A timber-framed block shatters the myth of unsound houses

When I hear about timber-framed houses, many people think of the old building systems that resulted in houses that were not soundproofed, were quite flimsy and were at risk of being attacked by mice and other vermin. It is interesting to see that people who use mobile phones every day, all kinds of programs and applications that 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 far the field of timber construction has come. Now we're going to tell you about a building with 6 apartments on 3 floors, the house built by Dimmer in Italy, near Lake Garda. As luxury holiday homes, sound insulation requirements were very strict. And so another myth - that wooden houses cannot be soundproofed - was busted.

Small block of flats in Salo

Salo is the largest city 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 center. Together with the other seven municipal districts on the western shore, they form the "Riviera dei Limoni" (Lemon Riviera). The old town center consists of a network of alleys and small squares, with important historical and cultural sights, as well as many shops and trattorias. It is here, in an area with rather difficult access, that this block was built. Seen from the outside, it just looks like a bigger house, with an austere appearance. The building is in keeping with the architecture of the area, but designed in a modern way by local architect Carlo Bosetti, who was also the real estate developer for the project. The apartments were to be sold at the end, so a very important requirement was soundproofing between the apartments. The structural design was realized by Marius Șofletefrom Creative Engineering. Dimmer also collaborates with Creative Engineering for the structural design of all the houses he builds.

This was the reason why we chose to present this construction. Many people say that a timber-framed house cannot be soundproofed, with noise migrating between floors. This is true of houses built in the past. But things are different now. Industrialized wood, materials used for insulation, construction techniques make it possible to soundproof so that apartments can be considered luxurious (as is the case here) and sold as such.

The building has a ground floor, first floor and habitable attic totaling 566 m², with a footprint of 186 m². In the basement there is an elevator parking for each apartment. On each level there are 2 apartments, between the levels there is a laminated wood floor. 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 thermal insulation

The house built by Dimmer is a wooden structure with prefabricated walls. The walls were assembled in the Comănești factory from wooden frames, 100 mm thick basaltic wool insulation, OSB and plasterboard on the inside. All the wood was processed in the factory. It was dried in our own dryers, nailed to form the posts and beams and CNC-machined to ensure perfect joints. After all the work was done, the wood was treated, by immersion, with solution against mold, insects, fungus and fire.

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

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

Quickly made, well-insulated, energy-efficient and earthquake-resistant houses

Just some of the reasons to choose house on wooden structure as your future home. As in all fields, there has been continuous innovation in the field of 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 the construction period and when it is inhabited. A 100 m² house can be erected in less than a week and the site is clean with very little waste.

These are houses with insulation built into the wall, making them much warmer than houses made of traditional materials. Insulating gaskets and foils ensure airtightness, making the house energy efficient with reduced 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 the same usable floor area. Last but not least, they are made of renewable materials and have a low carbon footprint.

House built by Dimmer in Salo is yet another example of how sturdy, well-insulated and soundproofed houses can be built on wooden structures. If you want a new house, consider this option. Find out more, see what people who live in a timber-framed house have to say and if you can, talk to them. You may discover some very interesting things.