What exactly is solid wood construction?
Solid wood construction is a specific type of timber construction. Other methods include, for example, skeleton or timber frame construction. Solid wood construction differs from these in its consistently solid wood structure. Thus, all parts of the house—walls, roofs, and ceilings—are made of solid wood. In this case, solid wood refers to glulam (glued laminated timber) or laminated veneer lumber (LVL). Both consist of at least three layers of wood boards glued together, with glulam and laminated veneer lumber differing primarily in the arrangement of these individual layers. In any case, solid wood is known for its exceptional strength and stability, and for precisely this reason, it is used for structural load-bearing buildings such as houses.
A particular advantage: Solid wood hybrid construction: Only a few manufacturers have mastered solid wood hybrid construction – a method in which both the building's frame and the exterior and interior walls are made of solid wood. Only the insulation between the walls is not made of solid wood. Solid wood hybrid construction offers enormous stability and is considered to be of very high quality compared to conventional methods. A nice side effect: Thanks to solid wood hybrid construction, exposed wood facades are possible up to building class 5.
Thermal insulation and sound insulation
Solid wood houses have excellent insulating properties, both in terms of heat and sound. Due to its natural permeability, wood regulates the temperature automatically. In summer, it protects against heat, keeping the house cool, while in winter, it retains warmth. Because solid wood is thinner than other solid building materials, the living space can be up to ten percent more efficient while maintaining the same thermal performance. Wood also provides excellent sound insulation. The multi-layered construction of the building elements, combined with wood's inherent acoustic inertness, results in very poor sound transmission. Sound insulation can be further improved by using a floating floor, decoupled from the walls. This prevents sound transmission from the floors to the ceiling and walls. The hybrid construction method used by most timber frame builders actually leads to even higher sound insulation. Insulating materials within the walls dampen sound. Depending on the building class, the insulation material is perfectly tailored to the specific requirements – from cellulose to mineral wool.
