in the Rockwool base.
3. Half-timbered frame with frame filling
Structurally, it is 100% true half-timbered timber. Filling - insulated wooden glued frame frames, sheathed with wood imitating timber (vertical or horizontal orientation) or plaster - facade, painted with gypsum fiber board - interior.
4. Combined half-timbered house with walls made of wooden CLT slabs
Externally and internally it looks 100% like a true half-timbered house. Structurally: 25% true half-timbered timber, 75 insulated CLT slab (category A, B) with overhead wooden elements, imitating true half-timbered structures. Upon request, it is possible to make plaster or wooden facades and interiors, or a combination of both. Wooden facades and interiors of choice may differ in direction and shape.
5. Combined half-timbered house with frame walls
Externally and internally it looks 100% like a real half-timbered house. Structurally: 25% true half-timbered timber, 75% insulated laminated wood frame walls with an imitation of a true half-timbered structure. Upon request, it is possible to make plaster or wooden facades and interiors, or combinations thereof. Wooden facades and interiors, by choice, may differ in the direction and shape of the profiles.
Half-timbered construction technologies
- Half-timbered panel. The half-timbered house panel is produced using hydraulic assembly tables at the Promstroyles plant to specify high-definition geometric dimensions of the panel and select installation gaps with increased joining accuracy.
- Half-timbered frame. Installation of a house using this technology involves manual construction of the frame, where the filling, together with a kit for the construction of internal load-bearing walls and the frame, occurs at the construction site.
Infilling the walls with half-timbered timber
Elite half-timbered houses in the Italian style "Pagano"
Options for construction technologies of half-timbered cottages in Italian style"Pagano": half-timbered, CLT, frame-panel.
German-style half-timbered houses
Options for construction technologies of half-timbered houses in German style: half-timbered, CLT, panel frame.
