Which profiled timber is better than a comb. Tongue groove or comb, which is better? What to look for when purchasing

What are the differences between the types of profiled timber? Let's look into it and look at everything in more detail. To begin with, let's highlight the main types of profiles: Finnish, comb and Scandinavian.

Finnish is the simplest profile.

It has two side teeth and an internal platform. To produce such material, you can use the most primitive equipment, even an electric planer. The “beauty” of such a profile is its cost and ease of installation; I rolled out the jute into one strip and everything was the same as during construction from ordinary timber or rounded logs. But later, during operation, unpleasant moments begin: the appearance of significant longitudinal cracks, the timber begins to twist. This happens due to the fact that when profiling the workpiece, the internal stresses of the wood are practically not relieved and proper stiffening ribs are not formed. Such timber can be well suited for the construction of households. buildings or baths.

The next profile is a comb with a large number of spikes.

Some manufacturers recommend just such a profile, noting that when installing this profiled timber, a structure is obtained that does not require inter-crown insulation. A large number of spikes ensures that such a structure is completely windproof. Savings are obvious - no need to purchase interventional insulation. However, there is one "but" here. If such a beam twists around an axis, then installation can become very complicated. And it can be twisted quite easily, remember about the stiffeners. The greater the number of studs per length, the smaller their size - it is the size and depth that are the main components in the formation of stiffeners. Moreover, as a result of this, the labyrinth seal (the junction of two combs) will lose its tightness. If there was insulation inside, between the crowns, it would fill all the empty space and eliminate the voids; if it is not there, then there is nothing to fill it with. This type of section is great for laminated timber, but for profiled timber natural humidity hardly. And one more nuance, it may be inconvenient when drilling holes for dowels. The drill for drilling holes for dowels is mainly used with a diameter of 24-32 mm. If the workers have insufficient experience, it will be quite difficult to drill such a hole strictly vertically, since the drill will constantly scour the grooves due to small size thorns Therefore, the time for installing a house made of such timber can increase significantly.

Scandinavian profile. (OUR COMPANY PROFILE)

It is rather a subtype of profile - comb. It takes into account all the advantages and disadvantages of the two types of profiles described above. The tenon area is quite wide and allows you to drill holes for the dowel without any problems. The jute is placed in two side grooves and therefore will not wrap around the drill while drilling. The spikes are quite high (12 mm), and in cross-section they have the shape of a trapezoid. This makes installation easier - the tongue-and-groove system works, the beams themselves align with each other, even if they have a slight bend. Along the edges, in the lower part, the profile has spikes that do not allow rainwater to get inside, which eliminates the appearance of areas of rotting.

Therefore, it is the Scandinavian profile that we recommend to our clients. The choice of our profile sizes is not accidental either. Timber with rectangular cross-section And large size width is significantly less susceptible to torsion and the appearance of longitudinal cracks.

ECO-CLASSIC COMPANY PRODUCTS

You probably know that the ancestors of all possible types of timber profiles were Finnish (with two tenons) and German (comb). But even despite the abundance of “intermediate” options, profiled “comb” timber and building materials with a Finnish profile continue to compete for the palm. In this article we will try to evaluate the strengths and weak sides solid timber with a German profile, as well as houses built from such material.

Profiled timber “comb” – from theory to practice

To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the beam profile we are considering, first let’s figure it out: for what purpose is it necessary to complicate something by changing the shape of the original beam? The main idea of the technologist who came up with the “comb” profile was to reduce the thickness of the inter-crown seam as much as possible and eliminate the need to caulk the cracks between the beams. The shape of the comb was to ensure the tightest fit of the material when assembling the house. Ideally, walls built from such profiled timber should be almost monolithic. But this is only in theory; in practice, the situation is somewhat worse, as evidenced by not always flattering reviews of houses made of such profiled timber.

Pros and cons of the “comb”

Let’s proceed as follows: as the advantages of the “comb”, let’s take the information that marketers use to lure potential buyers - and there are all advantages and not a word about possible misunderstandings. By the way, all the advantages of such profiled timber from solid wood really take place, provided that its quality is not just good, but excellent. The fly in the ointment will be information from former developers who at one time chose profiled “comb” timber for the construction of a house - who else, if not them, should know about all the shortcomings of this building material.

Blowing through the walls is eliminated, the house retains heat better, and moisture physically cannot enter the space between the crowns.
– Wooden building materials are very capricious: they react to changes in humidity, the presence or absence of load. Therefore, it is impossible to fully predict their behavior. The timber can “turn out” when drying, there is a high probability of cracks appearing between the crowns. Therefore, when assembling a house from profiled timber, it is necessary to use dowels, studs, etc. (more details in a separate article) to ensure a complete interlocking connection of the beams.
+ While living in a wooden house, you don’t have to worry about cracks appearing in the timber.
– Unfortunately, practice shows the opposite. Any array gives cracks. The only question is what size.
+ A house made of profiled timber does not require finishing work.
– If you intend to reside permanently in own home, then you will have to think about insulating its walls. Needless to say that after such work it will simply be impossible to neglect the finishing of the facade? And this is just one of the few reasons why in most cases finishing is carried out. Remember about the torsion of the timber due to its drying and the appearance of cracks between the crowns.
+ High speed of construction and simplicity of the process.
– The described advantage is appropriate if the building materials are of really high quality and the builders are professionals in their field. By the word “quality” we mean that this is dry timber, which was stored in optimal conditions, under the word “professional” - builders will follow the technology, leaving no blind spots.

What you really can’t argue with is the environmental friendliness of profiled solid timber, whether it has a Finnish or a German profile.

Manufacturer. Choose only major players market. This can be an intermediary represented by the supplier, or the manufacturer itself. Don't be afraid of buying quality timber-combs: today there are a lot of handicraft industries that produce profiled timber with their own hands - do not trust them.
Humidity. Check the seller's words using a compact needle moisture meter. It is better to buy timber whose humidity does not exceed 20%. Make sure that the material is stored in appropriate conditions before and during construction.
There should be no cracks in the building material!

About prices for profiled timber (comb)

The cost of solid timber with a “comb” profile is slightly lower than for building materials with a Finnish lock. Prices for natural moisture material start at 7,500 rubles. per cubic meter m., dry – from 11,000 rubles. per cubic meter m. Much depends on the type of drying, % humidity, size and type of wood.

Profiled timber "comb"

Profiled timber comb is an excellent solution for people who value high level life. Regular care behind a wooden structure ensures comfortable living in houses made from a comb profile. Samples of the product usually have 3 - 4 tenons and beveled chamfers, which makes it possible to build reliable houses that meet modern requirements. Since there is no gap when laying the comb profile, there is no need for a wall seal.

Corrugated timber is manufactured using technology developed to minimize the thickness of the inter-crown seam. This method of manufacturing the material eliminates the need to caulk the cracks that form between the beams during the construction of walls. The tenon-in-groove technology ensures the tightest possible fit of individual elements, so it’s easy to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this material.

The German profile, which has a “comb” pattern, is optimal solution when choosing building materials. The presence of a large number of tenons and grooves on each side of the material greatly complicates construction. The timber is specially designed to avoid unnecessary work related to insulation wooden house. Different types of thermal insulators always require additional investments in the project.

Reliability wooden building using profiled timber, the comb is determined by the presence of tenons and grooves on the surface of the material. For maximum possible protection from the cold, only 3-4 spikes are provided. The strength of this inter-crown connection is explained by the precise fit of the tenon into the groove, which prevents cold air from entering the house.

Walls made of comb corrugated timber will always retain heat, which is achieved due to the following factors:

Marking of cut elements.
Precision of operations in the production of material.
Cutting bowls on each side of the timber.

Among the main reasons for the popularity of comb timber are the quality and speed of installation. The use of this type of material in construction allows reducing labor costs. Quick construction of a structure based on a special assembly map is only possible by marking the cut elements.

Creating a reliable “labyrinth castle” prevents cold wind from blowing through a wooden house. This is possible thanks to ready-cut bowls on all sides of the material. Precision in the manufacture of timber in the factory allows you to avoid making additional adjustments when laying products.

What to look for when purchasing

The choice of material for a wooden house construction project is influenced by a large number of various factors. This is not only the price of the product, but also the climatic conditions of the area where the construction of a wooden house is planned, as well as its purpose. Glued laminated timber differs from the profiled sample not only in its higher price, but also in a number of characteristics:

profiled timber is made from solid log, and glued - from boards (lamellas);
comb profile provides more high-quality thermal insulation at home than glued material;
profiled timber dries completely only a year after the construction of the house is completed, and laminated veneer lumber goes on sale dried in production.

To decide which timber is better, you should not take as an axiom the arguments of marketers that the German profile has only advantages. They are presented only for the purpose of luring potential buyer, therefore are not a warning about possible consequences using low-quality profiled timber. Before purchasing material, you should think carefully and ask former developers about the disadvantages of timber.

The cost of a wood building material is determined by cross-sectional size and moisture content, which can be measured with a compact needle moisture meter. Best choice is a comb beam, the humidity of which is not higher than 20%. The price for dry material is 11 - 12 thousand rubles. per 1 m3 with a length of 6 m.

The average price of profiled timber with natural moisture allows you to significantly save on the purchase of this material. For example, timber with a moisture content of 40% is sold at a price of 7 to 9.5 thousand rubles. depending on the size of its cross section. It may be:

100x100 mm;
150x150 mm;
200x200 mm;
230x230 mm.

The building material should not have any cracks on the surface, so it should be carefully inspected before purchasing. It is not recommended to trust handicraft industries engaged in the production of timber. Material with a “Finnish lock” is offered at higher prices than solid timber with a comb profile. In any case, after purchasing timber, it is necessary to comply with all conditions for its storage in warehouses and construction sites.

Pros and cons of comb timber

Planning permanent residence in your own wooden house, you will need to take care in advance of insulating the walls of the building. You should choose products only from large manufacturers. When deciding which timber to choose, you should take into account other advantages of multi-tenon corrugated timber:

Accelerated pace of implementation construction work in compliance with the technology of laying products tenon in groove.
The high quality of raw materials for the production of corrugated timber ensures a reduction in heat losses in finished houses.
Insulation or sealing tape When constructing walls made of corrugated timber, combs are not used.

If comb-profiled beams are laid in rainy weather, their humidity begins to increase. The construction of a wooden house from high-quality timber occurs quickly if all work is carried out experienced craftsmen. The concept of a quality profile means dry construction material, which was stored under acceptable conditions until use. In general, the type of profile does not play a big role in the process of speeding up the assembly of walls, since the result always depends on the professionalism of the builders.

Since insulation of the walls of a house made of German timber is excluded, then Finishing work no need to implement. This significantly reduces the cost of construction work. Living in a new wooden house will be comfortable, since the comb beam ideally retains heat and does not allow moisture to pass between the crowns.

After carrying out work related to laying thermal insulation, the facade of the house requires suitable finish. This type of work is carried out not only after the walls are insulated, but also when various damage to the wood appears. It is worth remembering the torsion of the timber due to strong drying, which causes the formation of cracks between individual structural elements.

Shrinkage of a house made of profiled timber with natural humidity

Wooden building materials are characterized by their ability to respond to changes in humidity. It is impossible to accurately predict the consequences of the influence of factors on wood. Since the likelihood of cracks and gaps occurring between the crowns is high, assembling a house from profiled timber requires the use of special devices: dowels, studs, etc. They are necessary for full lock connection bars In practice, cracks and cracks are completely different sizes can appear in any type of timber.

Characteristics of timber structures

When buying timber for building a house, you usually choose what is best for the project: a Finnish profile or a comb. If the choice is made on a German profile, then laying a heat insulator between the logs during the assembly process will not be required. Manufacturing technology of this material based on perfect compliance with the geometry of teeth and grooves. When using a comb to build walls, the beams may crack due to the fact that the teeth do not fully fit into the grooves.

If products are stored improperly, the spikes tend to swell from moisture and become damaged. This doesn't mean that this type products cannot be used in construction; you just need to buy timber from a more reliable manufacturer. If the supplier's material was stored under open air, then it’s better not to buy it. Only perfect compliance with the geometry of the German profile will ensure the construction of walls according to the provided technology without the use of thermal insulation. Because the correct styling German products require the insertion of tenons into grooves, then the possibility of material displacement is eliminated.

Installation example Finnish profile

The popularity of the Finnish profile is due to its unpretentiousness. You can also carry out construction work using material that has absorbed a little moisture. The classic Finnish profile is not inferior in its characteristics to the German one. The main difference is that when laying the top and bottom beam Finnish profile do not touch each other, forming a thin gap into which a layer of insulation should be laid.

Spruce and pine are the main wood materials, from which the profile is made. They have a low thermal conductivity coefficient, which is 4 times less than that of ceramic bricks. This should mean that with a timber wall width of 20 cm, thermal insulation characteristics designs are similar to properties brickwork, the thickness of which is 80 cm.

Since walls made of German timber are actually a monolithic compound, the material should not deform or crack after drying. For finished design not required at home external finishing any panels, since the view natural wood is beautiful and expensive. The wood does not contain harmful additives, and a constant level of humidity will be maintained in the premises of the house under natural ventilation conditions.

Many of those who live in stuffy apartments, and when they go outside find themselves in gray smog and deafened by the noise of cars, want to change their living environment. Live in a wooden house, breathe clean air and enjoy the silence. And those who decide to do this often wonder how to choose a timber to build a beautiful and reliable home for your family.

Today the construction market presents the most different types timber, differing in geometric parameters, profile, grade, production method. Choosing the best one is not an easy task, especially if the buyer’s financial capabilities are not unlimited.

From this article you will learn about all types of this material, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as how to save on your purchase without sacrificing quality.

Which timber is better

If you are not faced with the question of what to choose - timber or frame, if you have already decided what you will build wooden house, then the first thing you need to do is study the range of local construction markets and hypermarkets. As a rule, they offer three main types of timber: planed, profiled and glued.

Let's consider each type separately with all its disadvantages and advantages.

Planed timber

The material is obtained by cutting a log, during which a product is obtained that has a rectangular or square section. Main competitive advantage planed timber before glued and profiled timber - low price. Compared to a log, it is easier to assemble into a log house, and compared to brick, it requires less effort and installation costs.

However, in addition to tangible advantages, this type of timber also has serious disadvantages that you need to be aware of and take into account if your goal is a strong, durable and warm home.

Planed timber is made from wood with natural moisture.

It gradually decreases as the tree dries, and this can lead to the following unpleasant consequences:

Deformation. You can buy a perfectly smooth, beautiful timber, but after a while amazing metamorphoses will begin to happen to it: it can bend or even turn out like a “helicopter”;
Cracks. This is the most common defect that worsens not only appearance material, but also its performance properties;

Rot, blue, mold. If raw timber is stored in improper conditions - in poorly ventilated areas or in stacks close to each other, such manifestations are inevitable;
Shrinkage. When building a house with your own hands, it is important to remember that over time the timber will dry out and its geometric dimensions will decrease. As a result, the entire structure will shrink, which depends on the initial moisture content of the material and environmental conditions.

Note. If we were talking only about the loss of a few centimeters in height, this trouble could not be paid attention to.
But as a result of shrinkage, window and door openings can be deformed, the outer and interior decoration walls
Therefore, the log house must be allowed to settle for several months, preferably under the roof, before continuing construction.

Crevices. Conventional planed timber often suffers from inaccurate dimensions, so when building walls it is difficult to avoid gaps between the crowns. They also increase as the wood dries. They must be sealed: lay sealing materials between the crowns, caulk the walls to prevent the penetration of cold and moisture.

The planed timber itself is not distinguished by its ideal shape and surface, and when the described defects are applied, it is completely inferior in appearance to profiled and glued timber. Therefore, it needs additional external finishing.

Profiled timber

You can avoid some of the problems listed above if you purchase profiled timber. It differs from planed wood in the shape of its cross-section: its front sides are smooth, and the working surfaces are made of a tenon-groove or comb type.

Which timber profile to choose depends not so much on personal preferences as on the moisture content of the material.

The tongue-and-groove connection involves the use of insulation laid between the crowns in the grooves. Even if the timber shrinks when drying, forming gaps, it will prevent ventilation.

The protrusions of the “comb” profile fit each other very precisely and do not require the use of insulation. But if the moisture content of the wood changes, the comb parameters may change. Therefore, when choosing such a profile, you need to be sure that the timber is dry and will not shrink significantly.

For reference. The advantage is that the wood is dried until its moisture content reaches no more than 22%, otherwise the quality of processing will be low.
Therefore, it shrinks less than planed wood.

Many woodworking enterprises produce profiled timber to size, according to the customer’s design, immediately cutting into it “cups” for joints and corner connections. You no longer have to think about how to choose a groove in the timber - the log house is assembled like a children's construction set.

But this material, nevertheless, is not without such disadvantages as the appearance of cracks and shrinkage, which requires a technological break in construction.

Glued laminated timber

This type of timber is distinguished by the best performance characteristics, but also the highest cost. Its main advantage is low humidity and, accordingly, the absence of all those negative aspects, which occur during drying of the material and shrinkage of the finished log house. You can build a house from it in one season, without waiting for natural shrinkage.

You will learn about how laminated veneer lumber is produced from other articles in this resource. We note that the technology of its production allows us to obtain a high-quality product, practically devoid of the disadvantages of raw wood, but with all its useful properties. natural qualities. In addition, it is impregnated against rotting and fire and does not require additional finishing.

As in the case of profiled timber, laminated timber can be made to order in accordance with the chosen house project. And some manufacturers offer ready-made kits, which come with assembly instructions.

Note. Not long ago, a new product appeared on the market - D-shaped laminated veneer lumber, the convex front surface of which imitates a rounded log.

How to save money on timber construction

The budget deficit for building a house does not always allow you to choose expensive and quality materials. But, if you know how to choose the right timber - ordinary, not subjected to special treatment, and how to prepare it for work, you can save a lot and get a good-quality and beautiful structure. Our tips will help you with this.

So, what to look for when buying?

Evenness of timber. Determined visually and practically. The product must be placed on a flat surface with all its edges in turn and make sure that it is not bent or twisted by a “propeller”.
The distances between the annual rings, visible at the end of the beam, should be the same. If they narrow or widen on one side, this indicates that over time the beam will “lead” and it will bend.
The surface of the wood must be uniform in color everywhere. A visually noticeable color contrast at the ends or side edges indicates the presence of layers with different internal tension, which will also lead to deformation.

It is much more difficult to determine the moisture content of the material. But even if you see that the timber is completely fresh, but good quality, you can independently bring it to the desired condition. True, this will take time.

The profile of the timber is determined by the manufacturer himself, taking into account the capabilities of his production. The level of sharpening equipment allows you to produce a profile various types. The range of profiles is actually not large, but it is being improved every month. Many types of profiles came to us from Europe, where they have already proven themselves well. Manufacturers understand that the easiest to assemble and also the most popular profile is the “comb” profile. This type of profile began to be produced not only on large industries, and even in artisanal conditions.

Many factories produce the following main types of profiles:

A type of timber with two tenons and grooves.
A type of timber with more than three tenons - grooves - “comb” or “German”.
Finnish profile.

The more ridges such a profile has, the better its thermal performance. But not many people know that if you deviate from the dimensions, the “comb” profile will crack when drying or glued along the lamellas. Even compliance complete technology will not give full guarantees, since when changing equipment or readjusting it, you can miss the size and an error of even half a millimeter will give such a disastrous result.

You may ask the question, why was this type of timber even invented? Why was it necessary to design such a complex profile treatment? The designers based their idea on the task of reducing the interventive distance to a minimum and completely eliminating additional insulation. The shape of such a profile should have made it possible during construction to provide a more dense connection of the beams with each other. This means that subsequently, such walls should not only become the warmest, but also completely prevent the entry of moisture and wind into the house. In fact, this did not happen, hence the negative reviews about such buildings.

Pros and cons of the comb profile

The advantages of such profiled timber with the “Comb” profile declared by the manufacturers are:

More rigid connection between each other.
Increased thermal insulation.
The comb, due to its design, does not allow rain and wind to penetrate.
As the house dries and shrinks, the seams with a “comb” appearance adhere even more tightly and become practically airtight.
Houses made from profiled “comb” timber do not require additional sanding or planing.
A structure made from such material can be immediately coated with impregnations and painted.
It is faster to build from such material.

Judging by customer reviews, many of the advantages are greatly overestimated. Houses built from dried profiled timber especially large section They take a long time to shrink. Over the course of 5 years, the shrinkage of one developer’s house has already reached 10 cm, and the house is still shrinking. Experts believe that even dried profiled timber with a “comb” design can be made without following many technologies, which means that it remains undried inside. In this case, during the first 3 years of its life, the house will begin to dry out, and this type of profile does not allow for high-quality additional caulking of the walls. In addition, when drying, the timber cracks in the same way, cracks form every day.

The manufacturer tells us only about the advantages of its product. This is justified by the fact that any material for him is just a commodity that needs to be sold profitably. But profiled timber “comb” also has many negative sides.

Production of the “Comb” profile

Technology of this profile requires additional equipment and the presence of special attachments for the frieze. Moreover, such a profile cannot be made on any milling machine.

The technology for its manufacture came to us from the Germans. That is why this type of timber is also called German. It is made from ordinary material by milling. After the structure is ready, it must be cleaned of sawdust and dust and treated with special antiseptics. This is done to prevent it from rotting and becoming infected with fungi. Since such a profile will be difficult to process in the future.

Is there a difference between timber from the manufacturer?

Manufacturer differs from manufacturer. We have already said that the manufacture of a “comb” profile requires precision and special adherence to all the rules and stages of its manufacture. And this can only be accomplished by a manufacturer that values its reputation. When purchasing timber of this profile, pay attention to how many years this manufacturer has been working on the market, read customer reviews. Many craftsmen have learned to make the “comb” profile in handicraft industries. They do not follow technology and are not responsible for the quality of their products. The price from such sellers will be lower, but you will not receive any guarantees. In the end, you will most likely just throw away money.

Profiled “comb” timber with a large cross-section is very difficult to dry. Buy a pocket moisture meter and don't trust what the salesman says. He will measure the moisture level of the material brought to you before paying the supplier.

High-quality materials of this profile must not only be properly made, but also stored in appropriate conditions. Fly-by-night companies cannot afford such an expensive pleasure. And this will certainly affect the quality of the product.

By purchasing profiled “comb” timber from the manufacturer, you can not only count on a guarantee, but also not spend your money in vain.

Price for profiled timber “comb”

The cost of profiled timber “comb” today depends not only on the manufacturer, but also on the time of year and the price of wood, gasoline and labor. Great importance The grade and type of wood used also plays a role here.

The average price in Russia for profiled timber “comb”: natural moisture - from 7,500 thousand rubles per cubic meter, dry - from 11,000.

They say how many people there are, so many opinions. This can rightly be attributed to reviews of the profiled “comb” timber.

It is difficult to argue and agree with these reviews, since this building material has not yet been tested and it takes time to draw any conclusions. But one should not take the European experience as an example, since the climate and ecology in Russia are completely different.