Wooden beams on the floors for a large span. What type of timber to choose for building a house? Types of timber and their characteristics

Many of the new high performance synthetic materials flooding the market are once again being pushed aside by the traditionally reliable, warm, natural building material of timber.

Initially, a log was considered to be a beam, comprehensively planed to obtain a section that was the same along the entire length. Now the concept of timber has changed - it can be made by gluing layers or mixing sawdust into a homogeneous mixture with adhesives.

During the construction of buildings, timber is used in a variety of ways: it is possible to make structures for beams, trusses, girders, a solid wooden beam is useful in the formation of walls.

What buildings are not made of wooden beams: entire palaces, and houses, and baths, and gazebos, as well as all sorts of colorful buildings for other purposes.

About wood species for cutting timber, GOSTs and sizes

Coniferous breeds give a bar more durable, dense; they are less susceptible to damage by pests, so that products made from fir, cedar, larch, spruce, and pine are more durable.

Softwood resin impregnates the layers, making them less susceptible to fungi and mold, which allows you to install parts from them in places where moisture can get in any form - in the lower rows, in the frames of windows, doors, etc.

Depending on the part of the trunk from which the beam is cut, the quality of the finished product is obtained with various kinds of shortcomings.

These include oblique, cracks, the presence of a core, the degree of damage by pests, fungi, as well as other deviations from the standards according to which a wooden beam is divided into grades - from I to IV.

Hardwoods, from which timber is prepared, are limited mainly to two - birch and aspen. A beam of these rocks is placed in the walls only in the middle, driest part.

For guidance on working with wood, special regulatory documents are used:

• GOST 8486-86 "Sawn softwood";
• GOST 2695-83 "Sawn Hardwood";
• GOST 23431-79 “Wood. Structure and physical and mechanical properties. Terms and Definitions";
• GOST 18288-87 “Sawmill production. Terms and Definitions";
• GOST 24454-80 “Softwood lumber. Dimensions".

The diameter of a wooden beam, that is, the width, is unified within such limits as 100, 125, 150.175, 200, 250 mm; the length of a solid beam can be in the range from 2 to 9 m, the standard of 6 m prevails. When manufacturing to order, it is possible to supply products of individual parameters.

The width of the workpiece, forming a section of 100 x 100 or more, is called exactly a bar, a smaller section - a bar. The most demanded sections of the beam:

• 100 x 100 mm;
• 150 x 150 mm;
• 200 x 200 mm;
• 200 x 150 mm.

Other options are also possible.

The weight of the timber will depend on its dimensions (section and length) and the type of wood from which it is made. Without tying the type of wood, you can give the approximate weight of 1 piece. Knowing how many pieces are in 1 cubic meter, you can already approximately find out the weight.

• 200x200x3000mm. - weighs 103 kg. In one cubic meter - 8.3 pieces.
• 200x200x4000 - weight 138 kg. In 1 m3 - 6.25 pieces
• 200x200x6000 - weight 210 kg. In 1m3-4.1 piece.
• 200x150x6000mm - weight 156kg. In 1 m3 - 5.5 pieces.
• 200x100x6000mm - weight 104kg. In 1 m3 - 8.3 pieces.
• 150x150x6000mm - weight 116 kg. in 1 m3 - 7.4 pieces.
• 150x100x6000mm - weight 78 kg, 1 m3 - 11.1 pieces.
• 100x100x6000mm - weight 52 kg in 1 m3 - 16.6 pieces.

Varieties of timber

There are types of timber associated with the manufacturing method:

• solid (rectangular or rounded);
• glued;
• batch;
• thermal beam;
• hollow.

The section of any of the types can be both square and rectangular. A beam with protrusions and slots at the top and bottom, when laid, gives a very high-quality grip, with minimized moisture during operation, is called profiled.

Such a characteristic of wood as moisture is of great importance: when drying in the wrong mode, there may be cracks, bends along the length (warping) and other troubles, so the logs are dried before processing.

Humidity for raw materials of a maximum of 20% is considered normal for 1-3 grades that are suitable for use in construction. Structures and details are not produced from wood of the 4th grade.

Glued laminated timber is most in demand as the most economical and at the same time durable. It is obtained by connecting the layers with special glue until a given section is formed; it is less susceptible to deformation.

Wooden houses from a bar and not only

A series of residential buildings assembled from wood have been developed; by choosing the serial design you like, you bring the housewarming date closer, because the designers have already drawn up the specifications of the necessary structures and details, depending on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe dwelling.

Wooden houses look so modern and attractive, and at the same time they are so strikingly different that the owner of another wooden building may not be afraid to become the owner of a twin house.

They are very interesting in appearance and captivate with the thermal properties of houses made of logs, reminiscent of a hut cut down from logs. When using cylindering, wall insulation is not required, and the exterior finish is limited to coating with varnish compositions. By the way, any range of shades can come from the color of the stain - from sunny yellow to dark brown, the “antique” style can be beaten with a carved porch, balcony.

Profiled timber gives a completely different picture, the facades of such houses can be made in other styles, it is easier to cover flat surfaces inside with a heat-insulating layer. Flat walls give more options for choosing interior finishes.

Frame-type houses are in great demand, in which the main structures that perceive loads are made of wood; outside, such houses are most often trimmed with lining boards. Frame houses can be made with any configuration of facades, with more options for choosing a style, glazing area, number of storeys.

Build your dream home

If the choice of material for building a house fell on a wooden beam, draw the house of your dreams as accurately as possible in your imagination, specify the choice of number of storeys, the shape of the roof.

Knowing exactly what you want, review the projects of wooden or frame houses: suddenly someone has already depicted the structure you imagined. If you have not chosen anything similar, order an individual project for a house, cottage, cottage or other building.

When choosing wood for building a house, the question of which timber is best for construction is of interest to any user. The number of buildings made of lumber is increasing, and, consequently, the demand for materials is growing, which allows manufacturers to offer more and more new products with a wide variety of quality and practical characteristics. As a result, the owner of the construction site is given a good choice, which needs to be carefully sorted out so as not to make a mistake with the purchase of materials.

Types and types of timber

Assuming to build a log house for permanent residence, it is worth remembering that wooden lumber looks like a long beam with a rectangular cross section measuring 6 meters long and 100-300 mm thick. This is a standard size, considered the most optimal for the construction of buildings.

Advice! If this length of the beam is not enough, you should pay attention to the elite Finnish wood: manufacturers offer elements up to 12 meters in length.

Materials differ according to various indicators, for example, according to the degree of processing, there are the following types of timber:

• Raw edged/sawn;
• planed;
• Sanded;
• profiled.

According to the method of manufacture, lumber is distinguished into:

1. whole;
2. glued;
3. hollow, supplemented with heat-insulating materials as a filler.

Now a little more about the types of timber for building a house, modifications and characteristic features.

Edged timber

Considered a classic of the material, it is an element obtained in the process of sawing the body of a tree. During processing, a solid log is freed from edges, the result is a building material in the form of a square-section beam, which has even, untreated, rough planes on all four sides.

The product has a natural humidity, so it is possible to inspect the material for distortions that occur during improper storage. Section sizes: 250*250; 150*200; 150*150; 100*150; 100*100 mm. A large range of sizes allows you to choose the optimal batch of lumber to build yourself.

Affordable price, high quality and practicality of the material are advantages, but among the disadvantages it should be noted the mandatory use of sealing material. It is mounted between the crowns so that precipitation does not fall into the cracks, leading to the destruction of the building. In addition, there is a possibility of losing the shape of the lamellas when the process of natural drying starts.

Planed, polished timber

This is an edged product made from wood, which undergoes a grinding process during processing. The result is sawn timber with smooth planes (on one, two or all sides), sometimes with a corner chamfer removed, which gives an aesthetic appearance and facilitates the construction process.

Advice! Dishonest manufacturers often pass off planed timber as polished, so you need to be especially careful: the price of polished timber is higher than that of planed timber. The differences are obvious: the planed material does not have enough smoothness of the sanded material.

Profiled timber building material

It is considered the most progressive and practical for building a house. Each element is equipped with a locking connection, and, therefore, the crowns adjoin with maximum density. In addition, the smoothness of both sides, the presence of fasteners make it possible to build a warm and strong structure, so the increased price of the product does not frighten consumers.

Advice! There are two profile options on the market: tongue-and-groove (German) and bowl (Finnish). The choice depends on the construction technology and the preferences of the developer.

Glued laminated timber

The material consists of several separate lamellae, obtained by sawing the body of a tree, glued together. Due to pre-drying and gluing, taking into account the direction of the fibers, the product is considered one of the most reliable and high-quality for building a house. High-tech glued laminated timber does not shrink, does not require additional processing of wall panels and has high energy saving rates. Developers consider the lack of deformation and resistance to moisture to be one of the main advantages of the material. The high cost of the material is due to its practicality and quality.

Advice! The material labeled LVL is also glued laminated timber, but having ordinary veneer as its components. This causes hardness on the outside, but softness in the core. It is considered the most expensive and high-quality wood material. Due to the increased strength, elasticity and moisture-repellent properties, the timber is not subject to corrosion, does not rot, the product range has a different set of lengths, which makes it possible to call piece goods universal for building a house.

Finnish timber

Elite wood with the following characteristics:

1. the annual rings in the lamellas have a unique direction opposite from each other, that is, they "look" at the center of the section.
2. Strength and flexibility are also due to the vertical splicing of the components every 4-6 meters.
3. To obtain the finished product, thick elements are spliced, so the question is: which timber thickness pick is essential. The standard technology recommends impregnating the elements with an adhesive composition for at least 2 cm, due to which the material is not completely impregnated, but only in the upper layers.

Important! Glued Finnish timber has a price 2-2.5 times higher than the Russian counterpart.

Composite timber materials

The package and hollow types of timber that have appeared on the market are also suitable for the construction of houses and buildings for various purposes. Representing a wooden block hollow inside, the structure consists of a pair of boards equipped with end elements and lintels.

The differences are:

1. The package material has an internal filling with a heater having a base of mineral wool or foam glass.
2. Hollow timber has no filling.

The main feature is an increased energy-saving characteristic, which allows you to build a house with high energy-efficient performance. Due to their technological features, composite beams are extremely affordable, but they are superior in quality to foam blocks, and experts say: a piece composite product from a beam retains heat 2 times better than masonry made of bricks, gas blocks and other standard materials.

Advice! For areas with high temperature fluctuations, the latest development is suitable - thermal beam. It is also a composite material consisting of a hollow beam with polyurethane foam filling. The price category of a finished house is comparable to the cost of a house made of glued solid timber, however, when deciding what thickness to take a timber, choosing a glued one, you will have to make a wall of 390 mm, an alternative thermal beam can be taken at 160 mm. And this means that at equal cost and energy saving indicators, wall panels made of composite thermal beams will be thinner.

Calculating the disadvantages and advantages of lumber, you should pay attention to the optimal humidity. This indicator should be approximately 15-20%. The quality is achieved by drying in special chambers. The process should be carried out immediately after cutting the log body, and only then, the dried lamellas are processed, polished, and so on.

The choice of timber thickness for building a house

Everything is quite simple here: a standard timber for construction is of square or rectangular section with side dimensions of 100, 150, 200 mm. Some manufacturers offer 250 mm sides to order, but here you will need to focus on the price of lumber. It turns out that the wall panel, given by the dimensions of the beam, can be 100-250 mm thick. And a parameter is selected depending on the needs of the owner: the thicker the beam, the higher the stiffness index of the structure. In addition, the wall must provide protection from the cold.

Important! The strength of wall structures is based not only on the thickness of the timber. When building a house, the presence and number of openings, the configuration of the walls and other indicators are taken into account, and the assembly, or rather, its quality, should also be taken into account.

Experienced developers advise choosing a beam with a thickness of 100-150 mm for a one-story building, but parameters of 150-200 mm are better for building a house from 2 or more floors. It is also important to understand that when building an all-season heated building, it is necessary to insulate the walls from the outside; without this element, all modern houses will not comply with accepted energy saving standards.

If we compare wall structures made of timber of different thicknesses, then a weak dependence of the resistance to thermal action, determined by the thickness of the elements, is noticeable. For example, an insulated wall made of 150 mm timber is only 12-15% “warmer” than a wall 100 mm thick. Conclusion: with high-quality insulation and thorough waterproofing, it is enough to choose a good timber, as well as a heater. The calculation is approximately the following: for walls made of timber of 100 mm (100 * 150-200 mm), purchase a heater on a mineral wool base of the same thickness (100-150 mm). This will be enough to maintain the high energy efficiency of the building.

But, nevertheless, when choosing what thickness of lumber to buy, it is worth remembering that the construction of a thick beam has a lot of other advantages, in particular, the structure will have less ability to warp when dried, greater strength and heat capacity.

Advice! Houses for seasonal living, bathhouses and outbuildings do not need to be sheathed with heat-insulating material, but it all depends on what size of timber is chosen. Experts recommend not to get cheap, but to build a bathhouse or a cottage from lumber with a thickness of 150 mm or more. The accumulation of heat is higher, which means that when warming up, the optimum temperature will be maintained longer.

Types of timber connection

The technology for building walls from a bar is different, but it is important to know the types of joining a bar. Today, developers offer the following typical connections:

1. Angular. It happens with the remainder (in the bowl) and without the remainder (in the paw). With the remainder - a type that represents the protruding ends of the log house at a distance of about 0.5 meters. Expensive, but heat losses are reduced and the strength of the building is increased. Without residue - a type when the end of the frame ends at the level of the wall. The connection takes place by means of staples or studded plates with nails.
2. Longitudinal connection is used when the length of the beam is insufficient. The increase in size occurs by connecting two elements. There are several ways:

• spike with a key;
• in half a tree;
• root spike.

1. Connection T-shaped. It is used when it is necessary to fasten the outer and inner walls. The options are:

• by creating a trapezoidal symmetrical spike in the log house;
• creating a triangular spike in the log house;
• locking groove on the plug-in spike;
• straight groove on the root spike.

Despite the variety of connection types, there are some general recommendations:

• the timber is rounded from the outside in order to minimize the threat of water accumulation in the grooves;
• the place where log cabins adjoin, has to be equal and carefully polished.

It is not bad to give the elements additional tightness by smearing the joints with a composition of resin and sand.

Widely used in the construction industry, being one of the most important raw materials. If in the old days it was enough to make a 4-sided bar for a bar, today higher requirements are imposed on this product.

Modern industry produces 3 types of timber:

• whole;
• profiled;
• glued.

In shape, each of these types of timber has an ideal 4-sided surface along all edges. At the same time, glued timber can be solid and with a profile plane. For the production of timber, not all types of wood are used. Suitable recognize: spruce, pine, larch, fir and cedar. They can also use birch and aspen, but these types of wood are used much less than conifers.

The length of the beam can reach 3 - 9 meters, depending on the purpose of the order. But more common is a beam of 3 and 6 meters in length. In cross section, the timber is from 100 mm to 300 mm. If we talk about a square section, then the dimensions are as follows:

• 100 x 100 mm
• 150 x 150 mm
• 200 X 200 mm
• 300 X 300 mm.

• 100 X 150 mm;
• 150 X 200 mm;
• 250 X 300 mm.

It is noteworthy that the standard dimensions of the beam are mandatory for mass production, which produces products in accordance with GOSTs. Can be made for individual orders bar of other sizes.

Solid timber is the most common, compared to other categories. In its production, inexpensive and easy-to-use equipment is used. For this reason, the cost of timber remains relatively low. Solid timber has been widely used in the construction of residential buildings, baths, country houses, country houses, as it is distinguished by an acceptable price and good performance properties.

Profiled timber (or wooden) is obtained from solid logs. On two sides, smooth surfaces (planes) are made, and on the other (top and bottom), a groove and a ledge are made. This is done so that when laying the beam completely coincides between the rows. The shape and number of grooves are chosen depending on the intended purpose and features of the future construction object.

It should be noted that the profiled timber is more economical, since the walls do not need to be sealed during the construction of the house. In addition, experts note increased level of adhesion of the beam to each other. At the same time, construction time is significantly reduced, which is very important when fulfilling any order.

Wooden laminated timber appeared on the domestic market relatively recently, about 30 years ago. In its manufacture, there is no need to use solid tree trunks. To obtain the desired size of the beam, it is necessary to use the appropriate number of boards, which, as a result of pressure, are pressed according to a certain technology. This type of timber is resistant to deformation, durable to mechanical stress and reliable in operation. Wooden beams are produced in profiled forms.

The technology for the production of glued laminated timber belongs to the class of environmentally friendly, because it does not cause significant damage to the environment. It takes only 3-4 weeks to build a house from glued laminated timber.

Building a house from a bar is a great opportunity to live in an eco-friendly building, enjoying the silence. This aspect is especially important for a city dweller who is tired of street noise and polluted air. It is good that it is quite possible to choose a suitable variant of timber among the variety of goods. You just need to know the characteristics of each type of bars and compare your desires with financial capabilities. Here we have to consider these issues in more detail and determine which beam is right for you.

What types are there?

Since the choice of timber for building a house requires a competent approach, let's try to simplify the task, while understanding the essence of the issue thoroughly. Let's start with the fact that in local markets and hypermarkets you can find three main types of timber - planed, profiled and glued.

Each type must be considered separately, highlighting its main characteristics.

Planed timber

Such a bar is obtained by cutting a log - as a result, a bar with a section in the form of a rectangle or square is obtained. It has an undeniable advantage - a low price, which will certainly appeal to people with low incomes and those who are looking for ways to save money during construction. It is much easier to assemble a log house from such bars than from logs. And the foundation of it is much easier to make than from brick.

You have to pay for a low price - planed timber is made from wood of natural moisture content. And this means that its level will gradually decrease over time, that is, the tree will simply begin to dry out, and there will be some problems here:

• Deformation - a wooden beam will begin to warp and can bend in the most incredible way.
• Cracks - if they only affected the appearance of the material, then it's not so bad. In addition, performance will suffer.
• Rot, blue and mold will no doubt appear where there is high humidity and ventilation problems. And this also applies to the material lying in storage in piles.
• Shrinkage is one of the most important factors to consider when building a house. After all, the tree will lose moisture, which means that the bars will lose in size. The degree of shrinkage depends on the level of initial moisture content of the material and the conditions prevailing around.

To avoid significant problems with shrinkage of the material, a fresh log house made of planed timber after erection must be left alone for several months, preferably under a roof. During this time, it will settle and take on a more or less final form. If this is not done, serious problems may arise, because we are not talking about a few centimeters of shrinkage, but about more serious values. It happens that the owners of the house begin to think about the missed opportunity only when the door and window openings are deformed and when the wall decoration outside and inside is damaged.

• Slots are also quite common when using planed timber, which is not a model of absolute dimensional accuracy. The gaps between the crowns can only intensify when the wood dries, so sealing materials are usually laid between the crowns, and the walls themselves are caulked to avoid the negative effects of humidity and cold.

Planed timber is more affordable than all the others and is the simplest option for construction timber.

Planed timber has dimensions of 100x100mm, 100x150mm, 150x200mm and 200x200mm in cross section and from 2 to 6 meters in length, so choosing the right size is not difficult. It is important to know that the moisture content of the finished timber should be in the range from 20 to 22%. If this indicator is higher, the material is considered to be of poor quality. Also, modern planed timber goes on sale being treated with various compounds that significantly extend the life of the tree and increase its moisture-resistant characteristics. But often unprocessed material is also found.

profiled

Profiled timber is devoid of some of the disadvantages of planed timber, so its purchase is more profitable. It also differs externally - smooth front sides and a comb / tenon groove on the workers. When choosing which timber is better, it is worth focusing on the moisture content of the material, and not on personal preferences.

When using a spike-groove connection, a heater is used, which is laid out between the crowns in the grooves. Even if the material dries out, the insulation will not allow the wind to blow through the walls.

Differences in the connections "Comb" and "Thorn-groove"

The comb, unlike the thorn-groove, does not require a sealant, since the protrusions are fully adjacent to each other as closely as possible. However, this quality will remain unchanged only in dry bars. When humidity changes, the parameters of the protrusions may change.

The advantage of a profiled beam is laid in the process of its manufacture - first it is dried to a moisture content of 22% or less, and only then it is milled on a tetrahedral machine. If the humidity during processing is higher, the quality of the material will suffer. High-quality profiled timber does not shrink as much as planed timber.

Often products are made with already cut "cups" for joints and corner joints. With this approach, you just have to assemble the house as a children's designer.

And yet, the profiled beam cannot do without cracks and shrinkage, therefore, after assembling the log house, it will also be necessary to leave it alone for a while.

The profiled beam has protrusions that allow you to fit the beams to each other with maximum density

The dimensions of the profiled timber are the same as those of the planed timber. Its thermal conductivity is 0.1-0.36 W / m * deg, and the thicker the timber, the lower this value. With an increase in the moisture content of the material, the indicator increases. Profiled timber requires additional processing, as well as planed.

Glued

This type of timber has the best characteristics and at the same time a high price. Low humidity is the main strong point of glued laminated lumber, which means that there are no problems associated with shrinkage of the material. It turns out that it is possible to build a house from it in just a season, without making technological breaks.

Glulam has low moisture content and does not require shrinkage time

The manufacturing technology of glued laminated timber allows you to get a product of the highest quality, which is devoid of all the disadvantages of raw wood and takes all the best from wood. This timber already has an impregnation that prevents rotting and burning, so it does not require additional processing.

Glued laminated timber can also be made to order, just like profiled timber. Some manufacturers have gone even further and offer ready-made kits with assembly instructions.

A novelty on the construction market is a D-shaped glued beam, which looks like a rounded log.

Externally, the D-shaped beam looks like a rounded log, which makes it even more attractive.

The thermal conductivity of glued laminated timber is 0.1 W/m*deg. This is simply amazing - a 20 cm thick wall of glued laminated timber is equivalent to a 1.6 m thick brick wall. With such characteristics, comfortable conditions are provided at any time of the year: in winter the house is kept warm, and in summer it is cool. In addition, glued laminated timber is good for both facade work and for the construction of internal partitions.

What to choose for building a house?

Of course, glued laminated timber surpasses all other options in terms of its characteristics. But not everyone has the opportunity to purchase it. In addition, lovers of an environmentally friendly approach may oppose the presence of polymeric substances in the composition of glued beams. In this case, it is better to use planed or profiled. However, this choice involves a rather long wait for a housewarming party, since a lot of time will be spent waiting for shrinkage. And this is where glued beams come to the rescue.

Comparative table of three types of timber

How to choose quality material?

In order not to get into trouble, it is important to visually check the product for quality even during the purchase process. To do this, the beam is placed with all faces in turn on a flat surface, checking it for the presence of curvature and eversion. The growth rings visible on the end section are also important. There should be an equal distance between them - this is a guarantee that over time the timber will not begin to bend.