Wooden house building is one of the types of construction using materials from natural wood. Such designs, as a rule, are reliable, durable, affordable and, most importantly, (as the entrepreneurs themselves emphasize) environmentally friendly. All this provides a stable demand for the services of construction companies that specialize in low-rise wooden construction. Of course, this business has its pitfalls, but, in general, experts see it as profitable, promising and requiring relatively small investments.
Construction of frame houses - a profitable business?
There are a fairly large number of different technologies for building houses made of wood. In particular, there are frame houses, houses cut manually from a log and a gun carriage, houses from a log, planed log houses, houses from glued timber, timber houses (half-timbered houses). The most popular and promising for mass construction is the direction of frame housing construction, which gives more opportunities for creating a variety of architectural and planning solutions. According to statistics, using frame technology, about 60% of houses, 26% of logs and 5% of hewn timber are being built, and 10% of houses are built from glued beams. Frame technology allows you to implement individual solutions for individual designs without special costs. It has practically no restrictions in the options for exterior decoration: you can use both traditional and modern materials, starting with brick and ending with vinyl siding. In this article we will consider two main types of individual frame houses that are in greatest demand. These are frame-frame and frame-panel (frame-panel) designs.
In addition, frame structures have a number of additional advantages. The main one (especially relevant now - during the difficult economic situation in our country) can be attributed to the relatively small costs of building such a house. For example, the construction of a chopped or brick house will cost the customer $ 550-900 per square meter. meter. A frame house (using the technology of frame-frame or panel construction) will cost between 350-650 $ per square meter. meter. If necessary, even these costs can be reduced by lightening the foundation (this is especially true with a weak bearing capacity of the soil) and the use of unedged boards in some designs.
In percentage terms, the costs of building a frame house are distributed as follows:
paperwork for the construction of a new house and its design - 10%;
foundation device - 5%;
installation of walls and ceilings (roof, floor and ceiling) - 45%;
internal and external decoration of the house - 20%;
engineering communications - 20%.
Of course, these indicators are not constant. They can change in one direction or another, primarily depending on the type and cost of building materials used.
Another plus of frame structures is the timing of work. If the construction of a brick house takes at least a year, then the frame structure is erected within 2-5 months. The frame structure does not shrink, so there is no need to withstand a pause between the installation of walls and the execution of finishing work. There are differences in labor costs. For the construction of frame-frame houses does not require a whole team of builders. In frame buildings, you can use the hidden laying of the main communications, which is located inside the walls. Therefore, this eliminates the need for various boxes and conductors. Although you should not forget that some types of communications need regular maintenance or repair, so you need to provide easy access to them. Finally, the frame house has a higher seismic stability than concrete and brick buildings.
However, nothing ideal exists in our world, and frame houses are no exception to this rule. In addition to the above advantages, these designs have several disadvantages. These include, for example, a high probability of the appearance of rodents in the cavities of the walls. In addition, with poor-quality antiseptic treatment, insects can start in the wood of the frame. But the latter case can only be with a gross violation of the technology of construction.
The second significant minus of frame houses is their low degree of fire safety. These are perhaps the most serious shortcomings of such designs, according to construction companies. Although they have other disadvantages, which may not be so insignificant. For example, houses built using frame technology do not undergo significant deformations if they are not heated in the cold season. Although the thermal insulation characteristics of a frame house can be improved by using special insulation materials. But still, for permanent residence, including in winter, these designs are not very suitable. Therefore, frame houses are recommended more for suburban construction.
Soundproofing in frame buildings is not the best way. Although the use of modern materials makes it possible to more or less protect the house from airborne noise, but even the best materials do not solve the problems with impact noise. Finally, it should be noted that frame buildings have a short life, which according to official standards is 75 years.
Other drawbacks of buildings erected using frame technology can be eliminated, partially or completely, using modern technological solutions. So, for example, it is believed that frame houses can not be redeveloped. If the house is built on frame-frame technology, then it can be subjected to full or partial redevelopment, depending on the presence and number of load-bearing partitions. Shield houses from standard elements, alas, are not subject to redevelopment.
The same applies to low-rise frame buildings. Frame-frame house can even be three-story. Just with a large mass of the structure, it is recommended to use not a wooden, but a metal frame, which is more reliable. With shield construction technology, it is better to limit yourself to one floor, although a light attic can be equipped from above.
Frame technology for building houses
The frame is the foundation of the entire structure. It consists of individual elements: boards, beams, combined beams of various configurations. Such a prefabricated structure takes on all the loads acting on the object, so it is so important to choose the correct parts according to geometric dimensions, determine their location, connect them correctly taking into account the load-bearing capacity of the walls, fill the wall structures with heat-insulating materials, followed by covering the frame with plywood, plate or typesetting shields. According to classical technology, frame structures usually have a lower harness made of bars. On this harness, racks from boards are installed, which are the supporting system structure for the entire structure. They limit the window and door openings and are vertical elements to which the inner lining and facade coating are attached.
External racks rest on the lower support plates or the strapping beam. For wall cladding use wood materials (plywood, DSP, OSB) or lining. In this case, the space between the casing is filled with insulating material and closed on the other hand with drywall or plywood. Other cladding materials may be used.
Racks are made of measured lumber with a section of 38 × 89 square meters. mm or 38 × 140 sq. mm The width of the rack depends on the thickness of the layer of thermal insulation material. Racks are installed at a distance of 300 to 600 mm from each other. The exact distance depends on the type, size, thickness and type of fastening of the skin.
Houses using frame technology can be built at any time of the year. Since all parts of the frame are small and light, special construction equipment is not required to erect the structure. It is convenient for work on the site, and allows you to reduce labor costs during construction.
Although frame technology involves low-rise construction, nevertheless, it is also possible to design wooden houses on it above two floors. In our country, this direction is only beginning to develop, and while over three floors on a frame basis are not being built. Particularly resistant to deformation and durability of the structure is ensured by the use of glued timber in the frame structure. There are two types of timber that are used in construction - simple, or sawn timber and glued. Accordingly, the technologies for using each of these types are significantly different. Ordinary timber needs to be dried in natural conditions. However, even after drying, it is highly susceptible to deformation. Felling from such a beam requires additional processing, finishing, insulation, repeated caulking, etc. In addition, it is subject to seasonal fluctuations, which necessitates a special arrangement of structures (especially the overlapping of windows, doors and roofs).
Unlike sawn timber, glued timber still at the factory at the manufacturing stage undergoes drying and stress relieving, which can lead to further distortions. For these reasons, pre-processed glued timber is not subject to deformation and cracking, it is more reliable and easy to use.
The technological process of building a frame house includes several stages. The first is design. One of the most important role in the production of houses from glued beams is played by the architectural and design department of the construction company. First, the customer sets out his wishes for the future home, which are made out in the form of an engineering and architectural project. Manually, of course, this work is not done. For this, special computer programs are used, which, based on the technical parameters of the project, calculated by the designer, allow you to create a detailed list of necessary details. The project is transferred to production, where the next stage is carried out - the manufacture of a set of parts. From them later it will be possible to build a house on the basis of the designer. To facilitate the work of builders, all structural details of the building are pre-marked, completed in accordance with the order and transported to the construction site with all accompanying documents and detailed instructions.
Glued beam structures are highly stable, and the frame construction technology itself involves a relatively small weight of the entire building. Therefore, such houses can be built on any type of soil. They do not need a massive basement and an in-depth foundation. All details of the future house of glued beams have grooves and cuts. They are performed with the highest possible accuracy in the factory and do not require further refinement during the construction process. When erecting a structure, the beam is pulled together by metal "pins" ("capercaillie"). Additional seals during the construction of structures from glued beams are not provided. The construction kit of the frame house usually also includes beams and rafters made in accordance with the initial project. It is extremely important that only well-dried boards are used in the construction, otherwise there is a high probability of a violation of the tightness and geometry of the structure. After installation of the rafters, vapor barrier, battens, roofing material and “warming feast” from the inner country are mounted on them.
To increase the life of a wooden house, its walls are treated with antiseptics and flame retardants. Often, builders save on this procedure, which in no case should be done. Processing is recommended in three stages. At first, wood is still processed in production in the manufacture of glued beams. The second time the processing is carried out in the process of assembling the house and, finally, the third time the wood is treated after the installation of the roof.
Installation of windows and doors is carried out after the construction of the house and does not require additional work. The dimensions and material of windows and doors, their architectural solution are also determined at the design stage of the project. During construction, it should be borne in mind that glued timber still gives, albeit slight shrinkage. It is only 1%, but it also needs to be taken into account when installing windows and doors, as well as the sides of the door frame.
The project also provides for the installation and wiring of all necessary communications (water supply, heating, sewage, ventilation, etc.). All this is laid at the stage of production of the "constituent elements" of the future building. In constructions of glued beams, it is possible to conduct covert wiring of utilities (for example, in beams).
Buildings from glued beams do not need additional external and internal “finishing” finishing, since the material itself has a flat and smooth surface. These works are carried out at the request of the customer and are paid separately.
Construction of wooden houses as a business
Wooden houses are always in demand, but they are especially popular now. And it is not only environmental safety and other advantages of natural wood houses that sales managers love to talk about. Obviously, cost comes first, and then all the other advantages of such housing come. Until 2014, the homebuilding market increased by about a third of its volume annually. Now, for obvious reasons, its growth rate has decreased significantly. However, the wood construction segment is still a plus. Many people invest not in real estate in the city, but in land plots outside it and build summer houses on them, suitable for living not only in the summer.
If earlier the main customers of country houses were families with a monthly income of 200 thousand rubles a month, now this criterion has significantly decreased. People with a lower level of income invest their savings in real estate, albeit country house.
Even a small company that is engaged in wooden housing construction can fulfill several orders simultaneously. The construction time depends on the technology and materials used, but, on average, it rarely takes more than three months to install a box. If we are talking about turnkey construction, then in this case the project will take no more than six months. As experience shows, customers prefer to use the full range of services - from the construction of the foundation to the installation of plumbing. Do not try to cover everything at once in at least the first stage of work. It is better to use subcontracting and assign individual works to specialized companies. However, they should not be neglected either, since finishing and technical works bring almost 25% of the profit to construction companies. If possible, to increase profitability, you can also get a landscape designer and offer additional services for the improvement of a private household. Some even produce wooden furniture for the home and garden, especially since all resources, including the necessary equipment and materials, are at your disposal.
The profitability of wooden housing construction is estimated at 40-70% (sometimes it can reach 90%). Such a wide run is due to the fact that a large number of various factors affect the success of the project, starting with the materials used (grade and quality of wood, diameter of logs, cost of materials in the purchase) and ending with the area of buildings being built. The most popular material for building houses is pine. It is popular primarily because of its relatively low cost. Larch, for example, will cost two times more. The thicker the logs used in construction, the higher the cost of house building. In the middle lane, a log with a diameter of 200 is most often used for construction. A square beam will increase the cost of construction by 5%.
If you plan to open a business for the production of houses from timber, you will have to go through state registration, get the necessary permits and a building license. Start-up capital experts estimate at least 4.5-5 million rubles. This money will be used for paperwork, rental of workshops, purchase of equipment, remuneration of employees and advertising.
Что касается рекламы, то наиболее эффективно срабатывает наружная реклама (билборды, растяжки, брендмауэры) и реклама в интернете. Стоит позаботиться о создании собственного сайта с примерами работ, стоимостью услуг и контактами. Наличие уже реализованных проектов – большой плюс для новой фирмы, так как большинство заказчиков захочет ознакомиться с вашим «портфолио» и даже посмотреть построенные вами дома вживую. Многие строительные компании сами строят дома под свои офисы. Таким образом, уже только одно место их работы становится лучшей рекламой и наглядным примером. Правда, в этом случае о размещении в центре города стоит забыть. Однако, как показывает практика, клиенты готовы поехать к подрядчику и на другой конец города или даже пригород, если последний может предложить хорошее качество по доступной цене.
В целом, бизнес по возведению деревянных домов окупается быстрее, нежели в целом в строительной отрасли. Однако все же придется запастись терпением и оборотным капиталом. На оформление разрешительной документации уйдет минимум два месяца, в течение которых вам нужно будет платить заработную плату работникам, стоимость аренды (если вы арендуете помещение под офис) и нести прочие текущие расходы. Из персонала в первые месяцы работы вам потребуется администратор, который будет заниматься офисом и отвечать на звонки, минимум два менеджера по работе с клиентами (в качестве одного из них может работать сам учредитель компании), два архитектора, менеджер по закупке материалов и логист.
Хотя возведение деревянного дома занимает считанные месяцы, но в условиях современной экономической ситуации в нашей стране цены на материалы даже в течение одного месяца могут взлететь на порядок. Это также нужно учитывать при составлении сметы. Многие эксперты советуют открывать собственное производство. Конечно, этот вариант намного выгоднее, но для его реализации стартовый капитал увеличится минимум в 2-2, 5 раза. Далеко не все могут вложить в свой бизнес около 10 миллионов рублей, которые пойдут на строительство лесопильного, столярного цехов, сушильного комплекса и цеха сращивания сырья. И далеко не каждый начинающий предприниматель в состоянии обеспечить достаточное количество заказов, чтобы загрузить свои производственные мощности. Нужно учитывать также, что этот бизнес сезонный, поэтому начинать стоит с малого, арендуя цеха и занимаясь выполнением отдельных заказов.
По мере развития компании, увеличения количества заказов и отладки бизнес-процессов можно задумываться о расширении. Сроки окупаемости зависят от большого количества факторов. При первоначальных вложениях в пределах 5 миллионов рублей выйти на уровень окупаемости можно будет не ранее, чем через полтора-два года с начала работы. Будьте готовы в первое время вкладывать немалую часть своей прибыли в рекламу и привлечение новых клиентов.
Sysoeva Lilia(c) www.clogicsecure.com - портал бизнес-планов и руководств по открытию малого бизнеса 18.08.2019