Wood houses have many advantages, therefore they do not lose their popularity even though new materials and attractive construction technologies have appeared. But, as you know, there are drawbacks to everything. And one of the main for this type of buildings is the fragility of the tree itself.
If the construction is carried out "on the mind", then the period of operation of log houses, and without repair, is at least half a century. But is it always so in reality? Almost the first element of the house, which, as a rule, needs to be restored or replaced, is the lower crown of the log house.
This part of the structure is in contact with moisture more than others. Therefore, experienced craftsmen recommend that when using it, only larch should be used, and be carefully selected and prepared. This sort of wood when wet, as it does not seem strange, becomes stronger with time.
And how many wooden houses are actually built? Even if the construction is not led by a guest workers' team, but by a specialized firm, are all the subtleties of technology respected? The material can be harvested "out of season" and badly dried, workers do not have the necessary experience and expertise, the waterproofing is made poor quality, and even the cheapest brand of roofing material.
It should be clarified immediately so that there are no illusions about the ease of self-repair of this part of the log-house - this process is rather complicated, and in some cases simply impossible to do by oneself. Situations are different, as is the degree of damage to the wood. Therefore, consider all known options for repair or replacement of the lower crown, and the reader will decide whether he will be able to perform any activities without the help of a professional, depending on local conditions and own capabilities.
"Spot" repair
This technology is applicable if the wood is damaged only in one or several small areas of the lower belt.
Option number 1 .In this case, rotten places are cut out, and instead of them new "details" are installed.
Option number 2 .Instead of wooden parts, the opening is filled with brickwork.
The advantages of are the ease of repair. Do not need practical skills, special adaptations, attracting professionals and significant financial investments.
Cons - new joints are formed, which leads to increased heat loss. In addition, the strength of the entire structure is reduced.
Partial dismantling of the foundation
The upper part of the house is dismantled on the site where the rot is found. Naturally, this technique is not always feasible, since the possibility of such repairs is largely determined by the type of foundation. For example, if the tape is mounted from reinforced concrete blocks, then this option disappears.
Having obtained free access to the log( beam) of the lower wreath, it will not be difficult for the master to replace the rotten sample with a new one.
Pros - the relative availability of technology and low cost of work.
Cons - reduced strength characteristics of the base of the building, which adversely affects its durability.
Disassembly of the wall
This restoration of the crown is considered to be the most effective.
The advantages of the are excellent. Such repairs significantly extend the life of the building. In addition, it becomes possible( if necessary) to partially repair the wall itself.
Cons - the complexity;large expenditures on time and money. Alone with such work can not cope, so you have to attract extra hands.
Lifting of a log house jack
This method is the most common for self-repair of the lower wreath.
The advantages of are the optimal combination of the quality of work with its cost. At the same time, it is possible to update( or strengthen) the waterproofing layer of the foundation of the building on this site, if necessary.
Cons - you need practical experience, knowledge and strict observance of the technology of work, as well as the availability of special lifting equipment. Naturally, such a technique requires a lot of time. You can not discount the formation of new joints when using jacks.
In the private sector, this technology( logging) is the most common. And one of the reasons - many homeowners or just do not pay attention to some decayed parts of the lower crown, or wait "to the last", delaying the timing of repairs. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to certain moments.
Stages of work
- First of all, it is necessary to assess the condition of the corners of the building - will the log frame be broken during the ascent? If the connection method is chosen unreliable, it is better to consult a specialist. Alternatively, use a support frame to move the structure upwards.
- With the help of a saw( more convenient than a chain saw), openings are made on the rotten areas, sufficient for setting up the jacks. At least - 2 pieces, and then, with a small length of the wall.
- Lifting is carried out simultaneously by all installed mechanisms. Here the main focus is on the uniformity and consistency of workers' actions in order to avoid distortions.
- The new crown is installed in parts.2 blanks - from corners to jacks, 1 - between them. They are leveled, and the rods of the devices are lowered.
- After the jacks are taken from the landing nests, trimmed logs are placed in their place.
- All joints are sealed with an elastic insulating material( mineral wool, tow, jute and the like).
In the article only general principles of production of repair measures for renewing the lower crown are considered. Each structure is characterized by design features, degree of wear and a number of other parameters. Before making a final decision, you should thoroughly understand all the subtleties of the work ahead.
What to take into account
At the same time, you will have to update part of the waterproofing of the foundation. In the private sector, the most common material for these purposes is ruberoid. And yet it is not recommended to stack it. Even the best quality version of will last no more than 3 - 4 years .And given how difficult the above repair technique is, it is more expedient to buy at least expensive, but also more reliable material. For example, "euroruberoid."
Traditional treatment of blanks with machine oil or liquid bitumen is unlikely to be sufficient for the elements of the lower crown, especially if it is not larch. On sale there are many chemical / preparations, impregnation which provides reliable protection of wood from decay. Considering the importance of such an element of construction as the bottom crown, it is not worth to regret money for the acquisition of such funds.
In the process of "spot" repair, if a decaying area is detected, the true extent of its damage should be determined, since it is practically impossible to visually do this. After the defective place in the log( bar) is cut, it is necessary to try to expand it with the help of an improvised tool( ax, chisel).All the detected "flesh" should be removed, and the exposed ends of the blanks are treated with special tools from decay( read more about fire-protection).
Repair cost
To understand how much it is expedient to perform repair work with your own hands, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the approximate prices for replacing the lower crown. For a typical structure of 8 x 6, the cost of materials( with their preliminary processing) will be about 10,000 rubles .Plus - the dismantling of old blanks and the installation of new ones. This is still about 17 000 rubles .Therefore, taking into account the unforeseen costs, is less than 30 000 rubles can not be counted.
