Frame or timber bathhouse, which is better - pros, cons, construction stages, selection criteria

When choosing a tree to build a bathhouse, the question often arises of which bathhouse is better: frame or timber. It is definitely difficult to answer the question. It is important to take into account all the criteria that buyers and builders emphasize in both designs.

Traditionally, a bathhouse is built from environmentally friendly materials.

Frame bathhouse and its features

In deciding whether a frame or timber bath is better, consideration of the key features of each of them is not least important. The main criterion in this is the design differences. So, in the first version, the structure is a set of posts, beams and crossbars connected into a single architectural form.

The frame can have any base - metal, plastic, but often preference is given to wood - boards or bars. The skeleton of the structure is built on a primitive foundation. Then, depending on the required characteristics, it is sheathed on the outside and inside with sheet material - chipboard, plywood and others. If necessary, cavities formed in the walls are filled with inexpensive insulation, for example, polystyrene foam or mineral wool.

Start of construction of a frame bath Source pikabu.ru

The main advantages of such a structure include:

Speed and ease of construction without the use of complex equipment and special equipment.
Light weight and the ability to install without a foundation or with its basic modification.
There is no shrinkage of the walls, which allows for interior and exterior finishing immediately after construction.
Versatility in the choice of building materials.
A wide selection of design projects - by size, interior design, architecture, type of materials, facade.
Sufficient resistance and durability.

At the same time, the frame structure is not without its disadvantages:

The latest heat-insulating materials are quite expensive, despite the fact that the construction of the frame itself can be cheap.
In terms of composition, not all insulation materials are environmentally safe, especially under operating conditions at elevated temperatures and humidity.
The operation of a frame bath in winter is limited or requires significant modification. For use in severe frosts, the structure must be well insulated.

Important! When choosing insulation for a bath, preference should be given to non-flammable compounds. This is especially true in areas of increased fire danger - in places of contact with the chimney, next to the firebox, in the area of the stove.

Small frame bathhouse covered with boards Source okarkasnih.ru
See also: Projects of wooden and frame bathhouses

Advantages of a frame steam room

A frame steam room has both advantages and disadvantages. The bathhouse needs additional finishing, since such buildings look ugly from the outside. Among the irrefutable advantages are:

speed of installation;
acceptable financial costs;
good warm-up;
no subsidence of the structure;
good thermal insulation.

Disadvantages of prefabricated frame buildings:

adding synthetic substances to wood;
the presence of glue, which makes the material “non-breathable” and requires the installation of an auxiliary ventilation system.

Bathhouse made of timber - pros and cons

Undoubtedly, in deciding which bathhouse is better from timber or frame, from the point of view of traditions and classics, the first option wins. The structure is based on a log house. It is based on a foundation, strip or other type suitable for the terrain conditions. At the same time, modern technologies for the production of building materials allow the use of 4 main types of timber:

Standard.

It is characterized by low cost, but if not prepared correctly it can shrink, deform and crack, worsening the operational parameters of the structure.

Profiled.

It has a higher price, but makes it possible to create a log house with better strength than in the case described above.

Glued.

Quite an expensive option. Allows you to create a reliable, durable structure.

Combined.

It is characterized by aesthetics, durability and high thermal insulation parameters.

Bathhouse made of timber, attached to the house Source thewalls.ru

Environmental side

The environmental friendliness of bath structures depends on how many artificial materials were used in the production of each element.

The frame is not a monolithic slab, since it consists not only of wood, but also of insulation, finishing raw materials, and synthetic adhesives, which contain chemicals.

The composition of the timber depends on its type. Monolithic timber is a natural raw material, but recently laminated veneer lumber is often produced. The material consists of wooden lamellas, which are pressed using glue. The glue has an unsafe composition. The most harmless EPI glue has a high price, so cheaper imperfect types are mainly used.

Criterias of choice

Which bathhouse is better to build, frame or timber - everyone decides for himself. However, there are rational selection criteria for each option.

A sauna on a frame is better suited in the following circumstances:

It is necessary to complete construction as quickly as possible.
When there is no time to wait for the material to shrink before finishing.
There is no need to create a permanent structure.
There is no possibility of attracting special equipment and complex equipment.
There are no conditions for the formation of a full-fledged foundation.

It is better to build a structure made of timber under the following conditions:

It is necessary to build a traditional Russian bathhouse in a classical design.
The steam room will be used for health and therapeutic procedures.
Lifting equipment and a construction team will be available during construction.
The supplier is ready to provide properly prepared and dried timber.
There is a time and place to build a solid foundation.
The finishing of the premises and façade can be completed by next season.

Advice! Before you decide what kind of bathhouse, frame or beam it will be, and begin its construction, you need to carefully consider the budget of the entire enterprise. As a rule, only a third of its volume is spent on the main material. The rest is spent on finishing, insulation and hiring a team with equipment.

Which steam room is warmer?

The timber is capable of accumulating heat for a long time (it is enough to heat the room once a week), but only if a special chamber treatment procedure is followed. Over time, the wood needs to be re-caulked as it dries out, cracks, and begins to lose its thermal properties. Re-processing is problematic if additional finishing of the room has been carried out.

Frame steam is less heat-resistant, since the synthetic components present in wood are unable to fully accumulate heat transfer. Because of this, the bathhouse cools down quickly. This material is best used for small steam rooms.

If the question of choosing a steam room depends on which type is warmer, then you need to take into account some features of the wood. Natural material is of better quality and more heat resistant than glued material.

Errors in construction

The construction team will quickly determine what the bathhouse, timber or frame should be like - what is best to offer to the customer, based on his requirements, suggestions, features and terrain conditions. However, to avoid common mistakes, professionals should consider the following number of factors:

Wood harvesting time. Only winter wood contains a minimum of moisture and does not crack.
The type of material used in construction - when is it better to use traditional, and in which case the newest.
Features of the terrain. The appropriate type of foundation and, accordingly, the possibility of constructing a suitable bathhouse option will depend on this.
Operating time: seasonal, all year round.
Financial capabilities of the customer.

Operational problems

The negative aspects and difficulties of operation come down to the installation of high-quality thermal insulation and the ability of the building to retain and accumulate heat.

Important!

The main heat losses occur due to poor insulation of the floor, ceiling, cracks in window and door openings, and through improperly installed ventilation! An important factor is roof insulation.

If the construction technology was followed and all the nuances were taken into account, it does not matter what technology the construction was used.

Video

To complete the picture, you can watch the user’s opinion; this video will help you draw conclusions.

Briefly about the main thing

When deciding what kind of bathhouse should be - made of timber or frame, what to choose so as not to go beyond the budget and not infringe on personal preferences, it is necessary to take into account the following series of criteria:

Estimated amount of expenditure.
When will the operation take place - in summer or winter.
What are the terrain conditions?
What are the parameters of the future construction - dimensions, arrangement, design.
When will construction be completed and operation begin?

Frame baths are built easier, cheaper and faster, but safe, good insulation can cost a hefty sum. An analogue made of timber takes longer to build, but it does not require insulation, and it can do without finishing. A favorable healing microclimate is created inside such a bath.

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Features of construction from logs

Rounded logs undergo special processing, during which the top layer is removed from them and the product is given the correct cylindrical shape

When choosing a house made of logs or timber, it is worth remembering that there are two types of logs:

Profiled timber or rounded logs for the house

Rounded. These products undergo special processing, during which the top layer is removed from them and the product is given the correct cylindrical shape. Such houses are distinguished by their beauty and durability. However, due to the fact that the top resin layer has been removed from the log, it is more susceptible to negative environmental factors, and therefore requires protective treatment with special impregnations.
A solid log does not look as attractive, but due to the preservation of the top resin layer, it is reliably protected from external destructive influences, and therefore is stronger and more durable. To build houses from solid logs, you need to invite specialists with experience.

Advantages of rounded logs:

There are ready-made schemes for assembling the walls of a log house, so the construction process does not take much time.
A house made of rounded logs looks very stylish and beautiful, like a tower from a Russian fairy tale.
The high thermal insulation characteristics of the material allow you to significantly save on heating such a house.
In a log house, a microclimate favorable for humans is maintained, humidity is regulated, and the air smells pleasant.

Disadvantages of rounded logs:

When deciding which is better, timber or logs, it is important to consider that when a house made of logs shrinks, a large number of cracks form. Therefore, they must be caulked periodically to protect the premises from moisture and wind.
The rounded log itself is poorly protected from negative weather influences, so you will have to take care of additional protection, that is, use antiseptic impregnations and fire retardants.
Compared to other buildings made of wood, the shrinkage of a log house takes a very long time. You will have to wait almost a year before finishing work and moving in begins.

Advantages of using solid logs:

The finished building is very reliable and durable.
If the processing of logs is done manually, then the cracking of the product will be minimal.
Due to the fact that the top resin layer is not removed, the product is reliably protected from negative weather influences.

The disadvantages of houses made of solid timber include the following:

Such houses also have a long shrinkage period, which can reach up to two years. In this case, shrinkage can be 12%.
The duration of work on building a house and the need to call specialists with experience.
A house made from solid logs can be much more expensive than other wood structures.

Disadvantages of frame houses

In frame cottages, due to the presence of a fairly large amount of synthetic materials inside the frame, there is practically no exchange of air and moisture with the environment, which naturally reduces their comfort and environmental friendliness, and also requires additional costs for forced ventilation or air conditioning equipment.

A frame house is also less environmentally friendly due to the presence of formaldehyde in mineral wool. But laminate and chipboard furniture also contain it, although not in such quantities as in insulation.

Frame cottages, being smaller in weight compared to houses entirely made of wood, are contraindicated in strong winds, and even more so in storms and hurricanes. You don’t have to look far for examples - in the USA, almost 90% of country houses are frame houses, and with any storm they instantly turn into splinters, while houses made of timber or brick do not suffer from these storms.

What are the walls of frame houses made of?

Regardless of the technology for constructing houses of this type - domestic or foreign, there is practically no difference between them, with the exception of the nomenclature and quality of building materials that are used to fill the so-called “pie” of the walls.

The basis of a frame house is a frame made of timber, usually lined on both sides with “lining”, although cheaper (plasterboard, imitation timber, oriented strand board) and more expensive materials (siding, furniture panels, thermal panels) can be used.

The inside of the frame is filled with insulation (glass wool, mineral wool, basalt, polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam and similar materials), and a moisture-proof membrane (the so-called vapor barrier) is installed on the outside before finishing.

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Advantages of log houses

Chopped logs provide a special microclimate in the premises, since in dry weather the wall material releases excess moisture into the air, and in wet weather, on the contrary, it absorbs it. This creates additional positive aspects that create an atmosphere of coziness and comfort in the premises.

A large cottage built from solid logs is more resistant to wind loads and can withstand not only strong gusts of wind, but also a storm or even a real hurricane.

Appearance is what log houses are especially valued for. You can build a tower in an antique style, or you can create a stylish or very unusual modern structure.