Post and beam: features of house construction technology, photo examples

Continuing the topic of building frame houses, Our site of tips decided to tell you about such an interesting technology as Post and beam. From English, the name is simply translated as “pillar and beam”. How does this technology differ from the more common options for frame houses? Let’s figure it out!

In a general sense, a frame house is a structure based on racks and jibs from a board or, much less often, from a metal profile with insulation, which is closed from the inside and outside by cladding. In fact, there are a lot of frame construction technologies. Japan has its own Daiku technology, in France it is called Colombage, in England – Half-Timber, and in Germany and other European countries, half-timber houses are still widespread. The portal has already written in detail about the Canadian technology for the construction of Timber frame houses, comparing it with Russian techniques for the construction of similar houses and Finnish buildings.

Of all the technologies listed above for the construction of frame houses, Post and beam is closest to the Canadian Timber frame. The main difference is that instead of the traditional timber, debarked hand-cut logs are used in the post-and-beam frame. Moreover, the logs are deliberately not hidden behind the external decoration, they leave such a frame in plain sight. It turns out a very interesting mix of a log house and a frame house.

The frame filling is placed between vertical logs. Most often, large-diameter logs are used to keep the house brutal, immediately recognizable. The filling of the frame can be absolutely anything. For example, you can use cheaper logs with a smaller diameter, other materials – from straw to bricks, insulation for cladding.

A variety of materials will perfectly combine with the natural wood of the frame, including cladding with a wooden block house on top of insulation. So the appearance of a house built using Post and beam technology can be different, it all depends on the preferences and financial capabilities of the owners. Only the log frame will remain unchanged, left for everyone to see.

Post and beam technology has several advantages:

• The frame is erected and the whole house is quickly.
• Money is saved on logs, which cost a lot. This is not a log house that requires a lot of wood. It’s just a frame that can be filled with more budget materials..
• The house turns out to be lighter than a log house, which allows you to choose, for example, a strip foundation.
• High energy efficiency is achieved due to the use of high-quality insulation and frame cladding.
• There is practically no shrinkage, which is inevitable when building houses entirely from logs. Vertically standing logs along the grain practically do not dry out, this property is inherent in all wood. Shrinkage occurs exclusively in places where horizontal beams are installed, cut into the posts. However, this will not prevent you from immediately installing window openings and starting finishing..
• Houses with a log frame look, especially if the logs are large in diameter, very beautiful, unusual.

Important! The Post and beam house with panoramic windows between the frame logs looks especially interesting. A large area of ​​glazing will give the house airiness, soften the impression of massive logs.

We admit that Post and beam technology cannot be called budgetary! Yes, in comparison with a log house made from hand-cut logs, the savings are obvious, but ordinary frame houses based on a bar are, of course, cheaper. Experts advise using cedar and larch for the frame, and logs from these trees, and even with a diameter of 50 centimeters or more, cannot be cheap. So the Post and beam is cheaper than a “wild log”, but more expensive than a traditional frame. Maybe that’s why this technology is so far less common than others..

Post and beam technology can be used to build, of course, not only a residential building. Baths on such a frame and gazebos are popular. They also look very attractive. According to the reviews of the owners of Post and beam houses, if the construction technology has been followed, no problems with operation arise. It turns out a beautiful, warm, solid house on a solid, natural frame.

The interior of a house built using Post and beam technology can be anything. Do not forget that this is just a frame house, whose log frame remains outside, behind the wall. Of course, owners often decide to transfer the “wooden theme” from the facade to the interior, but this is not necessary. The choice of finishing depends on the filling of the frame between the logs and the design wishes of the owners.

If we draw conclusions from the above, then the Post and beam technology definitely deserves your attention. Yes, these houses cannot be called very cheap. But the very combination of elements of a log house and a frame house gives an impressive aesthetic and functional effect..