People looking for a wooden cabin or garden shed manufacturer often enter the search term “wooden cabin” and then sort contractors by the visual appeal of their designs and by price. However, it’s important to remember that a wooden cabin is not created equal to another. Why? Besides the project and workmanship, there’s one very important issue that few prospective Investors notice at first - the material from which the cabin is made. “Wood” is a very broad term. In the following article we’ll shed a light on this topic and explain what kind of wood we use at Drewnolandia during the production of holiday cabins.
Types of wood used in the production of wooden cabins
Wooden houses have been around for centuries. Even with the passage of time, wood remains one of the most valued materials. Wooden cabins are not only visually appealing, but also durable, energy-efficient and eco-friendly. Wood, as a material, has been particularly sought after in recent years for the production of holiday cabins, garden houses, gazebos and pergolas. It should be noted, however, that the very concept of “wood” is quite broad. A wooden cabin can be made from wet raw material, and it can also be made from planed elements of grade C24. The quality of the wood used is not irrelevant if we want a durable and sturdy structure. Savings on a “cheaper” wooden cabin producer can be only illusory. At Drewnolandia we pay special attention to the type and quality of the raw materials used, therefore for the production of holiday cabins we use three types of wood.
Solid wood C24 in the visual class
We use kiln-dried timber sourced from Polish State Forests and Nordic countries. Kiln drying not only helps achieve the desired wood moisture content, but also removes all mould and fungi from the material, and furthermore increases its resistance to weather conditions. After such drying, the wood is precisely planed and milled. Structural wood C24 is almost free from defects – it is a natural material, yet durable and aesthetically pleasing. It features high elasticity and very good bending strength. Only minor imperfections are permissible, which in no way may affect material quality. C24 is the standard, below which professionals in the construction industry do not go, yet this material is not yet universally used in everyday practice, partly due to its price (quality costs).
We go one step further and raise the standard to offer our Clients only the highest quality material. Drewnolandia has been in business for years, which allows us to achieve, with our trusted suppliers, an individual way of sorting material. Therefore, our production facility receives only C24 structural wood in the so-called visual class. One could say that it is exactly the wood nature created, but carefully selected, under tightened quality control. It is a raw material free of any discoloration and large knot density. We also do not find minor natural losses that are acceptable in class C24. This higher tier C24, i.e., structural wood C24 in the visual class, is the basic building material at Drewnolandia.
KVH wood
In addition to C24 structural wood, we also use KVH wood, i.e. engineered timber joined at finger joints. KVH material is used in key locations of our projects. It is wood that is mechanically improved to remove defects. After drying to a moisture content of 15% (± 3%), soft raw material (usually spruce and pine) undergoes several rounds of selection and strength assessment, discarding materials that do not meet C24 standards due to natural imperfections. These rejected materials are then enhanced to yield a material of a higher standard than the one originally intended. During enhancement, all wood defects that could reduce its strength, including all losses, cracks and knots, are removed. The resulting individual sections are joined into a single element with micro-dumps (micro-dowels). Such joints are very durable, often stronger than solid wood, as proven by numerous cantilever deflection tests. It is also worth noting that KVH wood is highly airtight, which means constructions made from it have a high level of thermal insulation. Yet quality comes at a price – KVH material is used only by the best holiday cabin manufacturers. Every manufacturer should use at least wood of the above class.
Wood of type BSH
Our wooden houses in critical areas are equipped with BSH wood, i.e. a refined industrial product with high durability and resistance to warping and cracking. BSH material is created similarly to KVH, i.e. its quality is mechanically improved. In BSH wood, connections are made not only along the length but also across the width and thickness. Therefore this is glued laminated timber, so the finished raw material (for example a 14x14 cm edge piece) is almost completely resistant to the natural cracking that is typical for solid wood. Elements made of BSH are used especially in places particularly prone to cracking, such as terrace posts or the overlying ring.
Wooden cabin? Focus on quality of workmanship!
When choosing your dream garden gazebo, farm outbuilding or holiday cabin, the manufacturer should also provide specifications of the materials used, because it is not worth basing decisions solely on the aesthetics and usability of the project. We fully understand that budget options can be limited, but we recommend that you base your choice not only on product price but above all on the quality of workmanship and the class of materials used. It is these factors that determine the future durability of the investment, while seeming savings at purchase can cost you a lot later. By choosing to work with Drewnolandią, you can be confident of high-quality materials – we are a leader in wooden construction, and that comes with responsibilities.