Useful articles about wooden houses

Log gable is built from the same material as the body of the building. That is why, being an extension of the wall, the gable makes it possible to maintain a single architectural style. Sometimes gables are moved inwards if the project includes a balcony.

Log beams are some of the main load-bearing elements of a building structure; they can and must bear heavy loads (up to several tonnes). Massive, fundamental, reliable, convenient - these are the words you want to say when you see beams inside a house.

Roof insulation substantially influences the overall energy efficiency of a house. Among the many materials available on the market it is useful to mention such insulating materials as basalt, mineral wool, foam plastic, cellulose, extruded polystyrene foam.

The structure of modern wooden houses allows clients to install any type of roof covering they like. When choosing a roof covering, it is important to pay attention to such criteria as durability and reliability, specific weight of material, easy installation and repair, and correspondence to the style of a future house.

Foundation is a primary support and starting point of any building that also protects utility lines. There are several main types of foundations: raft (considered the most stable), strip, pile and screw pile.

Waterproofing wood or the first log row in the base of a house is necessary in order to eliminate excess moisture and prevent fungal and bacterial decay. This is an important part of the construction process, which increases the lifespan of a wooden building.

Floor waterproofing on the ground floor is used to neutralise high humidity, which occurs naturally due to the proximity to the ground level and basement, and also to prevent mould and damage to the floor covering.

If properly chosen by size and correctly installed, ground floor subfloor sheathing directly affects the quality and durability of flooring. It helps with floor ventilation and resolves soundproofing issues.

Floor insulation on the ground floor makes it possible to improve the overall energy efficiency of your house by doing two different tasks: it helps to maintain high temperature in the rooms of a semi-basement and a relatively low temperature in the basement, which guarantees a long shelf life of food and preserves.

Every type of flooring - natural (tile, glass, parquet), artificial (laminate, linoleum) or a combined design solution - needs its own foundation, which ensures the durability of floors and increases the level of comfort.

Choosing materials and technologies for flooring depends on a type of room and conditions for its use. A terrace or a balcony usually requires flooring that is resistant to extreme changes of temperature, excess or lack of moisture.

We look into concepts and give useful advice about the installation of subfloor sheathing with the help of the available tools.

Choosing floor insulation for the mansard floor is quite a complicated task at the moment, because there are so many materials that can be used. Let’s take a closer look.

Floor coating for a mansard floor - we choose the most effective solution from a variety of options.

Terrace railing fulfils several tasks, both purely practical and aesthetic. First of all, it serves as a barrier, which is important when a building is located on a hill. On the other hand, railing seamlessly follows the structure of the house, accentuating its exterior qualities.

Carved posts serve as support for structural solutions that involve moving roofs and balconies outwards. Moreovers, they add uniqueness and aesthetic integrity to the architectural ensemble. Posts can have a round or square shape, this choice depends on the style of the house.

Log walls are logs that are stacked alongside one above the other and interlocked at the corners. A groove cut in a longitudinal part of the logs is insulated with a special material made of linen, moss or mineral wool. There are several construction methods for these walls, each of them requires experience.

Insulation between logs is used in order to seal joints between them; it prevents wood swelling and the growth of microorganisms, and insulates the room. Out of natural insulants jute, linen or sphagnum (peat moss) are most frequently used, out of artificial insulants - different types of wool.

The right exterior door makes it possible to provide good thermal insulation of the rooms, improve fire safety in the house and, perhaps, impress the guests with its look. However, choosing among an enormous amount of doors on the market is only half the battle as it is necessary to correctly install this important element of the building.

Today only client’s imagination determines the size and shape of windows to be installed in their house. Experienced specialists can recommend the best manufacturer, a required level of insulation, and an optimal installation method.

Decorated platbands, detachable bands with carvings or ornaments add a unique touch to the exterior of your house. Moreover, they fulfil a practical function by closing gaps in window and door openings. In ancient Russia carvings on platbands served as a protective house talisman.

Exterior stairs are usually used if a house is built on a sloped terrain or a high foundation, or has a basement. The external look of such stairs is determined by a client, but mandatory requirements include safety of its supporting structures and resistance to extreme weather conditions.

Settling is a natural process that every building goes through, and a wooden house all the more so. To compensate settling and to preserve the stability of a structure, special house jacks - metal platforms with a height adjustment screw - are installed under support posts.

Log balcony railing adds a sophisticated touch to a house ensemble and effortlessly complements its architectural elegance. To make a structure look lighter, figured openings are cut in the railing; these openings can be of any shape.

Beautiful, stylish and made of high-quality material, interior doors adorn any interior and accentuate the taste of house owners. Moreover, they save and distribute heat inside the house. To avoid misalignment and jamming, it is best to leave door installation to experts.

Interior stairs can be fixed and retractable. Fixed stairs are very convenient for moving loads inside a house as well as using them for their intended purpose. Retractable stairs are installed when it is necessary to save internal space or to provide access to rarely visited rooms.

In the old days interior support columns were used only for practical purposes - to support a framework of a house. Today they often play an aesthetic role, bringing an element of anquitity or Art Nouveau into a home atmosphere.

Design and installation of structural systems are extremely important tasks, which must be approached in earnest. As elements of such constructions, girders bear the load of the upper floor and rafters.

It is not always possible to install a ceiling made of a fragile material due to the particularities of a wooden house ‘behaviour’ and its typical natural movements. Experts offer many interesting solutions to this problem, for example, cladding with untrimmed boards, panels and stretch fabric.

Decorative balusters are used to support handrail elements of staircases and balconies. These posts can be manufactured from wood, metal, marble, steel or glass. The shape of balusters is limited only by what a client has in mind and how much they are willing to spend.