A timber-framed block shatters the myth of unsound houses

When they hear about timber-frame houses, many people think of the old building systems that resulted in houses that were soundproof, structurally rather flimsy and at risk of being attacked by mice and other vermin. It's interesting to see that people who use mobile phones, all sorts of software and apps to make their lives easier, are convinced that in the field of timber frame construction, things are still the same as they were 50-60 years ago. Over the years, we have presented buildings, built all over the world, which shows how much the field of timber construction has evolved. Now we're going to tell you about a 6-apartment, 3-storey house built by Dimmer in Italy, near Lake Garda. As luxury holiday homes, the sound insulation requirements were very strict. And so another myth has been exploded, that wooden houses cannot be soundproofed.

Small block of flats in Salo

Salo is the largest town on the western shore of Lake Garda and is part of the province of Brescia. Located on the western side of the lake, Salo is an important cultural and tourist centre. Together with the other seven municipal districts on the western shore it forms the "Riviera dei Limoni" (lemon cliff). The old town centre consists of a network of alleys and small squares, with important historical and cultural sights, but also with many shops and specific trattorias. Here, in an area with rather difficult access, this block was built. Seen from the outside, it looks just like a larger house, with an austere appearance. The building respects the architecture of the area, but was designed in a modern way by a local architect, Carlo Bosetti, who was also the property developer for this project. The apartments were to be sold at the end, so a very important requirement was soundproofing between the apartments. The structural design was carried out by Marius Șofletefrom Creative Engineering. Dimmer also collaborates with Creative Engineering for the design of the structural strength of all the houses it builds.

This was also the reason why we chose to present this construction. Many say that a timber-frame house cannot be soundproofed, as noise migrates between floors. This is true for houses that were built in the past. But things are different now. Industrialised wood, insulation materials and construction techniques make it possible to soundproof apartments so that they can be classed as luxury (as is the case here) and sold as such.

The building has a ground floor, first floor and habitable attic totalling 566 m², with a footprint of 186 m². In the basement there is a car park with lift for each apartment. There are 2 apartments on each level, with glued laminated wood floors between levels. The house has two entrances and is located on the hill, overlooking the whole lake area. It was built in 2017 and in the meantime the apartments have been sold.

Short construction time, very good sound and heat insulation

The house built by Dimmer is built on wooden structure with prefabricated walls. The walls were assembled in the factory in Comănești from wooden frames, 100 mm thick basalt wool insulation, OSB and plasterboard on the inside. The wood was entirely processed in the factory. It has been dried in our own dryers, glued to form the posts and beams and CNC machined so that the joints are perfect. After all the machining was done, the wood was treated by immersion with a solution against mould, insects, fungi and fire.

The building was assembled in Salo in 8 weeks with a team of 5 people. They consider this time long! But the crowded area, with very little space for unloading walls, ceilings and roof, with little room for the crane to manoeuvre, cramped and too tight for the team to move around freely, made the working time on site increase. The house was only finished on the outside, with the interior of the apartments being completed later, according to each client's wishes.

The apartments are very well soundproofed. All types of sealing strips have been used, soundproofing has been fitted between the floorboards, sound insulation in the walls. Perfect sound insulation was a clear requirement from the beginning. The apartments were to be sold later, and their status as luxury apartments did not allow for the slightest mistake.

Fast-built, well-insulated, energy-efficient and earthquake-resistant houses

These are just some of the reasons to choose house on wooden structure as your future home. As in all fields, innovation has been continually made in timber frame construction, making this type of house highly sought after in western countries. The choice is not based on the (false) idea that they are cheaper, but on the advantages for the beneficiary, both during construction and when it is inhabited. A 100 m² house can be assembled in less than a week and the site is clean, with very little waste.

They are houses with insulation built into the wall, making them much warmer than traditional materials. Insulating joints and foils ensure airtightness, making the house energy-efficient with low heating/cooling costs. State-of-the-art connectors have enabled building in areas with strong winds, without risks to their stability. They are the most earthquake-resistant construction, being much lighter than concrete or brick houses with identical footprints. Last but not least, they are made of renewable material and have a low carbon footprint.

House built by Dimmer in Salo is another example of how strong and well insulated houses can be built on wooden structures. If you want a new house, consider this option. Do your research, see what people who live in a timber-frame house say and if you can, talk to them. You may discover some very interesting things.