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Wooden block house: do-it-yourself house cladding

This easy-to-follow guide introduces the wooden block house approach to house cladding: a fast, cost-effective, and aesthetically-pleasing way to clad your home. It offers a range of distinctive advantages: from quicker installation compared to traditional brick work to a maintenance-free lifetime with no need for repainting. This method also offers a range of attractive designs and finishes, whether your taste is more for traditional brick or a modern twist. With its minimal disruption and installation, the wooden block house approach to cladding is a smart choice for any project.

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Block house cladding is a great opportunity to update the facade of the house, give it a unique flavor and provide additional wall insulation. Our article will help you understand the varieties and sizes of the block house, choose high-quality material and sheathe the house with your own hands..

Wooden block house: do-it-yourself house cladding

Choosing a block house

Block house is a special type of dry molded products that imitate the surface of a rounded log. On an industrial scale, it is made in parallel with a floorboard or imitation of a bar using a special technology โ€œsquare in a circleโ€. In this case, products of a rectangular or square cross section are obtained from the core of the log, and a rounded shape from the edges. The sawn block-house workpiece is thermally and sanitized in drying plants, after which fastening spikes and grooves are cut out on milling machines.

Wooden block house: do-it-yourself house cladding

The original appearance and the possibility of applying both for internal and external works, led to the well-deserved popularity of the block house. Using wooden cladding, you can in a short time give even the most unsightly facade the look of a freshly built house made of rounded logs or add a unique color to gazebos and baths made of any materials.

Wooden block house: we understand the varieties

When choosing a block house, first of all it is worth remembering that wood is a living material, breathing and quite capricious. You should not expect a perfectly smooth surface without a single flaw โ€“ this is possible only in artificial materials. The tree is characterized by a unique texture and original pattern on each board. However, depending on the grade, the appearance of the block house can be very different..

Wooden block house: do-it-yourself house cladding

According to the European quality standard (DIN 68/126/86), molded products are divided into three grades:

  1. Grade A (first grade).
  2. Grade B (second grade).
  3. Grade C (third grade).

Most manufacturers work according to their own technical specifications (TU), which in any case should not differ much from generally accepted quality standards.

We will consider in detail the defects allowed in the products of each grade in the summary table:

Possible wood defects Grade A (first grade) Grade B (second grade) Grade C (third grade)
Live (light) knots, grown together in whole or in part Allowed Allowed Allowed
Light knots falling out Allowed with a diameter of up to 5 mm, no more than 1 piece per running meter Allowed up to a diameter of 20 mm on a block house plate with an edge, no more than 1 piece per running meter Allowed without restrictions
Light knots not fused Allowed up to 15 mm diameter Allowed up to diameter 50 mm Allowed without restrictions
Dead (dark) bitches Only captive up to 7 mm in diameter are allowed, no more than 1 piece per running meter Only captive with a diameter of up to 15 mm are allowed, no more than 1 piece per running meter Both captive and drop-downs are allowed.
Chips in the knot area, torn out and dropped out knots, rotten and rotten knots Only allowed:
on the bottom edge of the grooves โ€“ no restrictions;
on the upper edge of the grooves โ€“ no more than 5 mm in diameter, no more than 1 piece per running meter;
on the ridge โ€“ invisible after assembly
allowed up to 20 mm in size, no more than 1 piece per running meter Allowed
Longitudinal cracks on the face plate Through cracks up to 95 mm long at the ends are allowed Through โ€“ up to 300 mm long on the front Allowed
Core Allowed up to half the length of the board Allowed Allowed
Roll (nodular thickening of annual rings) Allowed if it does not affect assembly Allowed if it does not affect assembly Allowed if it does not affect assembly
Worm-hole Not allowed No more than three pieces per board length Allowed
Rot Not allowed Not allowed Not allowed
Color change Not more than 10% of the total surface Allowed Allowed
Blue Not allowed Pink and light blue stripes are allowed on no more than 10% of the surface Allowed
Ash (bark remains) Not allowed Allowed on the bottom edge of the groove and ridge, invisible after assembly Allowed
Processing defects Minor gouging defects are allowed (roughness and small tears on the edge and in the knot area) Roughness on the ridge and other defects that do not affect the assembly are allowed Gouging defects are allowed not more than 50% of the total area

Some manufacturers also allocate the Extra variety, but it is unlikely that you will find it on the free market. Still, this pleasure is not cheap.

When choosing a block house, you need to take into account that the grade requirements may vary. Some manufacturers use the AB grade mark. Products of this class may have defects allowed for grade B, but not more than 50% of the selected boards.

Wooden block house: do-it-yourself house cladding

Block house of the third grade is mistakenly referred to as rejection by some buyers. However, it should be noted that most of the defects of grade C are purely external. The quality of wood suffers insignificantly, which is used by craftsmen. Buying a C grade block house, they eliminate visible flaws with putties and wood sealants, polish the surface and treat it with saturated shades.

Changes in color โ€“ blue and pink stripes โ€“ in most cases can be removed with a special wood bleach (for example, โ€œNeomid 500โ€ or โ€œProsept Eco 50โ€).

Even the appearance of green mold on the boards of a block house is not a death sentence. You can get rid of it by drying the boards in a sunny open place โ€“ after drying, the mold is easily swept away with a brush or brush, leaving almost no traces. True, the affected material will need to be additionally treated with a strong antiseptic (preferably in two steps) and sanded.

What is the block house made of or how to distinguish pine from spruce

The main share of all logging of commercial timber in Russia falls on conifers, namely pine and spruce. Accordingly, most of the molded dry products are made from such wood. At the same time, production workers often do not bother with sorting, marking the material released from the machines as โ€œconiferousโ€.

At the same time between pine wood and if there are certain differences:

Basic properties of wood Pine Spruce
Colour Reddish or yellowish White, milky
Color stability Over time it becomes more intense, nobler Retains its original color for a long time
Texture Strong fibers Fibers are thin, evenly distributed
Density at 12% moisture (permissible moisture content of dry molded products) 480 kg per cubic meter 430 kg per cubic meter
Resinousness High content Reduced content
Knots and their location Few large oval knots arranged in groups Large number of small round knots
Resistance to decay High Average
Blue resistance (fresh wood) Low High
Strength High Slightly lower than pine
Reaction to machining The wood is soft, does not crack, lends itself well to processing The wood is harder, the presence of knots can interfere with processing

The table shows that the pine block house has a number of advantages over the spruce one. Therefore, if you have a choice, you need to give preference to pine products..

In addition to the classic coniferous block house, on the market you can find more expensive options from larch, oak, birch, alder and other valuable wood species. Their cost can exceed the price of coniferous products several times, therefore, such a block house is made mainly in small batches and on order, and is used as an additional decorative element.

For internal and external cladding of large areas, a coniferous block house of AB grade is most often used, which is optimal in terms of price-quality ratio..

Working and general surfaces โ€“ what are the differences

A wooden block house, like any other profiled products, differs in geometric parameters.

Length

The most common sizes are 3 and 6 m, and six-meter products are less common due to the peculiarities of production and usually cost a little more than three-meter ones. It is much more difficult to find a block house shorter or longer than the standard three and six meters..

Width

A distinction is made here between a common (with a tongue) and a working (excluding tongue) surface. At the same time, narrow types of block houses are most often used for interior decoration of premises and cladding of terraces, verandas and gazebos. A wide block house is used for external decoration of facades of buildings of large areas.

Wooden block house: do-it-yourself house cladding

Thickness

Measured at the highest part of the rounded part. The thickness directly depends on the width of the block house board.

In different retail outlets, a block house can be measured in cubic, square or linear meters. When buying, you should definitely pay attention to whether the working or total surface is indicated on the price tag. The difference between them is on average 6-7 mm.

Some sellers and manufacturers are cunning, indicating the price in terms of the total surface of the block house, which can be an unpleasant surprise during installation. It seems that 6 mm is an insignificant tolerance, however, when sheathing a large building, due to such a defect, several boards may not be enough.

What else should you pay attention to when buying a block house

Having chosen a block house and calculating the required amount, it will be useful to pay attention to the conditions in which molded products are stored in a warehouse or in a store. Correct storage guarantees the safety of the presentation and operational characteristics of the block house.

Dry molded products require protection from atmospheric precipitation and dampness, but are insensitive to temperature fluctuations, therefore, ideally, they should be stored in closed, unheated rooms.

Wooden block house: do-it-yourself house cladding

In extreme cases, it is allowed to store the block house under closed canopies, but subject to certain conditions:

  1. Store in its original packaging to protect from dirt, dust and moisture
  2. Using pallets and pallets
  3. Natural ventilation โ€“ there must be a distance of at least 15โ€“20 cm between the floor of the warehouse or shed and the bottom stack.

Of course, in no case should you buy goods in dirty packaging or stored in bulk โ€“ such storage often leads to a violation of the geometry of the block house board..

In the next article, we will tell you in detail about the installation of a block house: how and from what materials to make the crate, which insulation to choose, how to make high-quality cladding. In addition, you will learn which antiseptics are best for treating a block house facade..

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Comments: 3
  1. Delaney

    What are the advantages and disadvantages of using wooden blocks for house cladding in a do-it-yourself project?

    Reply
    1. Thomas Hayes

      Advantages of using wooden blocks for house cladding in a do-it-yourself project include the natural aesthetic appeal they bring to the exterior, providing a warm and inviting look. Wood is also a renewable resource, making it an environmentally friendly option. Additionally, wooden blocks offer good insulation properties, helping to regulate indoor temperature. However, wooden cladding requires regular maintenance and protection from pests, rot, and weathering. It can be more time-consuming to install compared to other cladding options, and it may require periodic sanding and refinishing. Overall, wooden blocks can enhance the visual appeal of a DIY project, but they come with ongoing maintenance and care requirements.

      Reply
  2. Lily Carter

    What are the potential challenges or considerations one should take into account when attempting to clad a house with wooden blocks? Are there any specific tools or skills required for this DIY project? And what are the advantages or disadvantages of choosing wooden block cladding over other materials?

    Reply
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