Frequently asked questions

1. How long does it take to build a home in CLT?

For a home of around 250 m², we need 10 to 15 working days to build the full structural shell. This naturally varies with the size and complexity of the design.
Several things must also happen beforehand: installing the foundation, carefully reviewing the design plans, producing the structure and transporting it to site. After the structure is installed, further finishing still needs to be carried out, such as exterior joinery, building services, exterior insulation and facade, and interior finishing.

2. How do you heat a CLT house?

Because CLT is an airtight construction method, leakage is very limited. With solar panels, a CLT home can achieve a very low energy level, even a negative one.

3. A wooden house, is it not vulnerable to fire?

No, quite the opposite. CLT is very fire safe. If a fire breaks out, the wood chars in a thin layer that protects the rest. Advantage: less fire protection is needed, which saves costs.

4. How is a CLT house finished on the outside?

A CLT house is finished like a traditional house, except that the finish must be vapour-open. This means no PUR or EPS insulation, but natural materials such as wood fibre or rock wool for roof and facade insulation. Flat roof covering must also be vapour-open. Windows, doors, facade cladding and interior finishes can be chosen as you wish.

5. How is a CLT house finished on the inside?

Inside, you can leave the timber visible. This finish costs a little more in production, but later only needs staining. You can also install plasterboard to create any look you want. Tiles can also be installed in bathrooms and kitchens.

6. Can I build five floors with CLT?

Absolutely. The tallest timber building in the world is Mjøstårnet in Brumunddal, Norway. It has 18 floors and is 85.4 metres high. The building contains a hotel, apartments and offices.
So there are many possibilities for building upwards with CLT.

7. Can I build a basement in CLT?

This is not possible. Underground structures cannot be built in timber. Foundations and basements are therefore built more traditionally in concrete or masonry.

8. Is a traditional foundation required?

The foundation of a CLT building is generally less deep and heavy than with more traditional construction methods. The CLT structure itself is much lighter, so the foundation is less heavily loaded and can therefore be lighter and less expensive.

9. What about impact sound?

Impact sound is unavoidable in a building, but fortunately there are many techniques to reduce it. When walls are placed on floors, special elastic or rubber strips are installed under the walls. Combined with a floating floor, this keeps impact sound to a minimum.
Other techniques, such as decoupled walls or lining walls, can offer solutions. We assess this project by project.

10. What is the lifespan of a CLT building?

Timber has been used as a building material for centuries. These structures last at least as long as other materials. Think of wooden chalets in the Alps or stave churches in Norway and Sweden, some of which are centuries old.
The minimum lifespan is 75 years, just like with more traditional construction methods.

11. Is CLT strong enough to build with?

Thanks to the perpendicular glued layers of timber, CLT has excellent stability properties. Shrinkage and expansion caused by environmental factors are greatly reduced, improving static performance and dimensional stability.

12. Can I add a floor to an existing building with CLT?

This is possible, possibly with reinforcement of the existing structure. CLT is lighter than many traditional materials, so reinforcement of underlying structures is usually limited.