As surprising as it may sound, building a house from timber with your own hands is a very real task and can be done by many. To do this, you need to take care of purchasing building materials: first of all, timber. It can be glued or profiled material. The manufacturing procedure of these two types differs from each other, but the process of building a house has practically no differences. If this is important to you, then construction will allow you to save on payment work force, since it does not require a large team - only 3-4 people are enough.
As for the use of special equipment, it is also not required. All you need is a concrete mixer, a pump for it, a winch, an electric or chainsaw, as well as a number of other tools that are always at hand. You will learn further about how to build a house from timber.
Characteristics of a house made of timber
Please note that timber is used mainly in low-rise construction, the structures of which do not have more than three floors. What can you get as a result?
- First of all, everything performance characteristics timber have positive properties.
- Secondly, its environmental friendliness will create a high-quality microclimate in the room.
- Thirdly, a house made of timber looks very beautiful and stylish.
Agree that all this is very important. If we compare timber and logs, it can be noted that the first, since it has rectangular shape, will bring more benefit. The same walls built from it have a smooth surface. Therefore, you will not have any additional problems related to interior and exterior decoration.
Additionally, when building a house from timber, you do not have to worry about the fact that so-called cold bridges may form as a result of the construction of walls. This is due to the tight fit of the component parts, again related to their shape. How to build and how to insulate a house made of timber, what to use for processing and other nuances will be discussed further.
Some general information
With the help of timber you can easily make all your wildest fantasies and dreams come true. It can be used in the construction of a cottage of impressive size, for an ordinary house on one floor, for small dacha or a fairy-tale tower.
Elements such as a balcony, terrace or veranda can be added to the building design. All of them will fit quite appropriately and elegantly into the overall style.
A house with large dimensions can be decorated with a multi-pitched roof. This option looks very beautiful and elegant.
If you turn to professionals to create a project, you will get a result that will take into account all the features. In particular, the qualities and properties of the soil will be taken into account, calculation required material And technological features. But how to build a house from timber is the second question; first you need to take care of a reliable foundation.
Laying the foundation for a timber house
Since a structure made of timber is quite heavy, it will require you to have a strong foundation that meets the reliability requirements.
- If your project involves constructing a basement or cellar, it is best to opt for the tape option.
- If wet and silty soil is found, a foundation on screw piles is best.
- If the area of the house is not very large, you can use a slab foundation. This option will allow you to create a base that simultaneously serves as a subfloor on the first floor.
You have selected the device option pile foundation with a grillage? Its technology involves installing concrete piles into a recess. The best option for its installation is loose soil with a high degree of freezing.
As for the strip foundation, then to it positive qualities can be attributed to the ability to withstand high loads, as well as its construction without the use of special equipment. Additionally, it is distinguished by quite simple technology execution. This type of foundation is the most common and is ideal for private homes. That is why its structure will be discussed further.
Technological process
Initial actions include marking along the entire perimeter of the future building. It is imperative to note the location of the walls inside the house, which will be load-bearing.
- Next, trenches are laid along the applied markings. Their width should exceed the width of the future walls by approximately 10 cm.
- If a basement is indicated in the plan, then you need to start arranging a pit (to organize a cellar, it is enough to dig a hole). Minimum size The depth of the ditch under the foundation must be at least 60 cm, while exceeding the level of soil freezing.
- At the very bottom of the trench, a sand cushion is installed, then a layer of gravel. Both of these layers must be at least 10 cm deep. You also need to take care of their thorough leveling.
- Another mandatory procedure is moistening and then compacting the sand to achieve the desired density. The next layer will be concrete mixture. Usually 5 cm is enough.
Formwork construction technology, reinforcement procedures and subsequent concreting
In order to make removable formwork, you will need a board measuring 25 mm. You will need to knock down the shields from it. Their elevation above the upper edge of the trench should correspond to a value of 40 cm. To ensure that the completed formwork does not move, it is necessary to install special spacers.
As for the reinforcement procedure, it will require metal rods with a cross section of 10 mm. The frame made from them is located both lengthwise and crosswise. The joints of rods located in different directions are fixed using knitting wire. Make sure that the formwork and rods do not touch each other. The gap between them should correspond to 5 cm.
- The concrete mixture for pouring the foundation is prepared in one of two ways. For example, you can use a 1:3 proportion of cement and sand; the grade of cement in this case should be M400. Another version of the concrete mixture is prepared 1:4:4, where the first component is cement, the second is sand, and the third consists of specialized additives. The grade of cement in this proportion is also M400.
- Mixing of concrete is done using a concrete mixer, and pouring is done using a pump. The most important thing is to prevent air bubbles from appearing in the mixture itself. A vibrator will help you with this.
As with other types of work with concrete, the surface must be moistened until completely dry. This will allow the concrete to dry out not too quickly, which means it will improve its quality. After pouring the foundation, you need to wait approximately 28-30 days and only then proceed to the next stages of work.
How to build a log house from timber
The consumption will depend on which method of assembling a log house you choose. building materials, as well as the amount of funds spent. The least expensive is considered frame option construction. But today is not about that. Next, we will consider the classic method of assembling a log house.
The most optimal types of wood are the following options: spruce, larch and pine. Any of them is quite easy to process and has affordable price. How to lay timber correctly? For the answer to this question, it is best to turn to professional builders.
- The very first crown is laid on a layer of insulation. It is very good if it is two layers.
- Hot bitumen is applied between layers. Simply put, the first layer is bitumen, then roofing felt, again bitumen and again roofing felt. Please note that the insulation size (width) must be approximately 35 cm larger than the foundation.
- The following stages are carried out exclusively with timber. In the process of this work, a fair question arises: how to treat the timber? For these purposes, it is necessary to use an antiseptic composition. This is done in advance. This treatment will provide reliable protection against moisture, bacteria and pests.
In addition to the antiseptic, a composition that has fire protection properties is used to treat the timber. The most the best way processing is considered to be the application of compounds to each beam separately, since an already assembled building cannot be completely processed, the joints will remain unaffected. However, how to treat a house made of timber is up to you to decide. The main thing is that the materials used are of high quality and meet the necessary requirements.
- The first part laid on the foundation must have a rigid attachment to the base, passing through the waterproofing layer. The ebb tide will also be fixed to it, the function of which is to protect the walls from possible precipitation. Laying the first crown can be done in several ways. The first of them involves the use of a backing board, the second - transverse slats.
As for the second option, its use will provide an additional gap, that is, ventilation. The slats (10 mm) are fastened in increments of 30 cm. At this stage, the horizontal position of all parts should be carefully monitored. The most suitable for these purposes is a laser level.
The cross-section of profiled or laminated timber is usually 140x140 mm or 90x140. The front part can be flat or convex.
- Factory production involves applying special tongue-and-groove joints to its upper and lower sides. This option allows you to most tightly and rigidly connect the parts of the house to each other.
- Between the rows of timber it is necessary to place jute insulation specially designed for this purpose. The crown connection is made by driving the dowel approximately 30 cm, the pitch of this fastening is 1 m.
The jute insulation mentioned above will help you avoid the formation of cold bridges in winter period. It will also prevent the occurrence of condensation, which means it will reduce the chances of fungus appearing inside the wood, which in turn will significantly extend the life of the building. The jute insulation is fastened using a construction stapler.
Methods for lengthening timber
It often happens that it is necessary to connect two beams to obtain a length corresponding to the size of the wall of the house. This type of connection must be performed competently and carefully. The most commonly used method is the dressing method, in which the vertical seam in the next row is slightly shifted in relation to the previous one.
To increase the strength of the butt joint, you need to cut half a tree in the direction along the beam. To increase reliability, dowels are used.
The shorter timber is used for window decoration and doorways. For these purposes, only whole building materials should be used; connections are not allowed. Using another method involves making a cut in an already assembled log house. A chainsaw is usually used for this procedure.
Basically, the construction process is quite simple if you at least observed the construction process from the outside. Of course, there are many nuances (markings, doors, windows, etc.), but if you want, building a house from timber is quite possible. Good luck!
Both before and today, building a log house with your own hands was considered a labor-intensive process. However, living in such a house is the real dream of any person who respects natural materials. In addition to beauty and comfort, houses made of wood have good thermal insulation properties; in winter the rooms are always warm, and in summer direct Sun rays they cannot warm up the timber completely, which allows it to remain cool.
Construction from timber is not only about laying logs on top of each other, it includes the stages of preparing material, pouring the foundation, erecting walls and covering the house with a roof. How additional work Insulation of the roof and underground space can be used. Stage-by-stage construction of a house from timber is what this article will discuss.
Wood selection
Before you build a house from timber with your own hands, you should make a choice of the material from which the house will be built; several options can be considered. The main criteria when choosing wood include:
Depravity - many varieties have a very high strength index, some in this parameter can be comparable to metal;
- Thermal conductivity coefficient - depending on the type of wood, it may vary slightly, but in general the ratio is approximately the same for all varieties;
- Price – in this category, beams with higher moisture resistance and those that are denser will be more expensive.
Most often, timber is chosen for construction coniferous varieties wood, this is due to the low thermal conductivity and durability of such material. Needles are less susceptible to rotting processes and can withstand significant loads.
The difference between solid and profiled timber
Both types are suitable for building houses from timber with your own hands, but it is important to know the difference between them for the right choice material.
The difference between profiled timber, as the name suggests, is the presence of tenons and grooves on its surface, in the upper and lower planes. The tenon and groove occupy the entire length of the beam, and have a well-treated surface, this allows connections to be made to each other like a large construction set.
Here are the main advantages of building from profiled timber:
- Dimension - this material of timber houses has standard sizes, and if necessary can be ordered individually. The surface is well processed, and the joining elements are adjusted exactly to size;
- Resistance to deformation - due to the fact that this material almost always undergoes a drying procedure before processing, it does not deform during operation. Another factor that indirectly affects the elimination of deformation is a special shrinkage groove;
- Protection from rotting - thanks to its flat surface and tight fit, water does not have the opportunity to accumulate in the cracks, even during periods of sudden temperature changes, ice cannot penetrate into the cracks when frost and thaw change;
- Additional work - there is no need to waste time on insulating joints with caulking after shrinkage;
- Ease of performing the work - building a house from timber with your own hands is simplified by the fact that all the elements are assembled according to the diagram and you still need to try to do the assembly incorrectly. This has a positive effect on the deadlines for completing work.
A short list of disadvantages of building from profiled timber includes:
There are more disadvantages, but you can deal with all of them when building a house from timber with your own hands:
- Finishing work - construction from solid timber rarely ends simple construction walls If this is not a bathhouse or utility room, the surface of the house should be additionally sanded, varnished or covered with clapboard;
- Susceptibility to rotting - natural moisture solid timber has this consequence. To combat this phenomenon, you should treat the surface of the house with antiseptic agents every year, and then the wall will not rot;
- Caulking – should be done several times. Immediately during construction, caulking the joints of walls and corners will only help in the first year. After each shrinkage, this procedure will have to be repeated;
- Longitudinal cracks - during the drying period their occurrence will be inevitable.
DIY timber house step by step instructions
Like any building, a house should start with a foundation and before building a house, you should clear the area of excess rubbish for convenient marking, and then build a house from timber with your own hands according to the plan:
- Marking - when small sizes a house made of 6x6 meter timber, for example. It won't cause any particular difficulty. Drive four pegs into the corners and check that the diagonals match in length;
- A trench is needed only in the case of a strip foundation; it must be dug to a depth of 800-1000 mm;
- Pits - suitable for columnar foundation, their depth should be approximately the same level, and their width should be equal to the bayonet of a shovel. Depending on the size of the house, their number should be determined, on the basis that the distance between them should not exceed 600-700 mm;
- Pillow - the first layer of the foundation should be a layered pillow of sand and crushed stone. It will provide acceptable play for the foundation. The sand is poured first and compacted, then crushed stone follows and is also compacted. How to make layers denser? You can water the bottom of the trench with water;
- Installation of formwork - the formwork should be raised to a height slightly greater than the desired foundation level. The easiest way is to make formwork from boards with a thickness of at least 30 mm (to avoid pushing through the concrete under pressure).
- Pouring concrete - if the house is small, then this process can be done manually or by mixing the ingredients using a concrete mixer.
Concrete composition
There are several options, let’s focus on the one that can easily withstand timber walls with your own hands, based on one batch in a concrete mixer:
- 3 buckets of sand;
- 1 bucket of crushed stone;
- 1 bucket of cement grade no lower than 400;
- Water as needed.
Preparing the foundation for building a house from timber with your own hands - after it has stood for 3-4 days, you can remove the formwork and begin processing it. You should heat the bitumen over a fire and brush the entire surface of the foundation; the layer should be thick enough. When the bitumen has hardened, you can roll out the roofing material over the entire surface. For more reliable protection you should put in a second layer of roofing material, having previously lubricated the first one with bitumen.
Walls and floor
If you do not know how to properly build a house from timber, then below is the method for constructing walls:
- The first crown - for greater reliability, the assembly of a house from timber is carried out with a larch board with a cross-section of at least 150x50 mm under the crown. Antiseptic-impregnated beams are usually joined in the corners using a half-timber joint; this is considered the toughest joint, and it is quite airtight;
- The wedding board is placed so that rotting does not spread from the timber, but from it. Once this process begins, replacing the board will not be difficult, which cannot be said about the first crown.
- Laying logs - if the foundation is sufficiently wide, the logs are laid directly on it, but if the first crown completely covers it or the foundation is made using the pillar method, they should be cut into the crown. There is also the option of independent genders, but this is a topic for a separate article. The distance between them varies depending on their cross-section, but should not be more than 1 meter and less than 40 cm. The logs are installed at the end for greater rigidity of the future floor;
- Subfloor - for laying it, use a board after initial processing. Gradually build up the floor, driving nails from it into logs no shorter than 100 mm long. For this operation, a board with a thickness of 25-50 mm is used, it depends on the distance between the lags, the greater the distance, the thicker the board is needed;
- Waterproofing layer - placed with the rough side to the board, secured around the perimeter using staples;
- Insulation layer - polystyrene foam is usually used as insulation, but for greater environmental friendliness it can be replaced with mineral wool. The insulation does not need to be specially fixed;
- A layer of vapor barrier is necessary to retain moisture formed in the atmosphere of the house; it must be secured around the perimeter, like waterproofing with a stapler, but not to the floor, but to the bottom of the walls;
- The finished floor usually consists of sanded boards.
- Subsequent crowns - beams - their components can be of a smaller cross-section than the first. Corner locks can also be different, regardless of what the lock of the first crown was like. To preserve heat, each subsequent crown is caulked using flax or special strands.
Most often, when building a house from timber with your own hands, three types of locking connections are used:
- Back to back;
- Half a Tree;
- Using a root tenon.
Dowels - the crowns are connected to each other using special wooden pins called dowels. Sometimes metal dowels are used. They securely fix the beam, preventing it from moving along the groove. Usually their length is enough to pierce from 2 to 4 beams; to do this, a hole is drilled in them the length of the dowel.
Window and door openings are another complex element that is important not to miss when building a house from timber with your own hands without experience. To ensure that the beams do not sag in wide openings, they are supplied with specially prepared wooden boxes, consisting of boards with a thickness of at least 50 mm. The boxes can be replaced by installing temporary supports made of logs;
The last crown - it must completely repeat the first and, if necessary, be of a larger cross-section than the intermediate ones. The locking connection is made halfway across the tree;
Internal partitions - they must be erected last, after the load-bearing walls have been built. An exception may be a partition made to strengthen the structure of the house, and also serving as a load-bearing partition, in the case when the house is built more than 6x6 with your own hands;
Arrangement of the second floor - if you are building two-storey house, then you need to know that the second floor is erected after laying the ceiling on the first, which in turn will serve as a subfloor. The beams holding the ceiling are made of the same section as for the floor. Steam and waterproofing should not be used for the interfloor space, but insulation can serve as additional sound insulation.
Roof installation
Several types of roofs are used in the construction of houses made of timber; let’s consider the most popular of them – gable. You can make it yourself, and the space under such a roof can be used as a small room.
- Flooring - first of all, when assembling floor beams, you need to know that the step between them should not be less than 100 cm. For their manufacture, you can use a solid beam, or use the material as for joists with a section of 150x50 mm. The upper beam must be at least 100x100 mm in cross-section;
- Frame for the roof - timber and boards of primary processing are used for it. It is necessary to assemble the rafters, then they are fixed with crossbars. A sheathing of boards 20-30 mm thick is assembled over them and you can proceed to the next stage;
- Waterproofing - the film is placed with the rough side on the surface and secured with staples. In some cases, the film can be replaced with roofing felt, but this is less effective and will cost more;
- Thermal insulation - most often mineral wool is used to insulate the roof;
- Roof covering - there are enough varieties of materials for roofing that you can choose according to your pocket, but it is important that the house made of timber looks organically under the roof, and for this you need to either show your imagination or look at photographs on the Internet.
Finishing work
The final stage of construction is finishing the room; there are plenty of options on how to do this yourself; first you will need to choose suitable design interior Having chosen a hunting style, you can clad the walls with stone and animal skins; tiles that imitate the natural structure are also suitable; they will look good in this design brickwork. But it’s up to you to decide what a house built with your own hands will look like; for this, you can look at photos of designs on this site.
Video: DIY timber house
One of the most interesting, popular and widely used materials for the construction of private houses and cottages today is timber. The construction of a residential building from timber requires much more modest financial investments and time costs than the construction of a house from more familiar materials. Moreover, in the case of timber, you can carry out all construction activities with your own hands.
Before starting any work, you need to draw up a plan for your future home. If you do not have design skills, entrust this work to some third-party organization or select suitable drawings from open sources.
Before you start designing, you need to install optimal sizes future building. When choosing the optimal dimensions, focus primarily on the available space, as well as your personal needs.
If you have small family and some free space, you can give preference to a small timber house measuring 3x4 m. Provided that it is properly arranged, even in such a small building there will be enough usable space. The lack of space can be compensated for by a terrace or attic space.
If there are no special problems with space, but you still don’t want to build a huge building, build a house measuring 5x4 m.
Standard sizes for summer and summer cottages timber houses are indicators at the level of 6x6 m, 6x8 m, etc. Such a house can already be made two-story without any fear.
For the rest, focus on the conditions of your specific situation. The larger your family, the large area must have a home. In most cases, everything is limited solely by the size of the plot and the available budget.
Buy timber whose cross-section best matches the dimensions of the future home. The thicker the timber, the less money you will have to spend on thermal insulation material and sound insulation.
Usually for construction load-bearing walls use timber 200x200 mm. For construction small house in a region with a mild climate, you can use material with a cross-section of 150x150 mm or even 100x100 mm.
During the process of assembling the walls, it is necessary to lay a sealant made of flax or jute between the rows. This seal allows you to get rid of all the cracks and additionally insulate the walls.
Before starting construction work, be sure to study the properties of the soil on your site. It is quite difficult to cope with such work on your own - it is better to immediately contact a specialist. Additionally, you need to find out the level of groundwater flow.
Select the length of the beam in accordance with the size of the house. The standard length of the elements is 600 cm. If the walls of your future home will be longer, try to find a company that can produce timber to your dimensions. This will require additional financial investments, but solid timber is superior to prefabricated elements in all respects.
The timber requires mandatory finishing treatment with a water-repellent composition. Without such impregnation, the material will very soon begin to become moldy and rot, and as a result will be completely destroyed.
If insulation is necessary finished house Thermal insulation materials are best placed from the inside. Mineral wool heat insulators are excellent for insulation, with the obligatory laying of waterproofing material between the thermal insulation and the walls.
If possible, it is better not to do the external cladding of a timber house - such finishing will hide all the aesthetic beauty of the building material.
Pre-calculate the required amount of materials to avoid problems with selling excess timber or purchasing additional missing elements in the future.
First step. Determine the height of the house and calculate the perimeter of the walls of the building. Choose the height of the ceilings taking into account the thickness of the ceilings and floors. Calculate the area of internal and external walls taking into account the thickness of the beam section.
Second step. Calculate the total number of beams. To do this, you need to divide the height of the house wall by the height of one element. This way you will know how many beams will be needed to build each wall. Calculate the length based on the length of the walls. Sum up the number of beams needed to build all the walls of the house.
Third step. Add to the calculated value a 5-15% margin for defects or unexpected damage during the construction process.
Initially, the walls of your house will have a height slightly higher than the design value. This increase will occur due to the use of an insulating gasket between the crowns. Over time, the wood will shrink, and the height of the walls will be restored to the design height.
Guide to building a house
Purchase the required quantity finished timber and start construction. Start by preparing the site and laying out the foundation.
Foundation
First step. Remove debris and all obstructive objects from the construction site. Mark the area using pegs driven into the ground and a rope stretched between them.
Second step. Dig a trench for the foundation. Log houses are traditionally built on strip foundations depth up to 80-100 cm. Select the specific depth taking into account the conditions of your specific situation.
Third step. Fill the bottom of the trench with a layer of sand and gravel. Compact the backfill thoroughly. For better compaction, spill the backfill with water.
Fourth step. Attach the formwork to the walls of the trench.
Fifth step. Place reinforcing mesh on top of the backfill.
Sixth step. Fill the trench with concrete. Leave the foundation until it has fully gained strength (3-5 weeks).
IN warm weather the foundation will need to be watered for the first few days after pouring to prevent it from cracking. It is better to leave the formwork until the foundation has completely hardened. If necessary, it can be dismantled earlier, but not less than 10 days after the last moistening of the base.
First crown
First step. Coat the frozen foundation with molten bitumen and lay a layer of roofing felt on it for waterproofing.
Second step. Proceed with laying the first crown. Pre-soak all wooden elements with an antiseptic. Traditionally, the first row of timber is laid using the “half-tree” method. To make such a connection, you need to saw off the lower part of one beam, and the upper part of the other.
Third step. Lay out the bottom crown. Adjust the bars as carefully as possible.
At the same stage, prepare wooden dowels. Using these elements you will connect the rows of timber. It is advisable to make dowels from the same type of wood that was used for the manufacture of the main building elements. Make holes for the dowels in advance. The optimal pitch between fasteners is 1.2-1.5 m.
Form the first row of walls and proceed to further work.
Walls
Continue laying the walls in even horizontal rows. Make the cut directly into the lower crown using the dovetail method. Place floor beams in increments of no more than 40 cm, otherwise the floor will sag.
The walls are laid out to the utmost simple principle: you lay the beams, connect them together in the corners using the “root tenon” method, connect the top row to the underlying row using dowels. Drive the dowels about a third of the depth of the beam of the bottom row, i.e. With the help of one dowel you can connect 2-3 rows at once. Be sure to lay insulation between the rows. You can use jute or moss.
Check each row with a building level. Use a sledgehammer to level the rows.
Lay out the walls of the house required height according to the same scheme. All rows laid above the lower crown are arranged according to the same principle.
There is no need to secure the top two crowns. You will remove them before you begin installing the roof and installing the ceiling beams.
Start arranging the roof. If you are planning to do residential attic space, For ceiling beams use a beam measuring 15x20 cm. Fix the beams themselves in increments of about 1-1.1 m.
Proceed with the construction of the roof structure frame. The frame includes the following elements:
Install the Mauerlat, rafters and other listed elements. Attach sheathing boards to the rafters. For lathing, use boards about 150 mm wide and 15-20 mm thick. Continuous sheathing is characterized by the greatest reliability. For the rest, focus on the specifics of your situation, taking into account the angle of inclination of the slope, the type and weight of the finishing coating, etc.
At the end, all that remains is to lay the finishing roof covering with preliminary installation of steam, heat and moisture insulation layers.
After this, you can, if necessary, insulate the house and perform finishing work. Laying communications, installing doors and window designs, lighting, furniture and other aspects - all this is at your discretion.
In the case of timber chamber drying, finishing can begin almost immediately after completion construction work. When using another material, you will have to wait until the wood shrinks. This requires at least 6 months.
Log house built in accordance with all building codes and recommendations, will serve you well for many decades. Follow the instructions, and very soon you will be able to enjoy comfortable living in a reliable home built with your own hands.
Good luck!
Video - DIY timber house
150x150 do it yourself, we'll tell you in detailed instructions with photo and video materials.
Some secrets are revealed for successfully completing the basic activities of building a house.
How economically, but without losing quality, to acquire your own housing for many years.
What to pay attention to and do the job correctly.
It's easy to do it yourself. make it easier with your own hands wooden beam. Wood is a traditional material with time-tested quality.
Production of finished timber coniferous species Nowadays there are a wide number of options. In the presence of finished project It is possible to order material for a template.
Production will take a long time, but will be compensated for during installation.
7 steps to realizing your dream
After making a decision to build housing, it is necessary to carry out a number of preparatory measures.
The best time for this is considered to be late autumn and winter time. It is necessary to spend a lot of time on all actions and it is advisable to time this period by the beginning of the construction season from mid-Vienna to early autumn:
- Decide on .
- Order or buy ready-made.
- Order and purchase basic material.
- Carry out preparatory work.
- Prepare consumables.
- Purchase a tool.
- Conclude agreements with contractors.
How to build a house from timber with your own hands
First stage. Preparation of the land plot
- clearing debris and vegetation,
- alignment is performed using special equipment,
- marking the formwork using pegs, cord and level,
Important! It is necessary to use the services of a specialist. The quality of construction depends on this process.
Second phase. Construction of the foundation according to the developed project
Main types of foundation
- ,
for houses with a basement or cellar. - Pile foundation,
for problematic soils. - shallow depth,
for a small house.
Third stage. Construction of load-bearing walls and partitions of a house made of wooden beams
Materials
Material used for self-installation should be dry and light
Necessary tool
- Electric circular saw.
- Drill with a set of wood drill bits.
- and roulette.
- Ax and hammer.
- Nails and screws.
Work process
The first crown is laid on the foundation along the perimeter. Previously, the foundation is laid with roofing felt, as waterproofing, and a layer of jute.
For information! The crown is called rows of timber laid vertically. Jute sealant is necessary to seal the seams between the beams.
Subsequent crowns are mounted according to the layout of the project. Between themselves wooden parts connected by dowels. Through holes are drilled with a smaller diameter than the thickness of the stud. They hammer it in with a hammer, and cut off the excess protruding part to fit the base.
The bars are connected to each other, in places of ligation with the partitions using a tongue-and-groove ligament. In the corners, for greater strength, three types of joints are used:
Important! It is easier to cut connection nodes using a pre-made template. The cuts are made taking into account the allowance for the insulation. The connections will be smooth and reliable nodes.
Jute is also placed between the crowns and in the joints. On the second crown, beams for flooring are embedded. Under each part at a distance of 1.5 meters they lay out ceramic bricks supports. After installation of the fourth crown, a rough flooring is made from boards with a thickness of at least 40 mm.
Subsequent rows of timber are laid identically to the previous ones, but taking into account the details for door and window openings.
For ease of operation and safety, when lifting parts, slopes with a stopper are used. The device is made of two boards with padded wedge stops. The slopes rest against the wall with the upper edge, and the lower edge is held on the ground by a stopper. With the help of a rope, the timber is lifted up the wall along the slopes by one person. Scaffolding is assembled inside the room.
Important! Each new row of laid timber is monitored by level without fail.
The final two crowns are mounted around the entire perimeter and above all openings. The process of assembling the log house is completed by laying the ceiling beams. Then the Mauerlat is matted onto them to assemble the roof.
We equip the openings of doors and windows with casing boxes made of boards at least 30 mm thick. We fasten them with simple nails. The casings play the role of compensators during the shrinkage of a new building and do not allow the rows of timber to deform.
Before installing the roof, an upper ceiling deck made of boards with a thickness of at least 50 mm and an attic floor are sewn on.
Fourth stage. Roofing device
To install roofing structures and coverings, it is necessary to use the services of a team of specialists. This is a responsible job, the result of which determines the comfort, coziness, and service life of the entire house,
Fifth stage. Installation of blocks
After the house has settled, window and door blocks are installed to close the perimeter before finishing. Then insulation and finishing of external walls. Insulation of the attic space.
Sixth stage. Finishing
The final stage of all construction activities is finishing interior walls, and ceilings. Installation engineering systems life support.
Conclusion
When building a house with your own hands, you can save significantly on the main stage of building construction. , so as not to allow their own.
The assembly itself is not difficult to perform; it is enough to see it once and follow the project correctly.
The result will be positive.
Owners land plots More and more people are choosing to build houses from timber. An additional advantage of this solution is that, if desired, each owner can build a house from timber with his own hands. By building such a house with your own hands, you get a high-quality, durable, reliable and comfortable home. The actual technology for constructing such buildings is extremely simple and understandable. The only skills you will need for the job are experience in handling a gasoline or electric saw.
A house made of timber looks very beautiful. But in order for it to be reliable, the timber must be treated with special means at the construction stage.
What kind of wood can be used to build a log house?
Before you start building a house from timber with your own hands, you need to choose the highest quality and suitable material for the job.
The main qualities of wood are strength and density. For some breeds, these indicators reach the level of most metals, so quite high demands are placed on houses made of timber with your own hands. The walls of the building must be durable and strong. In addition, they must provide good heat and sound insulation. But wood also has a number of disadvantages. The main ones are low fire resistance and a tendency to sedimentary deformation, which is especially pronounced during the first few years after completion of construction.
Coniferous woods are best choice for building a house from timber. The material has a long service life and is resistant to rotting; it does not crack and does not exert a significant load on the foundation. It is important to remember that not only competent technology construction, but the material chosen according to all the rules allows you to build good house from timber with your own hands. So the wood should be as wear-resistant and dense as possible.
Solid or profiled timber?
The timber can be profiled or solid. To build a house, you can use both the first and second options. To choose a specific type of material, consider the main advantages and disadvantages of each.
Profiled timber for building a house requires the presence of a profile. It may have tenons and crown grooves. Such connections are installed along the entire length of the material, after which the surface is ground. The timber for building a house is supplied ready-made. The owner can only assemble the building from the received elements. Among the advantages of houses built from profiled timber are:
- High resistance to deformation.
- Relatively low construction costs.
- Low complexity of construction work.
The material has a precise shape, allowing all construction activities to be carried out in the shortest possible time and with the most high quality. Houses made from this material have a more interesting appearance and high thermal insulation characteristics.
The advantages of profiled timber include the smooth surface of the walls. They don’t even need additional sheathing, because... they look great anyway. Walls made of this material are protected from rotting, because... melt will not accumulate in them and rainwater. The profile is calculated so that precipitation does not get into the crown joints.
After shrinking a house built from profiled timber, you will not need to waste time and effort on caulking. This material provides excellent wind protection and high thermal insulation, because the crowns have connections of sufficient density for this.
A house made of solid timber has a low level of thermal insulation.
But profiled timber also has its drawbacks. Firstly, it does not tolerate negative atmospheric influences very well. Secondly, the material supports combustion. In order to increase bio- and fire-retardant properties, wood must be treated with special impregnations.
The natural moisture of the material leads to cracks appearing on the timber during the warm season. Therefore, it is best to immediately look for a material whose moisture content has been reduced to at least 20% by chamber drying. The thickness of the walls of a house made of profiled timber will not be enough for comfortable use. It will be necessary to perform additional external insulation. Once construction is completed, it will not be possible to make any additions or change the layout.
Study the features of solid timber. Despite the fact that it does not have the most presentable appearance, the material is still quite widely used in construction. The main advantage is the relatively low cost. When preparing wood, its natural moisture content is preserved, which eliminates the need for additional measures and reduces the duration of the preparatory stage.
Solid timber can be purchased at any specialized market. You can choose exactly what you need without any problems. From the moment of order to delivery to construction site on average it takes a week. The simplicity and speed of production of the material allowed us to reduce the time so much. Another big advantage of using solid timber to build a house is that there is no need to use special equipment.
But it also has its drawbacks. These include:
- More high costs for finishing work. To obtain a beautiful and complete appearance of the building, it must be covered with siding or clapboard.
- When choosing timber you need to be extremely careful, because... Unscrupulous sellers offer bad timber.
- Fungus may begin to develop on the material. The reason is natural humidity and failure to undergo special drying. You, of course, can treat the timber with special impregnations to destroy and prevent the return of the fungus, but this will require spending additional money and time.
- The inter-crown seams are blown out very strongly. A house made of solid timber is characterized by a lower level of thermal insulation.
- After shrinking, the wood cracks. To prevent such damage, the walls have to be sheathed on both sides.
Preparation of materials, tools and project
After you decide on suitable look timber, proceed to purchasing materials, collecting tools and drawing up a project. If you wish, you can purchase the material in ready-made form. All bars will be cut to your size. The material will already have grooves, and all you have to do is lay out the building like a construction set.
If you want to save money, you can prepare it yourself. If you choose this method, pay attention to the following factors:
- The wood must be healthy.
- Through and large cracks are strictly unacceptable.
- The wood should not show any signs of beetle damage.
- Before use, the material must be treated with antiseptic compounds.
The work of building a house from timber will require the use of a whole set of tools, namely:
- Gasoline saw. An electric one will do instead.
- Electric drills.
- Level.
- Measuring tape.
- Hammer.
- Axe.
- Nails, screws, jute.
- Electric screwdriver.
- Hammer.
After preparing the materials and tools, start drawing up a project for a house made of timber. During this process, you need to accurately calculate all the necessary calculations. You can create a project yourself, there is nothing complicated about it. If you wish, you can contact a specialized construction company. The company’s specialist will make the project in compliance with all rules, taking into account seismic resistance and other important factors.
What should be the foundation of a log house?
Construction of a strip foundation.
Having prepared or received a custom project, proceed to arranging the foundation. A house made of timber must be built on the basis of sufficient reliability and strength.
When choosing the type of foundation, consider the following parameters:
- Main characteristics of the soil on the site.
- Estimated load on the foundation.
- Design features.
A log house can be built on a concrete or wooden foundation. Most often, a concrete foundation is poured, a brick plinth is laid on it, and the construction of timber walls begins on top of this structure. If you want to have completely wooden structure, you can make the base out of wood.
Timber house can be built on:
- Deep foundation.
- Shallow foundation.
- Belt type support.
- Columnar base.
In the vast majority of cases, a shallow or strip foundation is prepared for a house made of timber. A laying depth of about 50-70 cm will be sufficient.
Step-by-step instructions for building walls
After arranging the foundation, proceed to laying the timber. The most important thing is to decide on the optimal assembly technology. The timber walls are laid out in rows. Each new layer is laid on top of the previous one until a wall of the required height is obtained.
The bars have special grooves, which ensure a tight fit of the logs to each other. The grooves are insulated with special thermal insulation. In order to increase the strength of the walls, it is imperative to use spikes to connect the beams.
A simplified version involves the use of untreated pine timber. The bars themselves weigh quite little, so you don’t even have to call in special lifting equipment for construction.
In progress self-construction For walls made of timber, it is important to take into account a number of basic requirements. First, all seams must be caulked. This will prevent the wind from blowing through the walls. Secondly, the walls themselves are treated with special impregnations to increase fire resistance and strength.
Roof, floor and finishing installation
Quite often, developers try to save money on building a house from timber. And they do this with the help of a roof, using some cheap materials, for example, ondulin. But saving on material when constructing a roof is categorically not recommended. This part of the house can have a variety of design options, it all depends on the rafters and roofing systems. It is recommended to equip each area using boards different sizes. For example, rafters are assembled from 150x40 mm boards, and 100x40 mm material is used to install braces and racks.
When arranging a floor and choosing a floor covering, they are also guided primarily by personal preferences. The only mandatory point is waterproofing the ceiling and floor. In particular, you need to carefully approach the issue of waterproofing basements and basements. The floor is waterproofed before screeding or leveling. IN wooden house can be used:
- Roll waterproofing.
- Coating materials.
- Penetrating moisture protection.
- Jellied compositions.
Plinths and basements can be waterproofed with your own hands without any problems. There will be no difficulties when treating the floors of other parts of the house. Choose the material that is most suitable for you and begin installing it in accordance with the technology.
Floor is one of the main components of the interior of a home. Aesthetics directly depend on its design interior design. Therefore, the choice of coating also needs to be approached wisely. On modern market a large assortment is presented floor coverings, namely:
- Wood based coatings. This category includes parquet boards and parquet.
- Cork covering.
- Laminated panels.
- Linoleum.
- Floor tiles.
- Carpets of various types.
Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Wood-based coatings are best suited for wooden floors: parquet and laminate are the most best option, this material is simple and easy to install.
As for more modern materials, then you won’t have any problems with their installation. Focus on your taste preferences and available budget.
Finally, installation work is completed interior doors, partitions and window frames. The subfloor is laid, then the selected insulation, the finishing component of the floor and finishing coat. The ceiling is being finished. At this stage, it is necessary to equip water supply, heating, sewerage and energy systems.
Exterior decoration is selected by the owner independently. If desired, the house can be left without any exterior finishing, if the appearance and quality of the source material allow this. If you want to get a different look, you can paint the house, cover it with siding, clapboard, or trim it with other available materials.
It is in this sequence that the construction of a house made of timber is carried out. By following the technology, you can get a reliable, comfortable and durable structure without involving third-party specialists. Good luck!
