TIMBER framE CONSTRUCTION
Wood frame construction is dominant in USA (about 90% of new Aamerican homes are wood framing) and Canada, and an important technology in other countries and regions (Scotland, etc.). But there are some good alternatives to it. Just consider its advantages, requirements and limitations.
Traditional timber frame construction
To build walls in the traditional timber frame construction, wood studs are spaced 16 inches apart (measured from the centerline of a stud to the centerline of the next). The lines of studs and frame are only interrupted to insert the windows and door openings. These openings and the connection of a wall to another wall require extra studs at the corners and intersections.
The roof and the floors are built as the walls, but with a different spacing: 24 inches on center.
Wood frame construction costs and requirements
A good wood frame construction demands sheathing (panels of solid wood, or other more eco-friendly options: plywood, oriented strand board, wheat board, particle board...) but also waterproofing and insulation. And also siding, obviously: a finish siding should be applied over the wall studs, the insulation, the house wrap...
Besides, the interior walls must also be finished, typically with gypsum drywall (use a recycled drywall or other green finishes alternatives like paper board, ORB or hard-board).
That's a lot of materials, and labor. Something that can make it an expensive technology in regions without skilled and well-trained workers, or without a good commercial and production logistics.
Advantages of Wood Frame Construction
Wood frame construction is a well tested and competitive technology in North-America and other states where builders are highly familiarized with it, that is, whenever there is a highly trained labor force and large economies of scale associated to the logistics of timber construction.
That makes timber-framing construction a sound economical solution...
Modern Wood Frame Techniques and Buildings
But it can be improved, in their environmental impact or even in their economics. An average-sized wood frame home uses more than thirty trees in its construction, and that can be minimized...
In fact, instead of lumber, you may use plywood, Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and other engineered lumber alternatives: see Engineered Timber.
Limitations of Wood Frame Construction
Timber framing is far from being the best fire, mold or pest resistant construction. And it isn’t a particularly durable framing construction, either.
Timber framing buildings may also have serious limitations in their insulation levels, unless the spaces between the studs are well insulated (which demands sufficiently large studs). Plywood sheathing is not enough. That, and in many cases a good foam insulated sheathing all over the outer walls, behind the siding, is crucial to get a comfortable home, and energy savings.
Besides, as mentioned above, traditional wood frame construction demands too much… timber (which is environmentally negative) and also costly sheathing, siding and insulation.
Note: the huge destruction of old North-American forests – largely caused by timber-framed construction – are causing problems to wood frame construction. New-growth lumber (highly fertilized and watered) is very susceptible to warping, cracking and other damages.
Improvements and alternatives to Timber Frame construction
Engineered lumber and Advanced Timber-Framing (or OVE: Optimum Value Engineering) are two new techniques that should be considered. See: Engineered Timber.
SIP panels home construction is another alternative in the wood frame construction family (SIP wall panels are, typically, rigid foam boards sandwiched between plywood…).
See also: