In recent years, the construction of residential cottages according to the technology known in the mountainous alpine regions is gaining popularity. These are combined houses made of stone and wood. Projects with a garage and utility rooms, foundation options and a variety of modern materials make it possible to build a full-fledged two-story house.
Advantages of ancient building technology
Initially, combined houses made of stone and wood (projects and implementations) appeared in the Alpine mountains. Firstly, solely for practical purposes, the lower, basement floor was laid out of cobblestone, which is always plentiful in mountainous areas. Secondly, only stone walls in contact with winter snows are not threatened by excessive moisture and destruction. Traditionally, the first floor was reserved for household needs, and living quarters were located on the second. The upper tier was built of wood, which retains heat well. There werebedrooms, guest rooms and other living spaces.
Similar methods of construction, projects of houses, combined of stone and wood, were widely used by merchants in the cities of pre-revolutionary Russia. A warehouse with goods and a store were located on the lower floor, while the family lived on the upper, more convenient floor. This ensured not only comfortable living, but also the safety of valuable property in case of fire.
How to turn an old house into a new, spacious and modern one
It is possible to reconstruct and increase the area of an old but solid cottage not only by adding outbuildings. Projects of houses, combined of stone and wood, give a chance to modernize the dwelling by increasing the number of storeys of the building and preserving the lower walls. At the same time, it is important to adhere to a certain sequence in the use of materials: the upper structures should be lighter than the lower ones. The following pairs are recommended:
- stone or brick + solid log or timber;
- tree + frame floor;
- monolith + SIP panels.
One of the most important requirements that must be met by projects of houses combined from stone and wood is the correct joining of the lower and upper tiers. The location of the load-bearing walls of both floors must necessarily match. Otherwise, during the operation of the building, unpleasant consequences cannot be avoided. When joining external walls made of different materials, it is important to ensure reliability, vapor barrier and insulation of transitions.
How to replace traditional materials
Combined houses made of stone and wood, projects offered by construction companies, are now being built in different climatic zones. Given the characteristics of the soil, the type of foundation is selected: tape or pile. Instead of stone, brick, foam concrete, wood concrete or blocks of porous ceramics are now used.
For reasons of budget savings, a solid log is replaced with glued laminated timber or SIP panels.
Arranging a garage, a boiler room or a kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, children's rooms and other living quarters in the basement are traditionally placed above them: it's more convenient, and warmer, and more comfortable.
What are the added benefits of Alpine technology
Building a two-story cottage is a costly business. Almost all combined houses made of stone and wood (projects, photos, real buildings) are an example of how you can cut costs. In addition to cost savings, this technology has several other advantages:
- Wooden walls raised to a height, roof overhangs protected from the moisture of natural precipitation.
- Increasing the useful area of the building is possible with a real cost reduction.
- The projects of houses, combined of stone and wood, enable their inhabitants to live cool in summer and warm in winter.
- The first, heavier floor provides the building with fire safety and stability, the second - an abundance of light, fresh air andenvironmental friendliness.
- The original and beautiful appearance of the building.
The use of combinations of modern building materials and the described rules for the construction of an alpine chalet make it possible to build a beautiful, comfortable and beautiful residential building using an old, time-tested technology.
