Timber frame technology

The answer is simple: in timber frame technology, on modern computer-controlled machines in a production hall, where panels and modules are completed and prepared for transport to the building site.

Panels are ready-made prefabricated walls, floors and roofs with embedded door and window joinery, piping for installations, finished elevation and internal walls ready for painting or covering with wallpaper. The assembly of a single-family house takes 2-3 days; "turn-key" finishing work  app. 8-10 weeks.

Modules are panels which are assembled in a factory of houses and "turn-key" finished, and are even equipped with lighting, bathroom and kitchen furniture, as well as white goods. Modules can be up to 14m long and up to 4.2m wide, which can constitute an independent compact apartment. A bigger one consists of 1.5 or 2 joined modules. Due to the large dimensions, transport and the set up of modules are done at night. With the help of a crane modules are laid one upon another like Lego blocks. In this way a single-family house is constructed in a few hours, and a building of several dozen apartments can be erected within 4-5 nights.

Whereas panel technology is very quick, module technology is as quick as lightning. Module construction is still a novelty in Poland, and UNIHOUSE is a pioneer in the field of this modern production method.

Timber frame technology, also called Scandinavian or German technology, is tremendously popular in Scandinavia, Germany and Switzerland (it should not be confused with the less industrial Canadian technology).

Applications

• single-family houses
• multifamily (module) buildings up to 7 storeys
• holiday cottages for all seasons
• commercial buildings
• educational and sports facilities
• council flats (social housing)
• motels and hotels
• vertical extensions of buildings (two additional storeys)

Essence of the technology

The load-bearing function is performed by a timber frame filled with mineral wool and finished from inside with painted or wallpaper-covered gypsum board (glazed tiles in the bathroom). From outside the frame is additionally insulated and coated with mineral plaster, weatherboard or clinker brick.

Cross-section of the external wall

Advantages

• customized design adjusted to the Client's needs and taste; industrial construction of the building
• speed, high efficiency, short construction process allowing for substantial savings in the financing of the construction
• high quality resulting from computer-controlled machine production in comfortable conditions of the production floor
• order and cleanliness on the building site
• production independent of weather conditions (frost, snow or rain), possibility to assemble the building even in freezing winter conditions
• possibility to manufacture panels and modules for storing (e.g. until the building permit comes into force)
• healthy microclimate inside the building ("wall respiration")
• non-flammability of the building - timber frame protected with non-flammable building materials
• better soundproofing performance in comparison with brick houses
• tremendously low heating costs: the heat transfer coefficient is from 0.23 to 0.14 W/m2K/ (the Polish norm is 0.3 W/m2K/); possibility to build passive buildings (houses without heating).