Wooden or brick house? Cost, Pros & Cons

Are you planning to build a house? You will probably have to answer the key question: a wooden or brick house – which will be a better choice for you and will allow you to realize your vision of the perfect place on earth? In the past, a brick house was considered a synonym for a solid building. Today, we are increasingly opting for a wooden one, not necessarily made of logs! One of the modern solutions used in construction is frame technology and the construction of prefabricated houses. Wooden or brick house – which one would you like to live in?

Advantages and cost of building a wooden house

When choosing between a wooden and a brick house, there are several key aspects to consider. Modern energy-efficient, prefabricated wooden houses are an alternative to heavy masonry structures that take much longer to build. A wooden house with a frame structure can be built in as little as 3-4 months, while a brick house can be built in several times longer. In addition, the cost of building a wooden house is lower, so we can afford it with a smaller budget. It is made of prefabricated elements, i.e. ready-made elements produced in specialized factories. In this way, construction costs are reduced and we gain high quality of individual components.

The advantages of a wooden house also include savings on heating. Why? There is still a belief that a wooden structure cannot provide as good thermal insulation as a brick one. In reality, however, it is different. The combination of high-quality natural raw material (wood) with an appropriate layer of thermal insulation guarantees effective protection against heat loss through the building in winter and the inflow of hot air in summer.

It should also be emphasized that wooden houses have a larger usable area than brick ones. External walls filled with insulation are relatively thin, which translates into increased area to be developed. A wooden house can have up to 10% more usable area than a brick house of the same dimensions. Let’s not forget about ecological issues – wood is a natural and… Renewable! Thanks to sustainable forest management in our country, the supply of wood is increasing every year. By using wood in the construction of a house, we do not interfere so much with the natural environment.

Brick houses: price, benefits and disadvantages

A brick house is certainly a building with solid foundations that will stand the test of time, so it can serve several generations. The cost of its construction is lower than that of a log house, but higher than that of a wooden house made of prefabricated elements. It is credited with excellent acoustic properties and insulation performance (as you already know, they are equally excellent in wooden houses). However, what characterizes brick houses is the price – higher than prefabricated houses – and a much longer construction time. For many people, this is a double problem. If we have a limited budget, we care about time and we need a house in a few months, we cannot afford to erect this type of building.

Wooden or brick house? Summary

Wooden or brick house – each of them has advantages and disadvantages, so both will find their supporters. Analyzing recent years and interest, however, we can observe an increasing number of wooden houses. We build them faster and at a lower price, we care about the environment, provide thermal comfort, as well as excellent thermal insulation. Prefabricated wooden houses are part of the concept of energy-efficient construction, which is already a standard in many European countries.

Read also how to soundproof your home.