Myth: prefabricated houses made of timber are cold

Fact: timber is a very good and natural insulator. It prevents heat from escaping through the walls in winter. In summer, by contrast, it protects the house against overheat. Moreover, after switching on the heating, the building heats up much faster than the house made of brick. Much less energy is necessary in order to heat the prefabricated building than to heat the brick-built house because heat is retained inside the building instead of giving it back to the atmosphere.

Myth: timber houses are flammable

Fact: KVH timber is dried off to about 15 % moisture, dressed on four sides and bevelled, which makes it flame resistant. Mineral wool, used to fill walls, is a non-flammable material. Other materials, such as plasterboard and OSB board, also fire endurance requirements. Of course, with uninterrupted source of fire, a wooden house can burn down the same as a house made of brick.

 

Myth: timber houses are more prone to moisture

Fact: moisture penetration of walls is not connected with the material the house is built of. The most important factors are: quality and care of workmanship of separate building elements and its foundations, properly designed building as well as the ventilation system. Buildings made of brick are equally prone to moisture as buildings of timber structure.

Myth: houses of timber structure are impermanent and light

Fact: Regardless of construction technology which is used, each building possesses strength calculations, ensuring its strength. Because of using solid structure (they weigh the same as brick buildings), and connection of separate building elements with its foundations, timber prefabricated buildings are characterized by very high resistance to weather conditions, strong movements of air masses, vibrations, and tectonic shocks. As a result, it is not possible for the building to collapse under the influence of these factors.