Structure of the base wall

The solid wood wall is made of dried wood and exhibits excellent thermoregulating properties thanks to its sophisticated structure.

The Solid Wood Wall elements consist of flat softwood arranged crosswise and in layers, which are permanently joined together using a special nailing technique. This centuries old nailing technique allows for extremely fast, rational and efficient manufacture.

Depending on whether they are used as an inner or outer wall, the wall elements differ with regard to the wall thickness (number of board layers) as well as the lining or insulation.

The outer walls forms the thermal envelop.

Shaping the surface of the untreated boards with small grooves/profiles creates an air cushion in the finished wall which improves the insulation value over normal solid timber by approximately 20%. This means that the design of an SWWS is considerably more efficient than the conventional solid timber systems in terms of equalising summer heat and winter cold.

Thanks to optimal, technical drying, the untreated boards have extremely good dimensional stability and are resistant to pests. The "working" of the boards is also reduced to a minimum by drying the boards and the layered wall structure.

Moon phase timber can be omitted with the SW wall. Nevertheless, if there is still a desire to build with moon phase timber, our manufacturing plants will gladly arrange for this. Simply let us know.

Structure of the outer wall

The structure of an outer wall consists of three zones:

• Solid Wood Wall ( base wall)
• Inside lining
• External façade

A wall thickness between 20 and 25 centimeters (9 to11 board layers) can be selected for the base wall for outer walls. Thicker walls with up to 15 layers are also possible.

The inside lining (e.g. exposed wood, dry construction materials, clay or lime plaster systems) is applied directly on the Solid Wood Wall. Only in this way can the inside lining and the underlying wood with its natural absorption capabilities (moisture buffer) and their highly beneficial thermal properties have an optimal impact on the indoor climate. Wall heating can also be installed.

The building services, such as the electrical installation, are installed in individually prefabricated recesses (slots and boreholes) in the wall elements between the inside lining and the Solid Wood Wall. As developer, you can freely design the external façade according to your wishes and in your preferred style - rural, traditional or simple and architecturally modern.

An additional layer of external insulation, which forms parts of the façade, is chosen according to the required standard - whether according to the Building Energy Act (GEG) or as a PlusEnergy, KfW efficiency house or passive house. The plaster façade is applied directly to the insulation material as a mesh filling. Alternatively very natural appearing wood panelling or other façade cladding can also be mounted on a substructure.

Structure of the inner wall

The structure of an inner wall consist of three zones:

• Inside lining
• Solid Wood Wall
• Inside lining

A wall thickness between 10 and 20 centimeters (5 to 7 board layers) can be selected for the base wall for solid wooden inner walls. It receives an inside lining on both sides that forms the finished wall surface.

The inside lining can be freely designed in the preferred style according to the wishes of the builder (e.g. exposed wood, dry construction materials, clay or lime plaster systems). This layer is generally placed directly on the solid wooden wall without an installation layer. In this way, the inside lining on the solid wooden wall and the underlying wood with its natural absorption capabilities can act as a moisture buffer and have an optimal impact on the indoor climate thanks to their positive thermal properties.

The interior finishing can largely by carried out in a dry state. Unlike conventional solid constructions, no drying times are required ad a dry and cosy living atmosphere is perceptible in the building right from the start.

Additionally, the vapour permeable construction and the warm inner surfaces due to the positive insulating properties of the SWWS sustainably contribute to a moisture management that is optimal for your health and the building material.

Living Space and Volume

First, the living space of your project is determined. How large do you envision your home to be? The second step involves considering the spatial concept. In addition to the volume, the floor plan and layout play a crucial role. How extravagant should your rooms be? Features such as projections and recesses (e.g., bay windows) or gables are particularly relevant to the cost. The number of rooms is also decisive. The more rooms desired, the more walls and other structural elements, such as doors, will be required. Furthermore, the ceiling height, knee wall height, and roof shape will also be decisive factors in the price calculation of your solid wood house. Therefore, it is not possible to quote a flat rate per square meter of living space for a solid wood house, as each construction project is individually planned and implemented.

Planning Costs for a Solid Wood House

Who plans your house? Besides an architect, a structural engineer or a master carpenter can also handle the planning. Planning costs are significantly influenced by structural analysis, energy calculations, volume, and building services. If complex structural engineering is required, for example, to create rooms without load-bearing interior walls, or if the architectural design is particularly unusual, the planning process will be more time-consuming. Your personal requirements for building services and a potential bus system, which connects individual devices and controls lighting, etc., also play a major role in the planning costs and, consequently, the overall cost of your solid wood house.

Interior Finishes

How high-quality do you want your interior finishes to be? The overall cost of a solid wood house can vary significantly depending on the interior finishes. Do you prefer wood, aluminum, or PVC windows? What type of flooring do you want? Solid wood, tiles, or laminate? Do you want a simple shower or the luxury of a whirlpool in your bathroom? Electrical, plumbing, and heating installations, as well as ventilation and air conditioning systems, staircase design, and shading, all influence the final cost.

There is a big price difference between the standard and the higher-end interior design versions. Smart home concepts, in particular, can significantly increase the price.

Energy Standard of Solid Wood Houses

The energy standard is largely determined by thermal insulation, but wall thickness and windows also play a crucial role. It significantly contributes to the overall cost of a solid wood house. With its natural thermal properties, wood is an excellent material for thermal insulation. The integrated air gaps in our solid wood walls further optimize heat storage.

Achieving a high energy standard requires an investment in the building's thermal insulation, which can pay off in the form of future energy savings. The desired energy standard depends on your personal preferences and budget.

With our glue-free solid wood walls, any energy standard can be achieved: low-energy house, passive house, or energy-plus house, where more energy is generated than the residents consume. It always comes down to the interplay between solid wall construction and insulation. Generally speaking, the more insulation is applied to the solid wood wall, the higher the energy standard can be. However, most of our customers value the solid wood component. They therefore choose a medium wall thickness with less insulation, accepting that this means they won't achieve the highest possible energy standard. It's not just the insulation of the exterior walls that determines the energy efficiency class. The U-value of the windows is just as crucial as the insulation of the foundation slab or basement and the roof.

Ecological Requirements

The ecological requirements are solely determined by your personal preferences for healthy living and your values. Is the added value of an ecological building envelope sufficient for your indoor climate, or do you desire ecological design down to the last detail? For example, during interior construction, you can decide whether you want to clad the rooms with drywall or gypsum fiberboard, or perhaps with clay plaster. A consistently ecological interior design would also mean wooden floors instead of laminate or PVC.

There is no definitive answer to the question of how much ecological design is necessary; it depends not only on personal convictions but also on your budget. However, it is certain that, with regard to potential future deconstruction, the purity of pollutants and materials, as well as recyclability, are important factors influencing demolition and disposal costs.

Owner-Contribution

Owner-contribution plays a significant role in the cost of your solid wood house. If you are skilled in DIY and can contribute a lot of your own labor, or if you have a large circle of friends and acquaintances who can cover some of the trades, you will save money. If you prefer to simply observe the construction process and have your dream house built turnkey, the costs will be higher.

Do you already have a building plan and would like a concrete quote for your construction project? Then the next steps are as follows:

Contact a local carpentry firm of your choice, or get in touch with us, and we will gladly recommend a suitable carpenter from our partner companies. Discuss your building project with the carpenter. The carpentry firm will request a quote from us, which we will then send directly to them.

We do not carry out the construction work ourselves. Construction is always handled by a carpentry firm. Therefore, quotes can never be sent directly to private clients, but only to construction companies.

Would you like a turnkey solid wood house with a single point of contact as your project manager, who coordinates all services from one source? Then please contact our partner, Invivo Haus. Sit back and watch as they build your dream home using solid wood construction.