THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSES OTHER THAN CONCRETE BLOCK HOUSES

Houses built from concrete blocks make up the vast majority of buildings. Wooden houses retain their rustic charm whilst offering impressive environmental benefits. Traditional houses can be built using mineral blocks or bricks. Finally, the concept of a passive house refers to homes with very low energy consumption (around 80% less than an ‘active’ house).

Traditional
houses By far the most common type of house in France is the concrete house. However, there are also two other types of traditional house that offer advantages likely to appeal to homeowners. Brick houses provide excellent insulation and thermal inertia for optimal comfort.
Finally, the mineral block or stone house is very attractive, as the building stone is also a natural insulator with high thermal inertia.

The passive
house The passive house is a concept originating in Germany, referring to a house designed to have the lowest possible energy consumption. There are several variations of passive houses. The HQE (High Environmental Quality) house is a certification ensuring that a dwelling minimises its environmental impact. Wood is widely used in high environmental quality homes. The bioclimatic home adapts to its immediate environment and uses it to reduce its energy requirements. The house is thus oriented to make the most of the sun’s heat, and the walls can be covered with vines to provide shade in summer.

Finally, the self-sufficient home takes the concept even further by aiming for energy self-sufficiency.
In theory, this type of home no longer needs to be connected to the electricity and gas networks. It is worth noting that the use of home automation (the range of remote control technologies) helps to reduce energy requirements. Automated watering systems or the automatic switching off of heating when a window is opened mean that the smart home benefits the environment and helps reduce your energy bills.

The timber house

A timber house offers numerous advantages that may be of interest to you.
A timber house is cheaper to build than one made from any other material. It is quick to build; a house can be constructed and assembled in less than a month.
Timber allows for great architectural freedom, both in the shape of the house and in its colour, depending on the type of wood chosen. An excellent thermal and acoustic insulator, timber provides a general sense of comfort that is immediately noticeable. Finally, contrary to what one might think, timber ages very well, with a timber house capable of lasting several hundred years. When designing your home, you will first need to choose between a timber frame or the post-and-beam technique for the structure of the house.
Once the main structure is in place, you can choose which type of cladding to install: timber cladding, brick cladding, stone cladding or rendered walls. Another major advantage is that it is very easy to fit out or refurbish a timber house. 

Do you need more living space?

Plan to convert the loft, design an extension to the house or even add a wooden storey.

Finally, you can install a wooden deck for sunbathing in the summer.

Very easy to install, you won’t even need to call in a professional to get a good result. Don’t forget that wood needs to be treated and maintained.

This material does not provide thermal inertia for the house (a property that allows heat stored by the house in summer to warm it in winter, and vice versa) unless you’ve chosen a brick cladding.

Finally, few builders offer to construct a timber house. Building materials for a house Timber, stone, brick, aerated concrete and breeze blocks are among the various building material options.

Each material has both advantages and disadvantages. The insulating properties of wood are unrivalled. Consequently, using it can lead to significant energy savings. The use of wood also demonstrates a commitment to the environment. However, unlike stone or aerated concrete, it is not very robust. Stone and aerated concrete are, in fact, guaranteed to last for the long term. Note that, compared to aerated concrete construction, stone offers less insulation.

Traditional brick and single-wall brick are good alternatives to wood and stone. They are certainly less durable than stone but more robust than wood.

Hollow-core bricks also have better insulation properties than traditional bricks. As for breeze blocks, they are a mid-range building material with reasonable strength and insulation properties. The different types of house A house can be prefabricated, traditional or timber-framed. Construction costs vary from one type of house to another, as well as depending on the choice of building materials. A prefabricated house has the advantage of avoiding any unpleasant surprises.

All the components required for construction are factory-made; professionals assemble them and erect the house on reinforced concrete foundations. This system is becoming increasingly popular and guarantees a high-quality home. In the case of a traditional house, the components are not supplied as a kit. It is not simply a matter of assembling the various parts, as with a prefabricated house. Each component is produced separately, although the majority are factory-made. To get the best deal, it is essential to compare the different prices on offer. Wooden houses, meanwhile, have become increasingly popular with consumers in recent years.

Choosing wood is an environmentally friendly choice and, what’s more, an economical one.

Source: maisonapart.com