Build a wooden house from timber or logs. Which is better: profiled timber or rounded log? Tips for choosing warmer building materials

September 3, 2018

Which house is warmer - timber or timber?

Even before purchasing a country plot, many people are already thinking about what to build a house from? Those who have already decided to build wooden house, worries about the main question: “what is warmer – a log or timber?”

And that's right! Because in Rus', the most important indicator of the quality of a log house has always been its ability to retain heat inside. During our winter frosts, all generations of Russian people survived thanks to the fact that the huts were warm even during the most severe cold, when the temperature can drop to minus 45, and in some regions up to 50 degrees below zero.

And only then they judged whether the house was good based on other parameters: comfort and convenience of living in it, location in the area, beauty, etc.

One of the most important questions about home heat remains relevant today. For more than 1000 years of Russian history, nothing has changed. Russia remains a country with a cold northern climate.

But now houses are built not only from hand-cut logs, but also from timber - a product of processing whole logs. Therefore, we consider the question reasonable: which house is warmer - from logs or timber?

We answer right away: they are the same, the difference is only in the quality of the log house and, if the house is made of timber, then also in the cross-section of the timber.

The fact is that in the places where the crowns of a log house meet, whether made of logs or timber, the distance is approximately the same: 10-20 cm. Therefore, heat retention inside depends on the size of the place of contact of the log or timber in the rows.

Since the beam has precise cross-section parameters - 150x150 mm, 150x200 mm or 200x200 mm, etc., then with log houses everything is clear based on the thickness of the walls - the wider the beam in the wall, the thicker the walls, therefore, they retain heat more reliably.

But with log houses everything is not so simple. It would seem that thick logs in a log house - each, as a rule, weighing under a ton - look impressive. But in this case, you need to pay attention not to the diameter of the log, but to the places where the crowns meet in the log house. There they are not as wide as the log itself. Therefore, conventionally, the thickness of the walls in a log house should be measured not by the diameter of the log, but by the points of contact of the logs in the crowns.

Therefore, if in a log house and a timber frame with a cross-section of 150x150 mm the joint width is 15 cm, then they will retain heat inside the house equally well.

But this is a rather relative statement. One of the main points during the construction wooden house what remains is the quality of its cutting. If the log house was built poorly, then no amount of wall thickness will help retain heat in it. Through the gaps between the crowns, in the corners and through window and door frames, heat will escape to the street.

There are such unlucky home owners who came across a negligent construction company that built them a bad house: the walls seem to be thick, the house has a powerful heating equipment, the house is heated and heated, but it is still cold. And then such owners of wooden housing complain, they say, “wooden houses are not suitable for permanent housing!”

They are suitable, and how! It is not for nothing that Rus' has been called “wooden” from time immemorial. For hundreds of years we stood in a not very favorable climate, and... Many generations of our ancestors grew up in them. Therefore, it's not a matter of wooden walls home, but in the ability to build it correctly. In compliance with the experience of our ancestors, which has been accumulated over the centuries-old history of Rus'.

Therefore, in the old days, the profession of carpenters was considered respected, whose skills were passed on from generation to generation, from grandfather to father, and father to son. Working with wood requires not only certain skills, the ability to work with available tools, but also knowledge of many secrets of wooden architecture, the presence of experience that has accumulated over centuries, gained from observing how wood behaves in a log house, the ability to notice features and not miss different little things out of sight.

It's just that nowadays good carpenters are not so easy to find. More often, well-known companies employ ordinary craftsmen who have nothing to do with carpentry.

Only in the outback of Russia are there still dynasties of carpenters, for example, who continue the traditions of their ancestors. These are also available in our company. "Chukhloma estate". Based on their experience and knowledge, we build wooden houses not only from timber, but also. But, as you know, a house made of hand-cut logs is the crown of wooden house construction, the highest degree of carpenter skill. Not every carpenter can build a good house from a log. And our carpenters master this skill.

Therefore, for a wooden house to be warm, it must be well built - without and at the corners. And the thickness of the walls is a second matter.

For example, in the northern regions middle zone In Russia, the usual thickness of logs for building a house is 22-26 cm. And in the places where the rows meet, their width is no more than 10-15 cm. If the frame of the house is cut down correctly, the logs fit tightly to each other, and are also insulated, then the house will be warm even in the most severe frosts.

For example, a photo of the crowns from the end on an old wooden house made of hand-cut logs, which was cut down at the beginning of the 20th century. This house remains residential to this day. According to the reviews of the owners living in it, the house is warm, despite the fact that the logs in it have a diameter of 18-20 (at the top) to 22-26 cm (at the butt). The house has an area of ​​approx. 100 sq. m two wood-burning stoves: a Russian stove and a Dutch stove. In the summer, these two stoves are heated alternately twice a month: to dry the house from the inside on rainy and cool days, when it becomes uncomfortable and damp in the premises, and to burn paper or other “environmentally friendly” accumulated garbage. In the off-season they drown one or the other almost every day. In winter, once a day, both stoves. And when frosts drop below 30 degrees, and at night over 40, then once a day they thoroughly drown the Russian along with the flooding, and the “Dutch” - once in the morning and once in the evening, before going to bed. In this heating mode, the house maintains a comfortable temperature of 22-24 degrees.

And with timber house simpler. It's going easier, like children's construction set, increased in scale thanks to standard, machine-made building materials. What cross-section of timber you choose for your house, the thickness of the walls will be - the main thing is

A wooden house is comfortable and environmentally friendly housing, good rest and health benefits. Wood promotes rapid oxygen exchange up to 30% per day and fills the room with a pleasant forest aroma, which provides favorable and comfortable atmosphere. A wooden house is always warm and calm, because wood has high heat and sound insulation properties.

To build a wooden house, it is important to choose the right materials. Today the market offers a lot various options, the most popular of which are timber or logs. Both materials are suitable for constructing comfortable, safe and durable housing.

They are environmentally friendly and attractive in appearance, easy to install and quick installation. It is comfortable to be in rooms made of natural wood and easy to breathe. In addition, wood has a positive effect on a person’s well-being and sleep. Let's figure out which material the house is made of is better, warmer and cheaper.

Houses made of timber

The timber has a rectangular or square section. Houses made of timber are modern buildings of the European type. Today there are three types of timber. Economical and simple option - unplaned timber. The material is characterized by sloppy and loose seams during installation, which will negatively affect the thermal insulation and aesthetic qualities of the structure. However, unplaned timber will be cheaper than other materials. In addition, this is the most environmentally friendly and safe type of timber due to minimal technical processing.

Glued laminated timber is an expensive material that takes a long time to manufacture and process. The result is a luxurious home with minimal shrinkage. Glued laminated timber is durable; over time it does not rot or crack like others wooden materials. This room will be warmer and more comfortable. The products fit perfectly together, which simplifies and speeds up installation.

However, glued laminated timber costs 3-4 times more than regular timber. In addition, in the manufacture of such material, toxic glue is used, which violates the environmental friendliness of the structure.

Most owners prefer profiled timber from all types of this category of materials. After all, this is an environmentally friendly and safe material without harmful toxic additives with the best price-quality ratio. Profiled products fit tightly to each other and provide good heat and sound insulation. However, when the wood dries, cracks form.

Profiled timber or rounded logs are the most popular in their category, which are used for the construction of wooden country house. Therefore, we will consider these types in more detail.

Advantages of profiled timber

• Environmental friendliness and naturalness of the material;
• Easy and quick installation of the log house, in which even the openings do not require modification;
• The even, smooth and finished surface of the log house does not require additional finishing;
• Aesthetic and attractive house in a modern style;
• The rigid structure of the house with a tight fit gives minimal shrinkage of up to 3.5-4%;
• The dense masonry of the products does not create cracks or gaps, which increases the thermal insulation qualities and resistance of the house to moisture;
• Minimum amount of waste during construction;
• Long service life;
• Collects less dust than a log house;

• Cost-effective, since construction requires 40% less profiled timber than rounded logs;
• Favorable indoor microclimate and rapid air exchange;
• The light weight of the structure does not require a deep, expensive foundation.

Disadvantages of profiled timber

• Needs treatment with protective agents against ultraviolet radiation and fire, insects and excess moisture;
• When shrinking and drying, cracks appear, and the timber cracks on each side;
• It is better to install a house made of timber at low temperatures and from fresh material. This will reduce the number of cracks;
• Long-term shrinkage 3-12 months;
• After shrinkage, it requires re-caulking of the walls.

Log houses

The logs have a rounded shape and continue the traditions of Russian construction. There are two main types of material. Chopped logs are highly expensive due to the labor-intensive and complex manufacturing process. Manual felling ensures gentle processing of the log and allows you to preserve the top protective layer of the tree. This enhances the tree’s protection from insects, moisture, ultraviolet radiation and other negative manifestations of the external environment.

Chopped logs crack less and absorb moisture less than other types of products. But at the same time, the materials have different diameters and uneven surfaces, which complicates the assembly and installation of the log house. Moreover, it is difficult to achieve perfect appearance buildings.

Rounded logs are in great demand, as they are cheaper and warmer than chopped logs. The materials have the same diameters and a flat surface, which allows the products to be placed closely. As a result, the walls in the house are smooth and without cracks. Logs of the same shape and size speed up and simplify installation.

But keep in mind that such products are subjected to mechanical processing, during which the top protective layer of wood is removed. Therefore, after rounding, the material requires more careful protection using special means. As a rule, during production, craftsmen already treat the logs with fire retardants and antiseptics, and then repeat the treatment again after installation and shrinkage of the log house.

Advantages of rounded logs

• Environmentally friendly and natural materials;
• Efficiency of construction, because the installation of a log house will take from 3-5 days to three weeks, depending on the complexity of the project;
• Easy installation does not require additional qualifications, special knowledge and skills of builders;
• The luxurious appearance and cozy interior will make the house elegant and noble. A log house will harmoniously fit into the landscape and stand out against the background of other buildings;
• The light weight of the structure does not require a deep, expensive foundation;
• The unique texture of each tree will make your house or bathhouse original;
• Does not require additional processing and is completely ready for construction, which saves time and money;
• The log is easy to process, which allows you to create interesting designs. For example, a house with a bay window (part of the building protruding beyond the facade) or a veranda in the shape of a rotunda (hexagon). We can find many interesting projects of houses and bathhouses made of rounded logs in the catalog of the construction company “MariSrub” at the link http://marisrub.ru/proekts/all-proekts;

• Identical diameters and sizes, the ideal shape of the logs ensure a smooth surface of walls and ceilings, strength, hardness and durability of the structure;
• High heat and sound insulation;
• If the log house is caulked correctly, a repeat procedure will not be required;
• When cracking occurs, cracks form only on one side, and not along all;
• Favorable microclimate and rapid air exchange indoors;
• Installation is possible at any time of the year.

Disadvantages of rounded logs

• Requires maintenance using fire retardants and antiseptics every 5-10 years, depending on the quality of the protective equipment. You can find out what products are needed to protect wood;
• Cracks also form on a rounded log, but only on one side, and not on each side, like a timber. To avoid new cracks in logs, it is important to perform high-quality caulking and sealing. In addition, today logs are made with a special compensation cut, which ensures uniform drying inside and out.
• Uniform drying and prevents the appearance and growth of cracks;
• Long and severe shrinkage, which lasts from six months to one and a half years and amounts to 7-12%.

Comparative characteristics of logs and timber

Criteria
Appearance	Neat European-style house with attractive appearance	Looks attractive and natural, blends harmoniously into the surrounding environment
Finishing	Requires mandatory external finishing to avoid cracking of the material; light interior decoration	Does not require mandatory finishing; if desired, you can use wooden finishing materials. which will further protect the wood, improve aesthetic qualities and remain environmentally friendly
Material shrinkage	Occurs 0.5-1.5 years and accounts for 7-12%	Occurs faster and more evenly over 3-12 months by 3.2-4.5%
Caulking and wall insulation	Requires additional re-caulking	If the work is done well, there will be no need for re-caulking
Thermal quality	Tall, both houses are suitable for year-round use
Durability	With proper care, wood will last 80-100 years.

How to choose quality materials

It is impossible to say for sure which material is better, timber or logs. A log house is more harmonious and aesthetically pleasing. It does not require additional caulking or decorative finishing inside or outside. In addition, logs are cheaper. For a house made of timber, finishing the facade is important, otherwise cracks will appear.

Both buildings are made of wood, therefore they are environmentally friendly and safe. In this case, the materials require treatment with antiseptics and other protective agents to avoid mold and rot, cracking and other negative factors.

The semi-circular shape of the logs gives the structure an unusual and sophisticated look. Therefore, many owners of suburban areas choose houses made from rounded logs. When choosing, be sure to pay attention to the quality and production technology of materials. Careful selection of wood and compliance with GOST standards when making logs is a guarantee of the reliability and durability of the house. It is better if the raw materials are harvested in winter, since winter forest is more stable and strong.

MariSrub craftsmen will reliably and quickly build a house from rounded logs. Lumber is made from northern forest pine using high-tech equipment in our own workshop. In-house production and careful control over each stage of production guarantees high quality products.

Due to special processing of the cut layer, the logs are protected for a long time from negative impact environment. Storage, transportation, loading and unloading of materials is carried out in accordance with the rules for transporting timber and long cargo. Compliance with these rules prevents damage and contamination of the surface of materials.

The MariSrub company builds wooden houses on a turnkey basis and will perform a full range of work, which includes the production of finishing and building materials, construction of foundations and roofs, installation of log houses and finishing, installation of engineering systems. We offer construction according to standard and individual projects!

When the time comes to build a wooden house, the developer is faced with the question: what material to build it from, which one is better for construction? The following logs are offered on the market today:

• ordinary from freshly cut wood;
• rounded;

And wooden beam:

• ordinary rectangular;
• profiled;
• glued.

Of the five options presented, only laminated veneer lumber is made from dry material, the rest are wood with natural moisture. Therefore, houses made of wood with natural humidity after construction should wait about a year for shrinkage and shrinkage. When wet, logs shrink in size both in length and thickness. Cracks appear in the locks of the log house. Craftsmen who build wooden houses use various technologies and tricks to ensure that after drying and shrinkage, the gaps in the walls are minimal. The question of what to buy: timber or logs will not be difficult if you familiarize yourself with the features of these building materials.

Wild log house

This is the most cheap material of all. It can be bought at the timber industry enterprise in the upper or lower warehouse. There are two options to build a house from logs, from:

• raw;
• dry.

Before putting the logs to dry, they must be sanded. In addition to sanding, there is one unpleasant property - the length of the logs runs away. That is, having bought logs with a diameter of 22 cm at one end, at a distance of 6 meters we will get a diameter of up to 30 cm or more. Such a difference in diameters at one end of the deck and the other complicates the construction of the log house. To facilitate carpentry work, two planes of logs are hewn by hand, achieving the same thickness. The construction of houses from logs of different diameters is called “wild log house”. This requires carpentry professionals. When drying, logs crack and their geometric dimensions change. Construction from wild logs is rarely used. Log buildings require protection from rotting; the surface is difficult to finish. The log turns black over time and therefore many developers paint their houses, impregnate them with drying oil, and cover them with boards.

Did you know that wood rotting occurs when:

• humidity more than 15%;

• lack of ventilation;

• infection with mold fungi;

• lack of sunlight.

They protect log houses with fire retardants from fire and antiseptics from rotting. Flaws:

• different diameters and heavy weight make the construction of houses very difficult. To raise it to a height, you must use either lifting mechanisms or many people;
• after drying, you will have to caulk and putty the cracks in the walls using flax tow and special ropes;
• the log reacts to the weather, increased humidity and air temperature, increasing or decreasing its size;
• finishing work can begin no earlier than in a year;
• untreated wood is perfectly eaten by bark beetles;
• To protect against rotting, the logs are sheathed with boards, and this is also an additional cost.

There are several advantages:

• characterized by a low purchase price due to the minimum costs of its production;
• environmental friendliness.

Fighting rot and insects, treating logs with chemicals, the environmental friendliness of the house is reduced to nothing.

Rounded log

Rounded logs of the same diameter and regular cylindrical shape are produced on rounding machines. To do this, they are sorted by thickness to reduce waste. A special machine removes extra centimeters, adjusting the logs to the same diameter. After rounding on a milling machine, a mounting groove is selected. The advantages of rounding are obvious: standardized dimensions make it easier to work on connections in the log house. Craftsmen make a template and quickly make locks and connections using it.

Advantages of rounded logs:

• aesthetic appearance;
• standard sizes;
• accelerated construction of houses compared to a wild log house.

The manufacturability of constructing cottages from rounded logs allows you to create individual projects, assemble the house in one place, and then disassemble it and transport it disassembled to the construction site. Having numbered all the logs in the box of the house, they are then collected by workers at the new construction site.

The disadvantages of rounded logs are the same as those of ordinary logs:

• dry out and change their geometric dimensions;
• when drying, logs may warp and crack;
• at the same time, they are expensive compared to ordinary logs.

The increase in price is associated with additional technological operations, transportation costs from the upper or lower warehouse to production, wages to workers, taxes, etc.

In houses built from rounded logs, sanding the surface near locks and joints is difficult. Therefore, if the developer plans to design a room to match the color of natural wood, the rounded logs must be sanded before installation in the log house.

Rounded log

Which timber to choose for building a house

This building material is obtained by sawing logs on a sawmill. It can be square, rectangular or with a rounded outer side and, due to its rectangular dimensions, is more technologically advanced. The rounded front side is made on a four-sided or milling machine. After drying, the inside of the timber is planed and sanded. It will be turned inside the house. This facilitates impregnation with compounds for valuable wood species and varnishing. However, after construction and drying, gaps appear between the beams. The timber is used for the construction of country houses, restaurants, and holiday homes. Applying different methods aging wood, designers imitate ancient houses.

Construction from timber is characterized by high technology and speed. Products: houses, bathhouses, cottages, dachas can be manufactured on one site, and then disassembled, transported to another and assembled there.

The timber is sold by:

• damp natural humidity;
• dry.

Raw material will cost less than dry material.

In order to reduce the penetration of cold, grooves are milled in the beams and gaskets from slats are inserted into them. They not only prevent the penetration of cold, but also tie the walls made of timber into one whole.

Profiled timber is better than ordinary timber

In this type of timber, two sides have a special profile consisting of grooves and recesses. Thanks to it, the penetration of cold into the building is reduced. It is easy to install, tightly adjacent to each other. The timber is profiled on four-sided machines. It's warm in its own way technical specifications profiled exceeds ordinary timber and round logs.

Tip: when purchasing profiled timber, pay attention to the ends. Iflarge cracks; it was made from raw wood, bypassing the drying process.

Two types of profiled timber are produced:

• dry;
• natural humidity.

The timber, made from dry wood, has the correct geometric dimensions, does not dry out, and is immediately ready for finishing. And natural moisture has the same disadvantages as raw wood. It leads, it cracks. Therefore, special wooden pegs are driven into the walls made of raw timber to keep them from twisting.

Profiled timber

Glued laminated timber is unrivaled

The recently introduced laminated veneer lumber is ahead of previous building materials in all respects. It is made exclusively from dry lumber in a factory. The use of drying for parts eliminates shrinkage and shrinkage of buildings. Houses made of laminated veneer lumber are ready for finishing work without technological interruptions inherent in buildings made of raw material. When gluing boards into one whole, they are laid with different grain directions. Glued laminated timber is much stronger in bending and torsion than round or round logs.

Please note: The beam profile is made in such a way that its glued boards are installed vertically into the wall. A beam glued in this way has good resistance to bending and torsion.

The only drawback is its high price. In terms of thermal characteristics, resistance to bending and torsion, it exceeds its competitors: logs and beams. Houses made from this material do not shrink, are quickly erected, durable, without cracks. Immediately after construction, finishing work is done in it: sanded and varnished. In this regard, buildings made of laminated veneer lumber benefit, but it is 2-2.5 times more expensive than sawn timber. The price of this building material varies depending on the type of wood, grade, and place of purchase.

Glued laminated timber

House made of laminated veneer lumber or rounded logs

In terms of manufacturability and speed of construction, these materials are approximately the same. Based on the above examples, a house made of laminated veneer lumber is better in all respects, but will be at least 2 times more expensive. Both materials need protection from: fire, insects and wood-boring beetles, rot and mold.

What material to choose for your home

The developer, when choosing material for a wooden house, is primarily guided by financial issues. If you make a rating based on the quality of the material, manufacturability and speed of building a house, then the list will be in the following order:

1. laminated veneer lumber;
2. dry profiled timber;
3. dry rounded log;
4. raw timber;
5. raw rounded log;
6. dry log;
7. log of natural moisture.

Accordingly, the first material is the most expensive, and the last is the cheapest. In addition to manufacturability and other requirements, the price will be affected by the distance of delivery of lumber to the construction site. You should also take into account that green lumber requires at least a year to shrink. And if we take into account the time for finishing work, then from the start of construction work to the housewarming ceremony it can take about two years.

If the question is what to choose: timber or rounded log? Choose dry material. In terms of technical characteristics, they are the same, but in terms of humidity, both are susceptible to cracking and shrinkage to the same extent.

It is more economically profitable to build a house right away, turnkey, without getting involved in long-term construction. A company that builds houses according to a developer’s design will assemble a house on its site, disassemble it and deliver it to a new construction site. The team will assemble the finished house in two weeks and give the keys to the owner.

How to choose a log, watch this video:

What material to choose for building a wooden house: rounded logs or profiled timber? This is one of the first questions that arise and require a thoughtful solution. There are no ideal materials in nature; each has its own pros and cons. In order not to make the wrong choice, it is worth getting to know the disadvantages and advantages of these lumber more closely.

Having recognized the value of wood for construction, future homeowners are often at a loss, unable to decide on its specific type. What to choose: rounded logs or profiled timber? In reality, there is no single and clear answer. There is only one way out - to carefully analyze the characteristics of both materials, take into account their features, and make an informed decision.

Why is it better to build a wooden house?

Tree - natural material, capable of creating conditions for the greatest comfort for human life. Let us list the facts that allow us to talk about the tree as the best material for the construction of a private house:

• It “breathes”, passing air through itself, creating optimal moisture exchange and air conditions in the room. This explains the absence of a feeling of stagnant air or excessive humidity in a wooden house. So, in a locked room, about 30% of the air changes through a beam or log during the day. In dry weather, wood releases accumulated moisture inside the room, and, on the contrary, absorbs its excess in damp times.

• Due to the relative lightness of the material, there is the possibility of significant monetary savings when constructing the foundation.

• Due to the heat capacity of the material, the wall wooden structure They are able to keep warm for quite a long time during cold weather and cool during hot periods. Such a house, unlike a brick one, for example, can be quickly heated, even if it has not been used all winter. A few hours will be enough.

For your information! Thermal insulation characteristics walls made of logs are 3-5 times higher than those of walls made of concrete or brick with the same thickness.

• A home made of wood does not require mandatory costs for exterior and interior decoration.

• Year-round construction is possible.

• The attractive appearance of the material, its color and texture, and most importantly, its performance characteristics (strength, low thermal conductivity, etc.) provide wide architectural and design opportunities for individual developers.

• The lifespan of a wooden house can be 150-200 years, but only subject to strict adherence to wood harvesting and construction technology.

Difficulty of choice

The technology for producing logs and beams is practically not much different. The pros and cons of houses built from them are similar. It is important to initially decide on the following points:

• Do we want a house in the classic old Russian style, a kind of modern hut? Or is something more practical needed? The construction from rounded logs is original and beautiful, but the concept of “practicality” is more consistent with timber.

• How quickly should the house be built?

• Permanent or seasonal residence is expected.

• Budget options.

• The climatic zone is a factor influencing the thickness of the walls being built.

The production of profiled timber occurs by giving ordinary timber a strictly designated standard shape (profile). Product shape may vary. More often, the outer side of the profiled beam is convex, and the one facing the house is flat. Options are possible when the lumber is either convex on both sides or flat. The upper and lower surfaces of the beam have tongue-and-groove elements for a better and tighter connection of parts. They may be:

• with one or two spikes;
• with several spikes - “comb”;
• with beveled bevels;
• Finnish profile.

It is believed that a “comb” is most suitable for the construction of a residential building, since this type of profile creates a good barrier to moisture and cold. For lighter structures, a profile of one or two tenons is recommended.

Attention! Profiled materials are subject to deformation if storage rules are violated, especially for improperly harvested wood. But the degree of longitudinal and helical deformation of a profiled beam is negligible compared to the deformation of a log.

Humidity of timber

According to the degree of moisture, the material is divided into:

• dried timber;
• timber of natural humidity.

The first is processed in special chambers, where it is dried and brought to 8-12% humidity. Material with such indicators cracks less and does not shrink significantly. It is usually 3-5%. Checking in new home possible almost immediately upon completion of construction. The cost of such timber will be higher, but this will be compensated for later. After all, timber with natural moisture cracks thoroughly when it dries, and therefore additional caulking of the walls will be required.

Lumber with natural humidity contains 20-25% moisture, which negatively affects the building, the shrinkage of which will be about 10%. The cost of such timber is noticeably less.

Profiled timber: advantages over other materials

• Aesthetic, neat appearance of the walls. Smooth, even surfaces are created that look great and do not require additional finishing.

• Relatively small shrinkage. Material dried to 20% will not shrink as sharply as chopped logs or simple timber.

• The price is lower than that of laminated timber (about 30%), but this is the only advantage of profiled timber over laminated veneer lumber.

• Fewer cracks than regular timber and rounded logs. With proper processing, the number of cracks will be minimal, but they will appear in any case.

• The elements, which fit perfectly due to the tenons and grooves, create an almost monolithic structure, while providing good thermal insulation. The absence of gaps and the profile shape eliminates the possibility of penetration

cold and moisture in the home, and also prevents damage to wood.

• There is no need to caulk the walls, whereas a log structure needs it up to three times.

Disadvantages of profiled timber

Lumber has significant advantages over conventional timber, rounded and chopped logs. However, it should be understood that this is still a solid wood, and therefore there are characteristic features of it. flaws :

• A pause in construction is necessary while the walls shrink. If the material is dried correctly, then after a year you can move into the house.

• During the drying process, the formation of cracks is inevitable, but on a smaller scale than in the case of simple timber and rounded logs. The lower the air temperature was during the construction of the home, the smaller the size of the cracks and their number will be.

Even taking into account all the shortcomings, profiled timber can be considered a completely rational option for the construction of a residential building. Provided that the material is of high quality, this is the optimal solution for those who want to acquire a wooden house, especially if laminated veneer lumber is beyond their means.

Problems of shrinkage and deformation are easily solved, of course, if there is no shortage of finances, by using glued profiled timber in construction. This material does not have the disadvantages that are characteristic of massive solid timber and logs. It is perfectly dried, has high strength and is practically resistant to adverse effects. Shrinkage of laminated veneer lumber is insignificant - up to 1%.

Important! Finishing of a building made of laminated veneer lumber can be carried out immediately upon completion of construction, without waiting for shrinkage.

The material acquires excellent quality indicators at the production stage, which consists of several successive stages. The most common wood used to make laminated veneer lumber is spruce and pine; larch and cedar are used a little less frequently. When gluing carefully dried and treated boards (lamellas) into a single element, the direction of the wood fibers is set in opposite sides. This gives laminated veneer lumber greater strength than regular timber. Such material “does not lead”; it retains its shape during fluctuations in humidity. Using high-precision machines, timber of the required size and profile is cut from the resulting massif.

Video: About profiled timber

The advantage of rounded wood lies in the original design of buildings made from it. If you plan to build a hut in the style of a native Russian log building, the material with square section will be out of place.

Attention! It should be taken into account that during the first few years there will be an increased level of humidity in a house made of rounded logs. The wood is not always dried before processing, since this activity requires considerable costs, and therefore the process of drying the logs takes place in an already assembled building. Until the wood is completely dry, the house will be damp.

Using special equipment, ordinary logs are processed until they obtain an ideal cylindrical shape with impeccable flat surface. The difference in diameter along the length of the product should not be higher than 2-4 mm. Next, the logs are cut to size, tenons, grooves, locks (crown bowls) are made, and treated with fire retardants and antiseptics. Locks and grooves are made using high-precision equipment and are distinguished by mathematically verified shapes, which ensures maximum tightness and accuracy of connecting logs in a log house.

Two types of rounded logs are used:

• dry material dried in special ovens;
• natural humidity.

Logs with a cross-section of up to 240 mm are often used for the construction of guest houses, cottages, and baths. The thicker material, with a diameter sometimes reaching 380 mm, is used to build cottages and residential buildings.

Advantages of rounded logs

• The material has all the advantages of natural wood: good energy, low thermal conductivity, environmental friendliness, and the ability to provide natural air exchange.

• Precision processing of logs ensures they fit tightly together. Thermal insulation qualities only increase.

• Reliable corner connections give the structure the required rigidity.

• Speed ​​and ease of assembly.

• Long service life provided the wood is properly protected.

• A very attractive, even fabulous, appearance of the buildings.

Disadvantages of rounded logs

• Long-term shrinkage of the house (minimum - a year). The most noticeable shrinkage is produced by a log of natural moisture. It can reach up to 6-10%, i.e. a wall three meters high will settle by 18-30 cm. Dry material has slightly lower values. The extent of shrinkage is determined by the degree of moisture content of the lumber and weather conditions.

Attention! House shrinkage can take up to two years. Thus, a log with a diameter of 240 mm can be reduced in size to 220 mm.

• Upon completion of shrinkage, additional caulking of the walls is required.

• During the drying and shrinkage process, noticeable cracks are formed that need to be sealed.

• Protective treatment of wood against fungus is necessary.

• Insufficient protection of logs from the negative effects of weather.

• You can begin finishing the home only after the shrinkage process has been completed.

Video: Rounded log pros and cons

Let's sum it up

Making a meaningful and balanced choice between logs and timber is not so easy. Your own preferences play an important role here. Sometimes the deciding factor is the price. Someone may wait years for shrinkage to become the owner of a beautiful Russian log house. But some people don’t have time for this, but maybe they like the aristocracy and speed of building a house from laminated veneer lumber. But in any case, when deciding on the choice of material, you should prioritize the quality of harvesting and drying of wood, be it a log or timber.

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