Some people are still hesitant about building with wood. These are some of the most common misconceptions about timber frame housing.
Noise and sound insulation that is ineffective
You might think that dense, heavy material is the best way to dampen all types of noise. Timber frames can achieve a higher level of sound insulation than masonry. The space is filled in part with mineral wool or other sound-absorbing quilting. Plasterboard, which can also be used as flooring or in double layers, can be covered with similar material. For more information on a Timber Frame Company, visit Merlin Timber, a leading Timber Frame Company.
Fire
Timber can burn, but masonry and steel cannot. It is easy to conclude that timber homes are not safe. It’s not as simple as it seems. Most house fires progress and the chances of injury or death are determined by factors like whether smoke alarms are installed, the behaviour of the occupants and the flammability in the house contents. In terms of the risk to the people, the most important factor is how fast they can escape. The construction of the home will determine how long it takes to rescue someone trapped in the house.
The interesting thing about timber is that it doesn’t burn. Instead, after the outer part of the beam has been burned, it turns into charcoal. This does not burn, and acts as a heat insulator. This charring process protects the centre of the beam from damage and allows it to last a long period of time before it fails. Steel will melt and eventually collapse. The frame is covered with a material that is resistant to heat and flames. This is usually plasterboard. There are also barriers in cavities of the building which prevent flames from spreading.