Yes, the answer is definitely yes. And who says so?
Not only us at ProfilartWood, who love wood so much that we’ve made it our job, but also all those who have purchased one, not to mention the scientific community with empirical evidence to support it, especially in certain areas and properties.
It’s true that we don’t have a long history to claim that wooden houses are eternal and maintain their pristine structure over the years. They do require maintenance, but certainly not more than brick houses. ☑
Let’s sort things out and analyze the pros and cons, assuming there are any, of wooden houses.
LIVING
Entering a wooden house is a completely different experience. The comfort and sensations provided by a wooden structure offer a unique comfort from every perspective.
External noises are significantly muffled, and in urban areas, this effect is even more pronounced.
A pleasant wood scent lingers for a long time and permeates every room.
Even the sense of touch is engaged with controlled temperature conditions in both summer and winter. Lastly, the sense of sight also benefits from the possibility of creating warm relaxation areas with exposed wood. In short, only the sense of taste is left out, but in every other aspect, staying in a wooden structure can be described as a sensory delight.
MODULARITY
The aspect of modularity, i.e., the ability to add modules to an existing project, is certainly possible even with traditional concrete houses, but when it comes to wooden structures, the agility is quite different, as one can imagine. Adding an area, expanding specific zones, or simply planning an expansion in the case of wooden houses is a highly agile activity. Once the structure is built, it takes very little time to assemble since its components do not need to dry in place like in concrete structures. To put it into numbers, once the foundation is set, it takes about 3 to 4 weeks to have a magnificent house complete with all comforts.
ENERGY SAVINGS
Arguably, the truly impressive energy savings associated with wooden houses are the motivation behind most people choosing this solution over brick houses. Wooden houses achieve at least energy class A, and with a few adjustments, it’s easy to reach even higher classes like “passive house.” Furthermore, in compliance with the regulations outlined in the Kyoto Protocol, wooden houses have a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. In short, the savings can be estimated at around 85% compared to other types of houses, which translates to significant economic savings over the years, fully amortizing the structure in just a few years.
COST
When it comes to cost, it’s important to be honest and also consider the equal quality of service provided. However, we can confidently state that, in terms of materials and services, wooden houses have fairly competitive costs compared to brick houses. Of course, things that are well done and durable over the decades come at a cost, but even here, we can say that the wooden solution is certainly cost-effective.
SUSTAINABILITY
The United Nations, representing humankind, has set 2030 as the ultimate deadline for saving the planet, by which all changes toward sustainability must have been made, otherwise, there will be no turning back. If we love our Earth and want to show respect, a wooden house is undoubtedly the choice that comes closest to achieving this goal and being an active part of the change.
SAFETY
If we were to ask a group of people to highlight a negative aspect of wooden houses, most of them would likely mention the perceived risk of fire.
However, things are not so straightforward because concrete and steel are better conductors than wood. They heat up much faster and once they catch fire, they tend to cause the structure to collapse. Wood, on the other hand, burns much more slowly, also due to the presence of water, and it consumes the outer part without easily affecting the interior, without the risk of deforming the skeleton.
Speaking in terms of earthquake resistance, it is well-known that wood is the absolute best choice in seismic areas like central Italy. Although there are no plates that allow for catastrophic magnitudes, choosing wooden structures would have prevented the destruction of numerous towns in the earthquakes that have occurred in Italy in recent decades.
Wooden houses weigh about 5-6 times less than concrete houses and 19-20 times less than steel houses. This means that during an earthquake, the stress on the structure is lower, considering that seismic force is equivalent to ground acceleration multiplied by the mass of the structure. Since we can’t intervene on uncontrollable factors such as ground acceleration, the only way to fare better during an earthquake is to make the right choice with a wooden house from the beginning. Of course, it’s not just the wood that helps us in this case, but also the design based on the hierarchy of resistances, which means allowing elements with ductile failure characteristics, gradual deformation, to reach their breaking point rather than elements with brittle failure characteristics, sudden collapse, without exhibiting signs of yielding before the collapse.
DURABILITY
It is known that there are wooden structures like temples or similar buildings that have lasted for centuries and have remained perfectly intact over time. Of course, the care given by generations that have succeeded is the most effective response against the passage of years and can certainly be applied to other construction methodologies as well. However, wood is particularly well-suited for the challenge of centuries, just like oak trees.
Returning to more specific indications regarding wooden houses, we can say that 50 years is a certain lifespan comparable to that of concrete houses, while the potential duration is limitless.
CONCLUSIONS
Wooden houses have been the preferred choice in a continent like the United States for years, except in areas hosting skyscrapers, where it’s difficult to find non-wooden structures. The aforementioned advantages are undeniable, and the decision of whether or not to buy a wooden house seems more related to a concept of tradition than a comparison of pros and cons, as there is a clear and overwhelming victory in terms of convenience in all aspects of owning and living in a wooden house.