Block house: features and scope

Modern building materials allow to embody a variety of design solutions. A block house is used to create original interiors in eco-style, country and similar directions, or for exterior cladding of buildings. Features and scope of the material may vary depending on the properties and type of wood from which they are made.

The block house is a kind of wall paneling, a planed board resembling a part of a rounded log. Thanks to a solid finish, such a product is durable. The wood does not crack, the fibers fit tightly together, so the panel will last a long time. Most often boards have one front side, but sometimes there are options that imitate timber from two sides. Of these, you can make interior partitions or other similar structures.

The production of a block house is carried out using the “square in a circle” technology: the central rectangular part of the log used is to make a bar or plank, and the remaining semicircular edges are used to make the wall paneling. Pine or spruce is most often used as a material: these breeds have a low cost. Larch is more expensive, but has a beautiful structure and color. Also do lining of cedar, ash, aspen, oak.

Timber harvested in several stages:

• First, suitable raw materials are selected, the logs are sorted by experts who assess their condition, the presence of defects. Suitable specimens are sawn on the machine, semicircular blanks are cut, which are necessary for the manufacture of panels, and the square part remains to get the bar.
• The wood must be dried properly so that it will gain strength. To do this, there are cameras dry. There the blanks go through several stages of processing at high temperatures, as a result of which all excess moisture leaves.After that, the moisture level of the tree will not exceed 16%.
• Then comes the next stage of processing: with the help of a milling machine, the panels are shaped, grooves and elements of connections are made that allow you to conveniently fix the wall paneling.
• The last step is the evaluation of products, they are sorted by quality class, which depends on the processing and the presence of various defects.

The production can be carried out and the impregnation of sawn timber antiseptic composition, which protects against rot and mold. Such an operation is performed in a special pressure chamber, whereby the protective agent penetrates the wood structure better, respectively, the product will last longer. Not all firms additionally impregnate the block house with an antiseptic, small factories may not do this due to the lack of necessary equipment. In this case, customers will have to take care of wood protection themselves: acquire impregnation or a scouring compound and manually cover the boards with it.

Vinyl panels, imitating eurolining, are made of PVC. This is an artificial material, and although it can imitate the texture of wood, it externally gives way to natural panels for aesthetic qualities.As for metal products, their production is similar to the production of metal tile or corrugated flooring, only the final form is different.

Lining has its advantages and disadvantages. First, consider the main advantages of the material:

• Environmental friendliness. Since the basis for manufacturing is wood, the panels are obtained completely natural, do not emit harmful substances and do not cause allergic reactions.
• Strength. Panels designed for outdoor use, can withstand the effects of external factors: hail, sand, rain, sunlight. The block house of hardwood is resistant to rotting and can be used in conditions of high humidity. Due to the natural content of the resin in the wood structure creates an additional waterproofing.

• Aesthetics. Products made of wood look beautiful due to their natural look, such panels can decorate the interior indoors or give the house an original look, if used as exterior cladding. Lining can not be decorated additionally - just enough to cover the protective composition.Although if necessary, the panels are easily painted in any desired color.
• Easy installation. A block house is pretty easy, so it’s convenient to work with, you can do it on your own, without involving a team of builders or using special equipment. In addition, the boards do not create an additional load on the foundation of the house.
• Heat preservation. Wood has good thermal insulation properties, so the paneling acts as an additional insulation layer.

Low vapor permeability is a disadvantage of the material: condensation may occur between the skin and the wall. Reviews say that this can be avoided if during construction and repair to take care of the device of a good ventilation system. Another disadvantage is the combustibility of wood. To protect your home, you need to use special protective impregnation, designed for processing lumber.

Vinyl block house is an imitation of sawn timber. It costs more because it has several advantages:

• Reduced weight. Such panels are lighter than wood by 10–15 times, which reduces the load on the walls and the foundation, and also facilitates the process of construction or repair.
• Fire safety.The material does not burn, so even when a spark hits, there is no risk of flame spreading. Can be used in rooms with fireplaces.
• Sustainability. Maintains differences of temperatures in the range from -50 to +50 degrees. Does not fade when exposed to direct sunlight. It will last about 50 years, which is longer than the service life of lumber.

Disadvantages of products mainly related to installation work. They require a certain technology: you need to leave gaps, rigid attachment is not recommended. Vinyl panels are not very well suited if in the future something is planned to be mounted on the walls, for example, hang shelves. These products do not have a good bearing capacity, which can make it difficult to drive nails into the wall or fix other types of fasteners.

There is also a metal block-house, externally imitating the paneling. It is a type of siding and is used for exterior cladding of buildings. It is made of durable galvanized steel, so the material has various advantages:

• maintains temperature in the range from -50 to +80 degrees and can last more than 50 years;
• not subject to the effects of atmospheric phenomena, therefore, is well suited to the role of the exterior cladding of buildings;
• at arrangement of additional thermal insulation will provide protection against frosts, not allowing the accumulated heat to quickly evaporate.

With all the advantages of metal products remain quite affordable: their cost is approximately equal to the price of lumber. The negative side is that the metal is very hot in the sun, so the house will be hot. Also for the assembly of the coating will require additional elements.

For the manufacture of boards can be used various materials. Pine and spruce are the most popular: they are inexpensive and common species that are similar in characteristics. Manufacturers often do not sort them, labeling products as “coniferous”. However, the package indicates the purpose: for interior or exterior use. Therefore, when choosing boards from needles, you must first look at the scope.

In the bath or sauna is best suited linden with bast. This is wood treated in a special way, with preservation of the subcortex, saturated with essential oils. During heating, they will evaporate, creating a pleasant aroma in the bath room. Also, lime block-house well tolerates high humidity.

Resistance to moisture is characterized by species such as larch and alder. They are suitable for cladding. Larch has a rich palette of shades and a beautiful natural structure, and alder is known for its water resistance, so it is also used in the manufacture of moorings.

Cedar block-house is of high quality, well-suited for interior decoration, it has an attractive appearance. The peculiarity of this wood is phytoncides, which are released into the air and disinfect it, creating an optimal microclimate. Due to these properties, the cost of cedar panels is higher than that of other products from conifers.

Canadian oak is considered a premium grade of wood, so products made from it are used for interior decoration. It is durable and durable. At the same time, the oak blockhouse is lighter than ordinary boards, so this covering is easier to fasten and does not create additional load on the wall.

In addition to the varieties of wood used, the block house may be different and other features: the panels are single fracture (standard version), there is a two-fracture appearance (these have a large width). According to the method of manufacture: large-scale production uses the "square in a circle" method, but some companies make panels from edged boards. The density of wood is lower, and the cost will be higher, since the board is already finished material, for the receipt of which resources were spent and when sawing more waste.

Depending on the resulting quality of processing and the type of the front surface, there are several classes of lumber:

• Category C. Acceptable level, allowed the presence of black knots, different from the color of the panel, or traces of them. Small, but noticeable damages are possible: chips, small scratches, wormholes. This is the cheapest variety.
• Category B. The surface of the panel is normal.There may be minor chips or cracks that have fallen knots.
• Category A. Products have a well-rounded surface, with the presence of knots. There should be no damage.
• Extra. Differs perfectly smooth surface, smooth and even, no knots or damages are allowed. Boards for this category are selected manually.

Some manufacturers use their own labeling, marking products as “Premium” or introducing an intermediate variant “AB”, since there is no single standard for designations.

The material is made of wood, so the panels retain the shade of natural wood. Depending on the variety, the color can vary from light brown or ocher to red-brown and darker tones. To preserve this color, they use transparent glazing compositions during processing: they protect the wood from the negative effects of moisture and other factors, but do not affect the color in any way.

If you wish, you can paint the walls, sheathed block house. Paint required for woodworking and suitable for indoor or outdoor use will be required depending on where the surface to be treated is located. You can choose any shade, manufacturers of paint and varnish compositions offer a rich palette.

You can use the block house in the interior in various ways, combining panels of different colors with each other to get an original drawing. Also an interesting option may be a combination of several sawn timber: a block-house, ordinary boards, a bar. Wood combines well with other natural materials: stone, leather, textile decoration.

Manufacturers are trying to unify the size, so that when installing and cutting products there were no problems. The following sizes are considered standard:

• universal - from 3 to 6 meters in length, with a width of 142 mm and a crest height of 36 mm;
• wide (for interior work) - has the same width and length parameters, but differs in the height of the ridge - 128 mm;
• wide (for outdoor work) - the length is 6 meters, width - 193 mm, ridge height - 36 mm.

The block house can be used for exterior plating of the house or any other buildings on the site, including an outdoor toilet with a shower, a barn with a woodsheds, or an arbor. It is possible to revet frame constructions and monolithic walls from concrete, brick buildings, buildings from a bar or different blocks. Installation on the crate allows you to do without leveling the walls, reducing the time of work.

It is not necessary to use panels only in the construction of new buildings, it is also suitable for restoration, since it does not create a large load on the old foundation due to its lightness. The sheathing of the block house will give the walls an updated look at no extra cost.

Indoors, the wall paneling can also be used for wall cladding, and sometimes even the ceiling and door are trimmed with it.The panels will look good in ordinary living rooms, in the bath or sauna, you can sheathe their balcony, which will further warm it.

Before choosing lumber, it is necessary to determine how much is needed to perform the work. You will need to know the area of ​​the walls by multiplying the length by the height. If the surface includes windows or doors, then their area is calculated separately and then subtracted from the total. The openings are usually trimmed with decorative strips, so for them, too, you need to record all the measurements.

During the purchase you need to carefully inspect the boards, you should not only rely on information from the packaging, the material should be really high quality. It is also important in what conditions the wall panel was stored, since excessive moisture makes the material unsuitable for further use. If possible, it is better to buy goods directly from manufacturers, directly from the factory: this eliminates the possibility of improper storage or transportation.

To extend the service life of the panels, they can be coated with special impregnation:

• acrylic water-soluble products are odorless and suitable for indoor use;
• alkyd impregnations are more durable, but they have a sharp unpleasant odor that can cause headaches, therefore it is necessary to provide the possibility of airing before painting;
• oil impregnations are used for processing of lining on the street.

Azure or lessiruyushchy structures combine properties of impregnations and varnishes, are made on the basis of the same components. After applying the tree looks quite natural, retaining its natural texture, but acquiring a light lacquer gloss. If necessary, such a tool can be toned to give the tree the desired shade.

There are also paints with which it is possible to cover a block house. It should be borne in mind that the painting will hide the texture of the tree, and it is unlikely to be able to return it to its original appearance. Before applying, it is advisable to use a primer: this will increase adhesion.

Installation work is performed in a certain way.The panels are mounted on the crate - the frame of the bars with a step of 50-60 cm. The eurolining is fixed with nails, screws or cleats, additional strength provides the connection "thorn-groove". The main difficulty is the design of window and door openings, since in this area it is impossible to lay the crate. Therefore, it is necessary to mount the panel directly on the wall. It is better to do it with glue or dowels, other fasteners can damage the wood.

The installation of a metal block house is also carried out on a batten, but in increments of 35–40 cm. It is allowed to use a wooden frame or from a profile. To make beautiful corners and joints, additional parts are used. Additional antiseptic impregnation products do not need.

Vinyl panels are mounted in the same way: using crates. When installing there is a nuance: you need to leave a gap of about 1–2 mm. This is a temperature reserve for spring and summer, when products can expand. If you join them closely, they will crack and quickly become useless. Also for this reason, it is not worthwhile to deepen the fasteners too tightly into the hole; between the head and the material, leave a distance of 2 mm.

A block house in the interior is not always a setting that resembles an old log house in the village. Everything can look quite modern and stylish, if you correctly select the other components of the design. In this room, white and gray surfaces without any decor optimally complement the tree, emphasizing its beauty and texture, so the room does not seem overloaded or too colorful. Calm colors are good for relaxing. The furniture continues the general line of minimalism and restraint. Comfort adds an electronic fireplace (this is quite in the spirit of the modern style), which is combined with wood trim and at the same time is completely safe: the panels will not light up from a random spark.

An interesting idea - a white block house. Bleached wood makes the room lighter, visually adds space and creates a feeling of freedom. You can also use other types of wood in the interior: parquet, wooden furniture.

Attic with wooden trim looks very cozy. In order to make it more interesting and original, you can use different types of materials. One of the walls sheathe block-house, and let the ceiling be a board - an imitation of the beam. Another wall can be covered with white or beige paint or plaster. It will also look good in this interior wooden parquet.

Can I use the block house in the bathroom? At first glance, the idea seems rather unusual, but why not. The material is actively used for plating baths and saunas, therefore, to choose a variety that is not afraid of high humidity is not difficult. After this, it will only be necessary to carry out the necessary work by completing the wall and ceiling cladding. Such an interior can be complemented with unusual accessories using vintage lamps with lampshades and wooden cabinets. An interesting accent will be a real tree trunk in the corner with protruding branches, on which it will be possible to hang towels for convenience.

It is not necessary to panel the walls - you can make an original ceiling that looks really unusual. This solution is suitable for a country house, where it is possible to create an individual layout. The overall style of the interior can be attributed to the English direction of country music. It retains the features of the Victorian era: massive furniture, dressers instead of cabinets, the use of wooden wall panels and wallpaper. At the same time, there are elements at the same time resembling a hunting lodge: this is a construction of beams under the ceiling and wood paneling, a lot of wood in the interior and a simplified setting.

If the walls and ceiling, entirely sheathed in wood, seem too boring, then you can diversify the situation using various techniques. In the decoration combine lumber of different widths: narrow and wide, block house and imitation timber. Add a peculiar accent on contrasts - the presence of light and dark colors in the setting.At the same time, the contrast is achieved not only due to the light, but also the location: dark boards go across the skin, as if highlighting certain parts of the room. This technique can also be used for zoning, if there is a need to divide a large common room into separate corners for rest, work, and meals. Wooden window frames and the door perfectly complement the interior, as well as furniture from similar material.

The ideas of returning to their roots are very popular lately. This is how a bedroom in traditional Russian style may look like in a modern way. Sheathing imitates the log walls of the hut, but since this is a block house, it turns out to be easier. If desired, such an interior can be made even in an apartment, creating an appropriate finish, although in a country house the design looks more organic. The floor and the ceiling of the boards complement the decor, as well as wooden furniture, stylized to be a deliberately rough style.

The block house will perfectly fit into the atmosphere of a common room in a private house, combining the functions of a dining room and a living room. With it, you can recreate the interior of a log cabin, complementing the picture with massive beams under the ceiling, wooden furniture and window frames.A large stone fireplace goes well with natural materials, and the carpet with an ethnic pattern will add comfort.

The exterior of the blockhouse house looks original, such Scandinavian-style buildings look good on a country plot surrounded by nature. To make the overall background look harmonious, the window frames should also be wooden, not plastic. The roof can be covered with green tiles: it goes well with brown shades.

With clapboard, you can quickly and inexpensively sheathe garden houses on the site or a small bath. This facing looks very aesthetic, and even against the background of concrete houses, it allows for a while to forget about the noisy city and imagine the village atmosphere.

On the summer terrace will look beautiful wall, sheathed block house. The tree is well combined with natural stone, from which the lower half and the opposite wall are made. In addition, under a canopy sheathing will be weatherproof and will last longer.

How to carry out finishing the house a block house, see the following video.