Building a timber-frame house: the 6 key points

Building a timber-frame house is not a passing fad; it's a particularly wise choice, both in the short and long term. Benefiting from numerous models within its wood line, the company Maisons SIC has become an expert in timber frame house construction, for the South-West but also for the whole of France.

In collaboration with SIGA (Société Industrielle de Gajac), which has been building timber frame houses since 1969, Sic-Habitat knows the great interest of building a wooden house.

Because the advantages of building a timber-frame house are numerous and undeniable, we present them below…

1. Build a timber-framed house for a comfortable and warm atmosphere

The wood is definitely thehe material considered to be the “warmest”. It is moreover the adjective which is immediately used (with "user-friendly") when we want to define the characteristics of this material.

But where does this feeling of well-being come from? There are several explanations for this. In our common history, to begin with, wood, this rustic material has something reassuring about it. More “scientifically” speaking, wood has a very special hygroscopic capacity (even after its “death”, it continues to interact with its environment, to absorb water and humidity from the air). Its intrinsic characteristics (naturally breathable for example) allow it to provide true hygrometric balance, naturally regulating the humidity within a home and then giving us immediately a feeling of warmth and comfort. 

Finally, wood is warm through all our senses: pleasant to see, to touch, to hear and even to smell, it delights all our sensory feelings. It then offers an impression of contact with nature, which is essential to our balance and which, once again, soothes and calms. 

• Also read : Building a wooden house in the Southwest: is a mix of materials necessary?

2. Choosing wood: an ecological material 

Choosing wood for the construction of your new home is an ecological decision in many respects. 

To begin with, wood construction in low environmental impact, because of its low carbon footprint. Naturally storing carbon (on average, 1m3 of wood can store the equivalent of 1 tonne of CO2), wood reduces greenhouse gas emissions. 

Its great insulating power also makes it possible to save energy. And therefore savings. 

Wood is also a “cleaner” material on construction sites, because All of its waste and residues are recyclable. 

But it should pay attention to the origin and provenance of the wood, to limit the carbon impact. At Maisons SIC, the wood used is European and classified according to the NF B 52-001 standard then sorted respecting its specific characteristics: number of knots, knot diameters, resin pockets, biological alterations.

Timber frame houses: more than a fad, a reasoned construction choice

Why are timber-frame house constructions so popular today? The success of this construction method is no accident. It is based on solid technical performance and a profound shift in consumer expectations. According to France Wood Forest and CODIFAB, in the study "National Survey of Timber Construction: Activity 2022" published in 2023, Timber framing represents 85% of individual wooden houses in France.

This figure illustrates a clear dominance in the residential market. Timber framing has become the most widespread construction system in France. It meets a growing demand for speed, energy efficiency, and cost control.

Technically, the timber frame relies on an assembly of closely spaced solid wood studs. These elements are complemented by panels that provide bracing and stability against lateral forces. The assembly also incorporates insulation, thus optimizing thermal performance from the design stage.

This process allows for the rapid construction of moderately sized buildings. Single-family homes are the primary applications. Two- to four-story buildings are also common using this technique.

This speed of execution is appealing in a context of tight construction deadlines. Off-site prefabrication improves quality and reduces on-site risks. Individuals thus benefit from better budget control.

However, other systems exist on the market. The post-and-beam system, for example, relies on widely spaced, large-section load-bearing elements. More flexible, it allows for the creation of large volumes and the design of ambitious structures.

However, its higher cost often limits it to high-end single-family homes. It is more suited to commercial buildings or apartment blocks. Nevertheless, its market share is growing, rising from 16% in 2020 to 23% in 2022, according to the same survey.

Solid panel construction is another alternative. This emerging technique remains limited in France, representing 13% of multi-family timber-framed housing, a level lower than that observed in Germany or Austria.

If timber framing dominates today, it is thanks to its balance. It combines structural performance, energy efficiency, and economic competitiveness. In the context of ecological transition, these advantages largely explain its growing appeal.

3. A timber-framed house resistant to time and weather

Contrary to what one might sometimes think, wood is a material very resistant to time and weather. It is in fact capable of surviving the centuries provided it is implemented flawlessly and properly maintained. 

In view of the evolution of contemporary timber frame houses, it is clear that they are now aging exactly like other types of construction, at the same rate as materials such as bricks or concrete blocks.

The longevity factors of a wooden house are very simple. You have to make sure good design, strict compliance with manufacturing standards, proper use of materials and also appropriate and regular maintenance. 

At Maisons SIC, as soon as the wood is taken care of in our factory, it receives a fungicide treatment, and a colored treatment to be certain of its execution.

And our vast experience in the construction of wooden frame houses assures you of the longevity of your project. 

4. A timber-framed house, for modular and lightweight construction

The wood is one of the lightest building materials, up to 7 times lighter than concrete for example. The light structure then makes it possible to avoid setting up too large foundations and thus to make further savings. 

Both light and very resistant, wood allows great modularity in construction. Indeed, its ease of implementation allows the wood to be used easily for the construction of an extension for example. Aesthetically speaking, wooden construction blends in perfectly with any other type of construction (concrete, steel, stone, etc.). And you can very easily modify a wooden construction. 

Finally, due to its “flexibility”, wood allows a great freedom of forms and architectural possibilities even larger than for any other construction. 

5. Choose wood insulation, a material with low thermal inertia.

Again, wood insulation for building a house also depends on how serious your builder is. All the Maisons SIC in wood benefit from the long experience of our company. In effect, we line this wooden frame with outer peripheral insulation made of heavy insulating materials of the wood fiber type, for example. This improves insulation, provides a better thermal phase shift for the benefit of summer comfort and eliminates all thermal bridges attributable to the wooden frame. 

Naturally already, wood is very insulating. 12 times more than concrete for example. A “power” that comes from its low conductivity, which then provides a low thermal inertia. Using wood to build your house greatly limits the creation of thermal bridges (areas of heat loss). By choosing the Maisons SIC, who also perfectly master the airtightness of this material, you ensure a house with unrivaled comfort. 

6. Reduced construction time for a timber-framed house

The construction of a wooden house is easier but also faster than a “traditional” house construction site. With wood, we don't wait for the material to dry, for example (apart from the concrete slab). 

One of the main advantages of wood for the construction of a house is that the elements of the framework can be manufactured in the workshop, in the dry and in total safety. Once the walls are finished, they can then be delivered to the construction site and immediately erected. With the installation, then, of the frame and the floors, the “effective” construction of a wooden house may take only a few weeks. 

It is once again essential to surround yourself with good professionals. While this type of timber-frame construction may seem easier than a "traditional" one, this method of building requires foresight, careful management of supplies, meticulous design down to the millimeter, and perfect coordination with other trades. Therefore, do not hesitate to trust the experienced professionalism of Maisons. SIC Habitat.

In short, what you need to know about building a timber-framed house