Comparison: stone and wooden country houses. What's better?

When buyers think about purchasing or building their own home, they often wonder what material it should be built from. And, despite the huge variety of options on the modern construction market, owners most often opt for two materials: stone and wood.

In this article we will compare the characteristics of both options, consider the features and differences between stone and wooden country houses, what advantages and disadvantages they have.

Features and advantages of stone houses

Long service life and wear resistance of the material

Since ancient times, brick houses have been favorably distinguished by their stable quality, since they were erected only by professional builders, and they were owned mainly by wealthy people.

The same applies to the main building material - brick. Over time, its properties have been improved so much through new technologies and experiments that this material has become an almost indispensable element for the walls of any home.

Description of criteria when choosing a material

When choosing a project for building a private house or cottage, you should pay attention to the technical characteristics of the materials that are given priority.

Index	Wood	Brick
Environmental friendliness	Highest. The raw materials do not contain carcinogens, toxins, poisonous, radioactive or biologically active substances.	Average. Plasticizers and various preservatives are added to the mass and solution. Although small, discharge is inevitable.
Thermal conductivity	Low. With a wall thickness of 25 cm, almost complete insulation from external temperature is achieved. Breakdown occurs only at values exceeding ± 30ºС	High. To achieve good protection from external factors, a wall with a thickness of at least 50 cm is required, which is not typical for the private sector. The standard 25 cm is not enough.
Durability	Average. Depending on climatic conditions, it is 40-70 years. Partial or complete replacement of damaged fragments is technologically possible.	High. The average is 100 years. If structural defects occur, repairing the walls is impossible, only supporting measures through the foundation.
Strength	Average. It is impossible to destroy the wall manually; it can even withstand a collision with a motorcycle and a small car. It doesn't take much effort to make a hole in the wall with a chainsaw.	High. Only reinforced concrete is stronger. To destroy a brick house, you will need heavy special equipment. The material can withstand light and strong impacts from hard objects without consequences.
Fire properties	Low. Wood belongs to the category of the most dangerous materials in this regard. Even the most effective fire retardants do not guarantee against fire.	Tall. Brick does not burn and is an effective protection against the spread of flame. Its manufacturing technology (firing) ensures its safety even after a fire.
Price	Average. The profile is lightweight, installs quickly, no finishing is required. The base is light, of any type.	High. A strong foundation is needed; laying bricks is a difficult and lengthy process. As a rule, insulation is required.

In addition to taking into account purely technical indicators, you need to remember such points as climatic conditions, precipitation levels, wind strength and direction, and the priorities of the people who will live in the house.

Advantages and disadvantages of a country house made of wood

For creative connoisseurs of handmade goods, confident that not only themselves but also their neighbors will appreciate it, a cottage built of wood is ideal.

The obvious advantage of this material is its affordable price and useful properties, which will be appreciated by lovers of environmentally friendly living away from the “polluted millionaire”.

Buyers also note the low thermal conductivity of wooden walls: you quickly warm up inside them in cold weather and do not “puff up” from the heat in the summer sun.

In addition, due to the lightness of wood, it becomes possible to significantly save on foundation construction. And “breathing” wood, if the initial conditions of its processing are good, will not allow the house to become damp.

Quality characteristics of materials

What are the main features of brick as a building material? Firstly, brick is highly durable. The modern construction market offers a choice of bricks of different strengths: different bricks are used for multi-storey structures and light gazebos. Secondly, brick is resistant to fire, and therefore the main feature of brick buildings is their fire safety. The frost resistance of bricks is also quite high, but at the same time it does not retain heat very well. Thermal insulation properties depend on the density of the brick: the higher the density, the worse the thermal insulation, but the stronger the material. At the same time, standard brickwork is distinguished by a fairly large weight, so any brick cottage will require a strong, high-quality foundation, and for the construction of brick boxes you will need a special mortar and reinforcing mesh.

Brick does not always look aesthetically pleasing, so when building a house, you will most likely have to carry out additional decorative finishing. There is a wide range of different types of bricks, differing in manufacturing methods and quality characteristics: ceramic brick, clinker brick (usually used for additional finishing of facades), silicate brick. One way or another, any brick is an environmentally friendly material, created on the basis of natural substances, durable and reliable in operation, but with high thermal conductivity and heavy weight.

Wood is considered the most harmless and natural material. Glued laminated timber is a high-tech material created from boards (lamellas) tightly glued together. The technology for the production of laminated veneer lumber has made it possible to improve the natural qualities of wood, while maintaining its environmental friendliness. When gluing, only an adhesive composition is used that does not cause allergies and is safe for health. Glued laminated profiled timber is convenient in construction, easy to process and weighs little. Therefore, a house made of timber will not need a strong foundation. At the same time, the material has a very high load-bearing capacity and strength. Glued laminated timber is made from the hard part of the tree, so the material is less susceptible to warping and cracking. Possessing an aesthetic texture, the timber does not require additional finishing, looks impressive and preserves the natural beauty of the wood. Wood itself is considered the warmest material for the construction of residential buildings, but laminated timber, due to its high density, has improved its thermal insulation properties, so houses made of timber are the best at keeping warm in winter and cool in summer. Timber is superior to ordinary wood in terms of resistance to cracking. Since the lamellas are carefully dried in production and then glued, the likelihood of cracks is minimized. The timber perfectly retains the given geometry of the shapes, it does not move or warp during the construction and subsequent operation of the house. Due to its versatility, timber allows you to create complex architectural forms and use it in a wide variety of types of structures. Despite the fact that natural wood is considered a material that is weakly resistant to fire, laminated veneer lumber is far superior to it in terms of fire safety. Thanks to its high density and treatment with special fire retardant compounds, timber is not inferior in fire resistance to metal structures. This is a reliable and safe material with a long service life.

Features of using wood in construction

Wood is a traditional material in domestic construction. Today, the most popular structures are made from profiled, laminated timber and rounded logs. Each option has a number of advantages that are worth exploring separately.

A rounded log will allow you to build a log house in a classic style Source srubmoscow.ru

Which material is better and why?

It is impossible to make an unambiguous verdict on which house is better to build and live in, because the final decision is influenced by a large number of factors.

For example:

A frame house is built much faster than others, so if you don’t have time to wait, then this option will be the most successful.
Judging from the point of view of durability, a brick house is the most reliable in terms of service life, but at the same time such structures are also the most expensive. In terms of accessibility, the most attractive would be a building made of timber.

All of the listed types of houses are environmentally friendly, most of them have good thermal insulation and sound insulation.

For example , structures made of foam blocks will have to be additionally sheathed with soundproofing materials, and in a frame house, when using thin materials for sheathing, the house will have to be insulated.

Which house is better to choose

Having analyzed all the pros and cons of both options, we can conclude that it is very difficult to choose which is definitely better - a wooden or brick house. For some, a wooden cottage is better suited, for others a brick one. The main conclusion that can be drawn is that cottages are built from different materials for different purposes. A brick house is better suited for permanent residence than a wooden one. But you should not build farmhouses as seasonal cottages; they are better suited for permanent residence. In the case of natural wood, it can be suitable for both a summer house and a cottage for permanent residence. However, the future owner of the house will have to take into account possible disadvantages. A brick or wooden house is up to the future owner to decide, based on his own preferences and desires.

Main Differences

Discussions about which house is considered the best have been going on for thousands of years. Both materials deserve the right to be leaders, although they are very different from each other.

There are generally three differences between log and brick buildings.

Price. The cost of natural raw materials and the payment for its installation is lower compared to brickwork. The large thickness of the walls of a brick building and the complex base for it also significantly increases the final price.
Reliability. Brick cottages are leaders in terms of durability. But with the use of modern processing methods, structures made of profiled timber can also last quite a long time.
Thermal insulation. To build a family nest made of brick, additional insulation is required, and wood itself has excellent thermal insulation properties.

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Detailed comparison of the main characteristics

For a deeper understanding of the difference between the two popular materials, let's consider their numerical characteristics.

Distinctive properties of wood and brick:

Characteristics	Brick		Tree
Characteristics	Silicate	Clay	Log	Glued laminated timber
Density, kg/m3	1780	1630	540	450
Thermal conductivity, W/m°С	0,81	0,64	0,16	0,14
Weight of 1 m2 of wall, kg	1200	1150	225	100-150
Eco-Friendly Factor	5-6		1
Sound insulation, dB	42-60		41-50
Labor intensity of construction work, person*h/m3	2		1

conclusions

An analysis of all the pros and cons shows that wood has many advantages over brick. This will become even more obvious if you look at the most modern type of wooden building materials - laminated veneer lumber. It does not have many of the disadvantages of solid wood: it is subject to minimal shrinkage, and is more resistant to fire, biological and climatic damage. Glued laminated timber also has lower thermal conductivity. And its strength is 2.5 times higher than that of solid wood with natural moisture.

The difference in cost between brick and laminated veneer lumber is small. But when choosing the first material to build a cottage, you will also have to incur additional costs. Thus, more funds will be required for the construction of the foundation, construction of walls, insulation and interior decoration. Thus, laminated veneer lumber is superior to brick in almost all respects.

Which home is better for living?

Wood is a living material with a number of advantages over brick. Nothing compares to a real wooden home. It is environmentally friendly, comfortable, cozy, has the ability to regulate humidity, and creates its own microclimate. It is cool in summer and warm in winter. Apartments made of wood have fresh, clean air, living there is good for your health.

But when deciding to build a wooden house, it is important to remember that you will have to take care of it often. Its appearance deteriorates and deformation occurs. It needs to be properly treated every few years. Brick does not require any maintenance.

Although if you use laminated veneer lumber, which is free from the disadvantages of wood, you can avoid many problems. This modern material is resistant to climatic and biological damage, fire, and has a low shrinkage percentage.

Structures made of timber are very popular in Canada, the USA, and Scandinavian countries. In the last few years, residents of Europe and the CIS countries began to often install them.

Combined buildings are also in demand. The bottom of such a dwelling is made of brick, and the top is made of wood. Its interior decoration involves placing highly flammable rooms on the ground floor: dining room, fireplace, kitchen, bathhouse. In the second, ecological one, bedrooms and children's bedrooms are usually set up.

An alternative option instead of building a wooden or brick house

If you wish, you can combine wood and brick, building a combined house for yourself. The first floor is built from stone, and the second from logs or timber. This is an excellent alternative to a house made of one material.

This combined solution has many advantages, including:

A solid first floor made of brick will not allow the second floor made of wood to rot. This significantly improves the performance characteristics of the house.
In the case of a combined house, on the ground floor it is recommended to place rooms associated with the possibility of ignition: kitchen, sauna, fireplace room, heating rooms. This will provide additional fire safety.
If we consider the cost of building a combined house, it is lower than that of a completely brick house. In addition, a house made of brick and wood is much more environmentally friendly. It is better to place a children's room and bedrooms on the second wooden floor.

Which shelter is warmer?

When choosing a building material, an important criterion is its heat conservation. The thermal conductivity coefficient of brick is four times higher than wood. Therefore, a structure made of logs quickly warms up, does not need cladding, and slowly releases heat.

At the same air temperature, it will be warmer in a log dwelling. A house made of brickwork will have to be constantly warmed up in rainy or cold weather. Otherwise, it will become damp, uncomfortable, and chilly inside. After cooling, it is difficult to heat the premises; you will have to spend a lot of money on heat resources.

The answer to the question which house is warmer: brick or wooden, is unequivocal - wooden is much warmer.

Comparison of buildings

The choice of base depends on the budget and wishes of the owner. Let's sort out the priorities.

For a durable building, brick is more suitable. To save budget or time, it is wise to build a house from wood.

The type of foundation depends on the type of walls of the building. If the material for the future home is wood, then the building and foundation will be lighter.

During rainfall, wood becomes saturated with water and prevents indoor humidity from rising. It keeps you warm. Thereby reducing the amount of time and volume of fuel required to heat the living space. Building a brick house requires an automatic system that regulates the temperature.

Brick housing has high fire safety ratings. And in a building made of wood material, any slightest fire can turn into a major fire.

Log buildings are susceptible to mold and mildew. This rarely happens in a masonry home.

Some people prefer to combine solutions. When the first floor is based on brick, the next floor is based on wood.

Pros and cons of wood

The main advantages of wooden buildings include:

High speed of construction work. You can install a wooden frame in a couple of months.
Low price. As a rule, wood is cheaper than brick.
Light weight. Structures made from timber are lightweight. They are erected on a columnar or pile foundation.
Healthy stuff. Wood can “breathe” and allow oxygen to pass through. The likelihood of mustiness occurring is minimal.
Comfortable microclimate. Wood has good thermal conductivity. In the summer, the building will remain cool in the building, and warm in the winter.
Safety for the body. There is no purer material than wood on the construction market. The mansion made of wood is ecological and has useful properties. Its aromas have a beneficial effect on health.

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The disadvantages of log buildings are:

Low fire resistance. If a fire occurs, the fire will quickly spread through the wood. Most likely, the building will burn completely.
Possibility of damage by insects and fungi.
Shrinkability. Wood dries out over time. Because of this, finishing is sometimes carried out several months after construction.
Minimal architectural possibilities. A wooden house has a standard appearance, although with the advent of modern materials, it can be slightly varied.
If a wooden tower is used for permanent residence, it will have to be looked after quite often and periodically made repairs. But with the help of new technologies, the durability of the timber can be significantly increased.

Pros and cons of brick

All the disadvantages of a wooden structure usually result in the advantages of a stone one.

Strengths of the material:

Fire safety. A brick cottage compared to a wooden one is considered more resistant to fire. It can be completely restored after the consequences of a fire.
Wide range of design solutions. Brick allows you to make buildings of any style and shape. Allows the use of finishing materials (stucco, marble, plaster).
Durability. A building made of bricks will not lose its performance characteristics for years and will not require repairs.
Brick walls will not be able to destroy harmful microorganisms and insects. They are resistant to natural phenomena and changes in climatic conditions.

Disadvantages of brick buildings:

The main disadvantage of a brick building is the cost. It is always more expensive than wood.
The stone is not so warm. Therefore, in order to maintain the optimal temperature inside the building, there is a need to build thick walls and additionally insulate them.
Someone must always live in a brick building. Provided that it remains empty even for a short time, the owner will face dampness and cold. If the building is needed as seasonal housing, then it is better to abandon this material.
The brick house is heavy. To build it, it is necessary to build a strong, expensive foundation.