Author(s)

M. Jarosz

Abstract

Buildings made with the use of timber-framed construction are one of the oldest types of housing in Europe. Some of them date back even to the 12th century. Those which have survived are the historical heritage of building art and architecture of that time, decorating landscapes and evoking the spirit of a bygone era. The process of repair and adaptation of this kind of monument is complicated and requires a very careful analysis of timber-framed structure and materials. Any repair or improvement should be devised to minimize the risk of damage to the historic fabric. An important aspect which requires attention is an improvement of the thermal insulation of external walls, comfort for inhabitants, and the energy efficiency. Timber frames are characterized by heterogeneous material being used to build the walls (especially many sorts of filling e.g. brick, clay from the chaff), so it is particularly important to properly select materials, technology, and mounting method for the insulation. Old buildings constitute environmental risk of vapor condensation, which can lead to destruction and decay of walls, wooden beams moistness and microbiological corrosion. These issues can be easily observed by performing an analysis of heat and moistness of an external wall. Modern technologies, building materials and innovative ideas may all contribute to achieving a compromise and a reasonable result which ensures convenient usage of the building while maintaining its historic values such as wall paintings, stamps, etc. It is also worth taking a closer look at some of the solutions using passive house standards in the protection of historic timber-framed buildings. Keywords: insulation, historic buildings, modern technologies, wooden frame construction, methods of prevention.

Keywords

insulation, historic buildings, modern technologies, wooden frame construction, methods of prevention.