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Why do we choose frame houses (advantages and disadvantages)?

Frame construction is not a new technology. Cheap wooden houses have been built for several centuries, and are especially common in Europe, and the Scandinavians have honed the technology of building warm and durable Finnish frames due to the severe climate. In Ukraine, frame houses are less popular, and primarily because of people’s distrust of them.

This attitude is due to a lack of information about this technology, a large number of different companies on the construction market: many of them, as they say, “take the price”: they build extremely cheaply, use low-quality, low-grade materials, violate the technology. The reputation and construction of frame houses without projects (with all the ensuing consequences) has spoiled quite a bit.

The purpose of this article is to dispel some myths and show the advantages and disadvantages of a frame house

The very name of the technology comes from the word “frame”, which, in fact, is the basis of the entire house. It usually consists of a wooden base (it is important not to build a turnkey frame from raw wood). Inside and outside, the frame can be sheathed with cement chipboards, various panels or planed dry wood. From the inside, the frame house must be correctly vapor-insulated (this involves gluing the film seams), we always install a windproof membrane or an Isoplat plate under the outer cladding. The resulting space is filled with insulation. Its role can be basalt wool of a certain density. On the outside, the house can be sheathed with painted wood, siding, but it is not rare to find options covered with facade plaster.

It would seem that the technology is simple, but houses with the correct frame and insulation are quite reliable and durable (again, if the house was built correctly:

According to the project of the engineer-architect
From dry wood
With respect to technology
Under technical supervision

Pros and cons of a frame house illustration

In terms of performance, a frame house at a lower cost is not inferior to houses built from heavier materials. Let’s consider the pros and cons of frame houses. Advantages (pluses) of frame houses, we are talking about the right frame houses:

1. Speed.

Such houses are built within a few months, which is quite fast for the construction industry.

2. Price.

Relatively not high cost of housing. In terms of price-quality ratio, a frame house in most cases wins the competition from houses made of other materials and built using other technologies.

3. The light weight of the structure reduces the requirements for the foundation base.

There is no need for reinforcement in the foundation, which is necessary for heavier buildings. That further reduces costs and improves the economic component of the project.

4. Energy efficiency.

The material of the house is wood and basalt insulation. Chamber-dried wood is a lightweight and durable material. Basalt insulation has a very low thermal conductivity. It’s good. For comparison: a frame wall with a thickness of 150 mm in terms of its heat-saving properties is equal to a wall made of timber with a thickness of at least 350-400 mm. There is no need to talk about bricks.

5. Externally, frame houses are aesthetic and unique.

The wooden frame allows you to implement more design possibilities.

6. A frame house is relatively easy to complete and even re-insulate.

In Europe, we see frame houses that are already 150-200 years old. Just replaced the insulation and installed a new outer skin. The base of the house is preserved in the form of external protection against snow and rain, and internal protection against steam.

Frame buildings have their disadvantages. It is very important to consider the disadvantages and assess how difficult it is to reduce their impact on the operation of the home, in some cases it is possible to completely eliminate the problem, such a successful fight against rodents is by installing a metal mesh, hence the illustration.

Disadvantages (cons) of frame houses:

1. A frame house, sorry for the banality, is not a stone house, so it is unreasonable to expect that the house will be as monumental as, for example, brick. Although properly built and having an engineering design, a frame house is actually strong and reliable. And it really is.

2. Frame houses are mostly wooden, and therefore, sooner or later, repainting of the exterior cladding (if it is made of wood) will be required – approximately every 5-7 years. And for a certain period of time, its complete replacement will take approximately 25-30 years.

3. After a certain period, it may be necessary to replace the insulation. The manufacturer currently provides a 50-year warranty. 4. A frame house is convenient not only for humans, but also for mice. The problem with mice is solved at the design stage very easily: with the help of a special grid. Which does not allow mice to “walk” on the walls and ceiling of the house.

It turns out that frame construction does not have many disadvantages and most of them are correctable.

As for the pros, there are many of them and some of them are very strong arguments for choosing this type of construction.

Conclusion – a frame house is worth the money.

And in our difficult economic times, high-quality housing with a relatively low cost is relevant (Frame house or apartment – an article comparing an apartment in a big city and a frame house, in terms of price, quality of living, environmental aspects).

Frame construction is not the distant future, but the present. Therefore, the choice of a frame house as a country house or as an alternative to an apartment for permanent residence is quite reasonable.

How long has your company been on the construction market?

The company started its work in 2010. Over 12 years of work, we have implemented more than a hundred projects - from the design of objects of various complexity to turnkey construction. You can familiarize yourself with our portfolio of completed works on the website - section "We built"

How many projects have you implemented?

More than 100 projects (including design and construction) have been implemented over all the years of work.

Where does the construction of a private house, cottage begin? What is important?

First of all, it is necessary to start with the development of a working project, which serves as "installation instructions" for builders and includes the entire scope of work that must be performed during construction. Based on the project documentation, an estimate is formed to calculate the cost of construction. Next, a schedule of works and a financing schedule are prepared, which allows the Customer to have a clear understanding of the terms of execution and the cost of each stage of construction work. You can order a project from us or provide a ready-made one from another project organization.

I have a project. Could you use it or make changes to it?

So. We perform construction works according to projects executed by third-party organizations. However, before the start of construction, such a project is inspected by specialists of our Company. If necessary, we provide the Customer with reasoned proposals and wishes for finalizing the project documentation or issue a conclusion that the project does not require finalization.

Why should a potential customer choose our company?

Working with us, you get an individual approach and high-quality performance! All work is performed by professionals who have been in the profession for more than a year and know all the specifics of the construction of this or that object. Daily quality control of works and materials at the facility is provided by the foreman, the chief engineer, issues arising in the construction process are resolved quickly in an operational manner. Also, our Customers have the opportunity to observe the progress of construction thanks to photo, video recording and online video surveillance 24/7. The terms and cost of construction are fixed in the contract and estimate, we provide guarantees for up to 10 years!

Is it possible to see live the objects you have already built or those that are under construction?

Yes, by prior arrangement, it is possible to visit a facility under construction or already built. At the facility, you will be able to get answers to questions that may arise regarding certain construction technologies, volumes, cost, etc. We also post photo reports and videos on our official Facebook & Instagram pages. In the office online, you can see what is happening at this or that object.

What is the payment procedure?

Payment is made in stages, according to the financing schedule, which is an integral part of the contract for the construction of a house. Each stage represents a separate set of works on the construction of the capital structure of the house (this is the construction of the foundation, walls, floor, roof, etc.)

Can the initial cost increase during construction?

When concluding the contract, we take into account all issues that may arise during the construction process. The construction cost is fixed in the national currency (Ukrainian hryvnia) for the entire construction period, which gives us the opportunity to state: "the cost remains unchanged."

The initial cost can increase during the construction process only for some objective reasons: a significant increase in the prices of materials, a change in design decisions at the initiative of the Customer, the need to perform additional works that could not be foreseen at the stage of design works.

An increase in the initial cost of construction in all cases is agreed with the Customer and drawn up in the form of an Additional Agreement to the Contract.

When does the departure to the Customer's site take place?

We can visit the facility both before and after the conclusion of the contract.

Our specialists go to the place of the proposed construction in order to familiarize themselves with the site and the area. This is necessary for planning the organization of access roads to the construction site, determining the location of the house and other structures, marking the territory of the site for placing construction materials, construction and domestic premises for storing tools, etc.

Is it necessary to obtain a building permit or is it possible to build without it? Do you provide consultations in the process of obtaining permits?

Thus, in accordance with the current Law of Ukraine "On the Regulation of Urban Development", before starting construction, it is necessary to obtain a construction permit from local authorities.

Our Company provides comprehensive consulting support to Customers in this matter.

How long does it take to build a "box" of a house with an area of 100-200 m2?

Approximately 3-5 months.

What is a "box"? What types of work are performed during the construction of the "box"?

The "box" of the house is a structure consisting of a foundation, walls, floor slabs, staircases (if necessary) and a roof.

During the construction of the "box" of the house, the following are performed: earthworks, concrete works, masonry works, roofing works

What material is better to build from?

When choosing building materials, which are included in design decisions and estimates, we take into account the wishes of the Customer, recommendations and clarifications that are of a recommendatory nature, building regulations, as well as our experience in using certain materials.

At what time of year is it better to start building a house?

You can start construction at any time of the year. Each period has its advantage. For example, prices for materials are lower in winter than in summer. But to perform some types of work in winter time (when the temperature regime is below normal) additional costs are required, as well as a longer period for performing this or that type of work. You can get a more detailed consultation on this issue from our specialists in the office.

Is it possible to build a house on the existing foundation?

Yes, maybe. However, before starting construction work, it is necessary to obtain information about the quality characteristics of the existing foundation. A specialist of our Company conducts an inspection for the presence of cracks, sinks in concrete, the uniformity of the color of concrete in the foundation, the depth of laying the foundation, etc. is determined.

Is it possible to do the work in stages?

Yes, it is possible. We provide different conditions for Customers depending on their wishes and financial capabilities. Options are discussed and a compromise solution is found.