Longevity
Some of the oldest buildings in the world are wooden buildings. Japanese temples
from the VII century, XII century Norwegian churches and wood frame houses
from the Middle Ages.
In France alone historical timber frame buildings are regular sights in France;
Normandy; Alsace; Brittany; Aquitaine and Paris, without mentioning the wooden
chalets in mountain regions. Whatever their geographical latitude or climatic
conditions timber buildings continue to prove their capacity to resist any weather
conditions.
Like all buildings, wood exposed to exterior conditions requires regular maintenance
to age well whilst the interior and hidden structures require no particular maintenance.
Modern day wooden constructions
In many countries with high levels of living, such as the USA, Canada and Scandinavia,
over 90% of the buildings constructed each year are in timber. In Japan the level
is over 50%.
Each year more and more families are making the choice of wood frame homes and
are no longer satisfied by the commonplace ordinariness of suburban block buildings.
Wood treatment
Certain types of wood - such as Larch, Oak, Chestnut or Redcedar -
are naturally hard and require no maintenance. However most wood requires treatment
to protect it from insects and dampness and ensure its longevity.
Some northern countries such as those in Scandinavia, don't habitually treat
their wood as most threatening insects cannot withstand excessively cold conditions.
In Europe however we enjoy a much more temperate climate, which makes treatment
with fungicides and insecticides a necessity.
The fungicide prevents fungi developing, this may happen when the wood humidity
is over 20% for an extended period. This would be exceptional and generally
unheard of if the timber structure had been correctly designed and constructed.
The insecticide protects the timber from insect attacks and in some regions
termite treatment may be obligatory.
A well conceived plan and correct construction using treated or naturally hard
wood guarantees the durability of a wooden building.
All woods used by Bois d'Arbre Construction are treated by 'autoclave'. (A
method comprising of injecting entirely and through to the heart of the wood
with fongicide and insecticide products.) Wood exposed to the elements is treated
to a level of Class 3 or 4, guaranteeing 30 years even in damp conditions without
any maintenance. Interior wood structures are treated to Class 2 as they are
not exposed.
Thermic and acoustic comfort
Wooden frame buildings are unanimously recognised for their exceptional thermic
insulation qualities. Combining wooden materials and high quality thermic
insulation between the structural frames means that the heat loss is lower
than any other construction. The wooden frames and insulation methods are
highly compatible with contemporary architecture and allow for large window
openings without a question of heat loss.
Wooden buildings also respond to all necessities of acoustic insulation for
both air born noises (from the outside) and impact noises (moving or walking
noises, dropping of objects inside the house.)
The insulation
placed in between the structural frames and panels of the building
absorb the air born noises and are highly efficient offering
some the highest levels of performance.
For impact
noises (from inside the house) efficient technical solutions
are available for timber structures and allow all acoustic norms
to be met even allowing for wooden flooring in public buildings
and hotels.
Heating
Due to the high efficiency of wood frame buildings they are particularly suitable
for all types of ecological and alternative energy heating. Our turnkey houses
are equipped with dual system water heaters and can be therefore used if
a solar heating system is installed. Private buyers/ owners who wish to opt
for solar or ecological/alternative energies can benefit from up
to 50% refund on the installation cost offered by the French Tax
Office, in order to encourage the use of ecological energies. This partial
refund of installation costs is also valid for buyers wishing to install wood
burning fires or stoves in the houses.
Exterior finishing General finishing effects
According to the environment and numerous
factors the exterior finishing can be varied.
Exterior exposed wood will need to stand up to climatic changes;
rain, hail; snow; wind and UV sun rays. Hard woods such as Larch,
Chestnut or Redcedar require no maintenance and will not be damaged.
They will become grey in colour however, this is purely aesthetic
and not structurally damaging. For owners wishing to have no
external maintenance these woods are highly recommended. Alternatively
wood can be treated by 'autoclave'. This method comprises of
injecting entirely and through to the heart of the wood with
fongicide and insecticide products to a level of Class 3 or 4.
Wood treated in this manner is guaranteed for 30 years even in
the dampest and most unfavourable conditions without any maintenance.
Alternatively and according to personal preference, owners may
choose to treat exterior wood with clear varnishes to retain
the original appearance. Tinted, transparent or opaque varnishes
are also available and a wide variety of aesthetic solutions
are possible according to each owner's individual taste and preference.
Wood structures and fire:
As with any construction technique, wooden frame houses are subject to a range
of building norms and one of the most important being fire regulations. For
private housing the legal fire regulations impose that the house may structurally
endure a minimum of 15 minutes after the start of a fire allowing sufficient
time for habitants to evacuate. Wooden buildings respond perfectly and beyond
these requirements and contrary to some unfounded opinions, wood responds
extremely well under the conditions of fire. When wood is attacked by fire
it smoulders very slowly and conserves its strength and structural quality
for a long period.
An interesting fact are the rules imposed
on Firemen who are authorised to enter buildings with
wood roof structures for longer periods than with buildings
constructed in other materials.
