Timber framing was popular by early settlers in the northeastern US, then become extinct as more affordable framing using 2x4s along with other small-dimension lumber was created. Timber framing were built with a resurgence in popularity, however, beginning in the 1960s, now there's a small but very active segment of the building industry dedicated to this beautiful and highly durable building system.
From an eco standpoint, you will find both disadvantages and benefits of timber framing. Timber-frame houses use considerably more wood than houses built using conventional wood framing, which wood originates from large, mature trees.
Sometimes, in fact, most of the timber frame is redundant, as some timber framers erect the frame from large-dimension members, then construct insulated infill walls from 2x4s or 2x6s. A better way is to wrap the timber frame having a non-structural system of lightweight curtain trusses or insulated panels. With this particular approach, the whole timber frame remains in view, using the non-structural insulation layer hung away from frame.
A vital benefit of timber framing is durability. You will find timberframe houses in the US that are more than 300 years old. If good care is offered to protecting the frame from moisture and rot, a timber-frame house built today should last hundreds of years-probably a lot longer than the usual conventional 2x4 house.
Whether or not the timber-frame house uses two times as much wood to construct, whether it lasts 4 times so long, it might be more resource-efficient in the long run - over its entire life cycle.
Furthermore, timber-frame houses in many cases are built from locally milled wood from an under-utilized species, for example eastern hemlock, or they may be built from salvaged timbers that happen to be taken off old buildings or bridges that are being torn down.
Indeed, some leading timber framers only use salvaged timbers in their work. Thus, despite the fact that timber framing is generally significantly more resource-intensive (and more expensive) than conventional platform framing, it is possible to make it environmentally attractive.
Timber frames today are most frequently insulated with stress-skin panels or structural insulated panels (SIPs). Stress-skin panels possess a thick layer of foam insulation (either expanded polystyrene (EPS) or polyurethane foam) having a layer of drywall on the interior face along with a layer of OSB on the exterior. Since the timber frame provides all of the structural strength required for the wall, these panels don't need to become structural.
When wrapped around a timber frame, the stress-skin panels supply the finished interior layer of drywall, the wall insulation (uninterrupted by wood studs), and also the exterior sheathing. Since the panels not one of them wood or steel for strength, there is not exactly the same thermal bridging that we discover with frame walls.
Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are similar to stress-skin panels, except that they've OSB on faces; when utilized on timber frames, an inside layer of drywall continues to have to become added.
Our website is not responsible for the information contained by this article. Webworldarticles.com is a free articles resource thus practically any visitor can submit an article. However if you notice any copyrighted material, please contact us and we will remove the article(s) in discussion right away.
This article was sent to us by:
Douglas Gray at
04182011
1. Essential considerations of green home building
All articles in this directory are property of their respective authors. Additionally, read our Privacy Policy
© 2010 WebWorldarticles.com - All Rights Reserved. Partners: Gunblade Saga