Experts say that a modern, comfortable home does not have to be large. In fact, 28 m is quite enough for a person to live a normal life. 2 . It turns out that a family of four will feel comfortable in a house with an area of ​​slightly less than 120 m2 2 . And such a house can rightfully be called small.

As a rule, small house projects are one-story. But at the request of the customer, it is possible to complete a full second floor or attic.

In order to accommodate all living rooms in a relatively small area and ensure comfortable family living, the size of technical and utility rooms is reduced. Although the space is organized according to the same principles as in any other project. But there are features that are due to the need to strictly save usable space.

Large house project: fight for every square meter

1. When designing small buildings, architects minimize the use of internal partitions. Thus, rooms with different functionality are combined into a single space. For example, the living room, dining room, and kitchen are grouped into a day area and separated purely visually - using design techniques. The design of a small house allows you to rationally use every square meter of usable space. At the same time, additional rooms remain isolated.
2. The bedrooms of family members, bathrooms, and dressing rooms form the night zone and are located in such a way as to maximally protect the personal space of the residents of the house from strangers. If the house is two-story, then the night zone is located there.
3. They try to design the utility area, consisting of bathrooms, a boiler room and other utility rooms, to a minimum size.
4. In order to productively use non-residential space, they strive to limit the number of corridors and passages.
5. If the house is two-story, there should be two bathrooms. In order to reduce costs when installing utility networks, they are placed one above the other. In a one-story house, the bathroom is placed so that it has a common riser with the kitchen.

Pros of small house projects

• The construction of a small house does not depend on the configuration and size of the land plot.
• Construction of such a house will also cost much less.
• Short design and construction times.
• Relatively low utility costs and easy home maintenance.

Small house projects: results

A carefully thought-out design of a small house allows you to rationally use every square meter of usable space. Thanks to this, the customer receives modern, comfortable housing for relatively little money. Therefore, we recommend choosing professional small house projects from Dom4m.

Everyone has the opportunity to build a dream home, and if you do everything with your own hands, you will be able to create a special, unique atmosphere, avoiding standard and hackneyed approaches. And even though it may be just a small house on a summer cottage, it will be filled with happiness and warmth.

1. The Hut on Chicken Legs in Strathmore

This fairytale home was created by a team of architects from Broadhurst Architects for clients who had a plot of land in Maryland. The nearly 25 square feet of this lovely little home includes a kitchen, living room with gas fireplace, bedroom, bathroom and a pretty deck. It is made from previously used materials and is equipped with a rainwater collection system, solar panels, and a modern security system against bears, rodents and other uninvited guests.

This cute A-frame house will only take a day to assemble and will cost you $1,200. It was designed by Derek Didriksen of Relax Shacks and built by Joe Everson of Tennessee Tiny Homes. The roof and walls are made of polycarbonate material, which is lightweight and easy to handle. If you want to add space, from 6 to 9 square meters, you just need to raise the wall. The house has two beds that can also be used as shelves, a small kitchen with a sink and a mini-fridge.

Owned by designer Mac Loyd of Creative Cottages, this stunning little cottage features a kitchen, living room, bathroom, two bedrooms, gas fireplace, laundry area and terrace. According to Mack, his home demonstrates the ergonomics of space, thanks to which an entire family can live in it. Assembly of the house will take only a week.

Foy and Louise, a Maine couple, spent about 10 years creating the cabin as a rental property. When the project was ready, we decided to live in it ourselves. The house, with an area of ​​just over 20 square meters, stands on a plastic pallet and pontoon. It was first assembled on land and then launched into the water. Unfortunately, it may suddenly flood. Louise spends hours carrying water into a 55-litre water tank to keep the shower and kitchen running, and there is also a rainwater collection system for watering the plants. The house has a bedroom, living room and equipped kitchen. In the evening and at night it is illuminated by candles and gas lamps and thanks to the energy of solar panels.

This is probably the largest of the houses presented in the review, since its area is almost 40 square meters. This little house can easily be moved on a trailer. The spacious bedroom has a large bed and multifunctional shelves that are placed in different places. In the kitchen area there is also a dining area, and outside there is a 9 square meter veranda where you can barbecue or enjoy the sun and fresh air.

A couple of extreme skiing enthusiasts, Molly Baker and Zach Giffin, are constantly traveling from place to place, and so they decided to buy a mobile home so they could be at home everywhere. In a two-story house, the ground floor contains a living and dining room with a kitchen with a small stove. The guest bedroom and storage area are accessed via an unusual staircase. The cost of the house is $25,000.

Nestled in a majestic forest, the modern lodge was built to replace a 60s building that had stood there for decades. Inside, the house has a modern, elegant design, but it itself seems to be sandwiched between two large stones - one serves as a support, and the other as the basis for the terrace. The house is spacious, as its area is more than 30 square meters, and the windows are quite large.

8. Secluded cottage

The 35 m2 house is built from natural materials and equipped with energy-saving technologies, a vaulted ceiling and large floor-to-ceiling windows. In addition, there is a glassed-in terrace that can be used as a dining room or an additional bedroom. The house has a fireplace and a kitchen.

9. Carrie and Shane's Little House

The couple recently completed three months of construction and furnishing of a cute 18 square meter house. The basis for the mobile home was a trailer. The house itself is equipped with a water heater, dry closet, solar battery, and large windows provide better lighting.

10. Tiny House by Richardson Architects

The small house has a bright exterior and interior. The area is 25 square meters and it is equipped with a rustic-style terrace. Interestingly, on the terrace there is a board on which the menu is indicated every day, and comfortable wooden chairs made from previously used materials. Inside there are two bathrooms and double bedrooms, a kitchenette and a dining room. Stainless steel materials and painted plywood sheets were also used during construction. The house is located in a picturesque corner of the Californian coast.

11. Tom's Tree House

Tree houses never fail to amaze. Many people would like to stay overnight at Camp Wandawega, located in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. The three-story structure is located on an elm tree. The spacious terrace allows you to relax in a hammock or have lunch during the day. On the second floor there is a library and a bedroom.

12. House on Orcas Island

The house is hidden in a thicket of elms and cedars on Oscar Island, Washington. This is an ideal place for those who want to retire and get closer to nature. On a total area of ​​just over 35 square meters there is a living room, a bathroom, and a bedroom on the second floor. Since outside temperatures can drop significantly in winter, the house is equipped with energy-saving windows and insulating materials.

13. Box of matches

Gingerbread Cottage.

Houses in the American town of Oak Bluffs are striking examples of how cozy and beautiful a small home can be. Many are decorated with Victorian-style designs and painted in a range of colours, as well as quaint terraces and lofts where the bedrooms are located. Renting such a house per week will cost $1,800.

This shabby but chic cottage is built with 95% reused materials from 25 other houses that are 200 years old or more. This 7 square meter home from Texas Tiny Houses features arched windows and stained glass windows. The stairs leading to the second floor lead to the sleeping area. The house, whose interior is designed in a rustic style, has a kitchen, living room and dining room.

But these examples are not all that people can do in order to have a separate home, because everyone has their own little childhood dream, the fulfillment of which our review offers:.

Not everyone can afford a big house. It's not about financial capabilities at all. Sometimes you have to be content with little, based on the available territory. In addition, the rejection of excesses and the general desire for minimalism is a fashionable trend.

Creating an interesting and comfortable design for a small house is the main priorities of the owner. How to achieve this is described in our article.

Small private house: general characteristics of the object

The small size of a private house is most often found in gardening partnerships. Small areas with a dense arrangement do not provide room for action. Most owners of such dacha properties plan not only to relax on the lawn, but also to engage in gardening and gardening. Considering this, every piece of land is very valuable.

In this option, a small country house is what you need. A compact home will allow you to hide from the rain, spend the night and even receive guests. Building such “mansions” is much easier and more economical. If you approach the arrangement of your home correctly, you will get a completely cozy and comfortable option.

For full functionality, in case of a short stay on the site, 1 room is enough for a summer resident. At the same time, a storage room or a separate building is allocated for household equipment.

If a large family is vacationing at the dacha, it is advisable to provide a small kitchen. It is recommended to divide a single room into zones, if necessary.

If you plan to stay at the dacha for a long time, then it is better to think through the interior of a small private house in more detail. It might be possible to:

• make an extension;
• use the attic space;
• use height more efficiently;
• use highly functional furniture.

All of the above requirements apply not only to residential buildings on a summer cottage, but also to small-sized mansions. In our country, these occur quite often. Some people are embarrassed by a small hallway in a private house, while for others 10 square meters is more than enough to run a full-fledged household.

Basic options for efficient use of space

The most important rule for those who want to expand their space is not to store unnecessary things. This is especially true for country houses. Most of us try to transport all out-of-fashion, shabby, and other unwanted things to our country estates. You must be able to part with trash or give it a second life in time.

Minimalism in a compact space is an ideal condition for visually expanding the area. The fewer objects on the territory of a small house, the more pleasant the perception of reality. This applies not only to large-sized furniture, but also to all kinds of trinkets.

A two-story house is a good solution for a small plot of land. Everything that cannot be placed in width will be placed in height. It is advisable to initially carefully approach the marking of the territory.

However, if an unplanned situation arises, it is also possible to find a way out. For example, build on a building. If there is an unused attic, then repair and arrange this area.

To increase the efficiency of home operation, you need to be more attentive to the filling of the facility. All furnishings must be thought out to the smallest detail. A good choice is transformable furniture:

• comfortable folding bed, pull-out sofa, bunk bed;
• table-book or folding model;
• extensive shelving storage system.

Even the furniture options themselves can be multifunctional (loft-type bed or with storage drawers, stair steps-wardrobe, bench with a double bottom). The main thing is that the useful space is used to the maximum. Numerous photos of a small private house clearly show how varied the ideas for successfully loading space are.

Local area: how to cope with the lack of space

As a rule, a small house is located on an equally compact area. To get rid of this drawback, it is advisable to follow the same path as when organizing space inside the house:

• give up unnecessary things;
• remember about ergonomics;
• make the most of every centimeter of space.

If possible, a small courtyard of a private house is cleared of additional buildings and large-scale plantings that create dense shadow. An open space with lawn grass, garden paths, and low-growing flower beds will please the eye and visually expand the area.

If it is impossible to clear the territory, they try to “open” the approaches to the house as much as possible. Outbuildings, greenhouses, and tall plants should be kept away from the building if possible. Thus, it will be possible to let light and air into the territory, visually “stretching” the compact area.

Interesting ideas for organizing a small space

In any house, the main part of the area is occupied by sleeping space. For a small home this is most critical. It is advisable to place the stock in such a way that it takes up minimal space. A good idea would be to install the bed under the ceiling. This can be a specially designed structure on supports, simulating a second floor.

A worthy option would be a loft bed with a sleeping area on top and a kitchenette below. Human imagination is limitless. Based on this idea, there are various examples of entire room complexes.

In addition to the bed, a table takes up a lot of space. To solve the problem of unloading space, it is advisable to abandon the usual version of this item. Use various ideas with folding products. For example, a folding version screwed to the wall, a transforming table or a deliberately widened window sill.

In addition to unusual models, non-standard arrangements are used. The table can be taken out into the corridor or even outside (if the house is summer). In this case, a good solution would be to build a veranda or a removable canopy.

Particular attention should be paid to seating areas. The sofa, bench or chairs should not be “empty”. The use of built-in storage systems will help improve the situation with unloading space. You can use a box as a chair. Lightweight, wicker options are preferred.

A small house with a modest plot is the problem of many Russian summer residents. It is difficult, but possible, to rationally use scanty space to create conditions conducive to a comfortable stay or a full life.

Photos of small private houses

The increasing pace of construction of houses for permanent residence in the nearest suburbs shows the desire of urban residents for silence and a favorable environmental environment. True, we have to take into account that everything has its price: the construction of a private house involves the cost of purchasing, as well as preparing a plot of land, creating an architectural project, and paying a team of professional builders. The total costs are quite high, so spacious housing in a quiet suburb is not affordable for every family.

A suitable option to reduce costs is to build a mini house for year-round use. The modest size of the living space is easily compensated by the competent use of space, compact built-in furniture and laconic design.

Also, several mini-houses are turning into hotel rooms Source cedarhomes.com

Advantages and features of building small houses

The main advantage of choosing a small home is its low cost. For example, the construction of a miniature two-story house made of timber with dimensions of 6 * 6 meters in the basic configuration will cost approximately 400 thousand rubles. Moreover, delivery of building materials to the nearest suburbs is most often free of charge.

Video description

In this video we will look in detail at the cost of each stage of building a small house:

The compact dwelling is being built by a team of specialists within a month, so the owners of the site will be able to begin finishing and furnishing as soon as possible in order to begin using the building this season.

The costs of heating and power supply for a miniature structure are minimal, so suburban housing will not be an additional major expense.

The laconic layout of such buildings makes the most efficient use of usable space, so residential premises are built without architectural frills in the form of empty corridors, spacious halls, and dressing rooms. Projects of small houses assume that everything in them will be located compactly, the necessary things are always at hand.

Video description

An example of the interior of a mini house in the video:

Travel lovers will appreciate the design of mini trailer houses, in which you can comfortably travel long distances, saving on hotel accommodation.

Even outwardly, a mobile home can resemble an ordinary one. Source micasarevista.com

Methods for creating a miniature housing project

The abundance of available information, as well as sample designs of existing houses, allow you to independently create a project for a small, cozy house, taking into account all the needs of customers. For example, for many it is important to have an open veranda or a certain layout of the living space. Typically, custom construction takes longer to complete, and some projects require additional building materials.

Functional, reliable housing requires special knowledge in the field of construction technologies, which is why most specialized companies offer customers ready-made designs for small houses. A clear, detailed cost estimate, as well as the availability of all the necessary premises, makes standard projects the most convenient and in demand among connoisseurs of suburban beauty and silence.

Mini houses are also suitable for those who appreciate complete privacy. Source pateshestvenik.com

Materials for building a finished structure

The final cost of construction is determined by the area, as well as the selected building materials. Depending on climatic conditions, tastes and budget of customers, one of several options is selected.

Mini houses on a frame basis

The structures are erected on a durable wooden or metal base, to which sandwich panels are attached - ready-made elements for future walls. After this, the house is insulated, finishing work is carried out, and clients can begin to use the housing.

The advantages of the technology are the speed of construction, the ability to work in any weather conditions, as well as the stability of the structure. Therefore, frame houses are suitable for silty, marshy soils with unstable soil.

The main disadvantage of this technology is the low noise insulation of the premises. Therefore, it is worth additionally checking that the proposed projects of mini-houses on a frame basis take this feature into account. In addition, timber-framed structures are susceptible to fire.

The frame is made the same - for a small or large house Source giropark.ru

Construction of miniature wooden housing

Environmentally friendly, retaining heat well, a miniature house made of wooden beams is easily heated and provides good air exchange, creating a comfortable microclimate.

The disadvantages of the selected material include fire hazard, as well as the need to care for natural wood to preserve its performance properties. For example, the paint layer should be renewed periodically to ensure the wood maintains its appearance.

Wooden house with jacuzzi Source pinterest.com

Brick domilions

Durable and environmentally friendly brick houses serve their owners for many decades; the material does not require any repairs or maintenance. This type of building retains heat well and has a high level of sound insulation.

The disadvantage of brick structures is their heaviness, which requires the construction of a solid foundation. In addition, the construction process takes considerable time, especially compared to the construction of frame structures.

Even small brick houses are capital construction Source messynessychic.com

Residential structures made of foam blocks

Construction made from this material is reliable, frost-resistant, and external surfaces can be finished with any materials. Small houses are cheap to build from foam blocks; the material is a compromise between expensive brick and affordable frame houses.

The disadvantage of this material is its large mass, due to which it is necessary to create a solid foundation.

A two-story mini house made of foam blocks has a large usable area Source martand.ru

Options for optimal use of space in miniature houses

The owners of inexpensive small houses carefully approach the arrangement of living space in order to create comfortable housing in a modest area.

Free spaces under the stairs, as well as niches in the walls, are occupied by shelves and cabinets for storing things. Decorated with glass or wooden doors, textile curtains or roller blinds, such designs do not attract attention, complementing the interior.

Narrow built-in wardrobes, as well as miniature household appliances, occupy minimal space while maintaining full functionality.

Video description

Examples of interior solutions in the video:

The main method of saving living space is to choose compact multifunctional furniture. Folding chairs and beds, folding tabletops and ottomans with built-in storage baskets will allow you to create a cozy interior that adapts to the needs of the owners.

Kitchen in the interior of a mini house Source pinterest.com

The abundance of windows, mirrors, and glass interior elements visually expands the space, and vaulted ceilings visually increase the size of a modest room.

The visual perception of a small house is improved thanks to light shades in the interior design, an abundance of lighting fixtures, and the use of natural finishing materials.

Popular projects of inexpensive small houses

The popularity of mini houses is once again confirmed by the number of finished projects. Small sizes only spur the owners’ imagination in terms of arranging the interior and appearance of buildings.

Homes on wheels

Mini-houses for summer cottages and traveling on wheels allow you to literally travel without leaving your home.

The home, equipped in a trailer, has everything necessary for a comfortable life. There are several sleeping places, storage sections and a miniature veranda. At the same time, such a house can easily be moved along with its owners.

Mobile transforming house Source motor1.com

A full-fledged mobile home based on a wooden frame is equipped with a cozy porch, and can easily be transformed into a car trailer.

A wooden house that you can take with you Source roomble.com

The two-story design allows you to comfortably accommodate a small family. An abundance of windows and a small attic create personal space for each family member.

Two-story mobile home Source businessinsider.nl

If necessary, the container house on wheels “folds” so as not to damage the glass on the road. Wooden siding and insulated windows protect the owners of the structure from bad weather.

It won’t take much time to get your house ready for camping Source pinterest.fr

In a mobile house with an attic, a porch and a small hallway, you can host a group of guests if necessary. The abundance of windows and the glazed entrance door provide a natural level of illumination to the interior spaces.

If you don't notice the wheels, you might think it's an ordinary house. Source br.pinterest.com

Country mini houses

If you are not planning to live permanently at your dacha, then there is no reason to build a full-fledged house. The way out will be small country houses, inexpensive in cost, but capable of providing the necessary level of comfort on vacation.

A bright miniature house with large windows allows you to comfortably spend warm summer evenings. The modest size accommodates a mini kitchen, a sleeping area and a work desk.

With a thoughtful layout, small sizes are not felt Source 9dach.ru

The round house, decorated with tiles, is equipped with several windows and one glass wall. The design is ideal for relaxation during seasonal living on a purchased summer cottage.

In such a house you feel like the hero of a science fiction novel Source yurlkink.ru

A wooden house with a rounded roof is a cozy, durable analogue of a camping tent. A durable floor and roof finishing with metal tiles will protect the owners from weather conditions. If you connect the necessary communications to your home, you can use it during the cold season.

The veranda fits perfectly into the layout of the house Source analytspectr.ru

The “mailbox” type design combines an original solution and a minimum set of necessary functions. The lack of light in the room is easily compensated for by additional electric lamps.

You can’t blame such a house for being unoriginal Source kld-dom.ru

The converted construction shed is a functional house with an area of ​​11 meters, equipped with everything necessary for life. The mini kitchen has a traditional window above the sink.

Everyone has their own associations with this design. Source dizainall.com

Full houses of small sizes

Small full-fledged houses are most often needed in two cases: if you need to save on construction, but do not want to sacrifice quality, or if there is limited space on the site. In any case, you can choose a worthy project that will solve all the tasks.

The stone two-story house with a balcony and porch is stylized as a half-timbered construction technology based on wooden beams. Thanks to the spacious layout, the house can permanently accommodate up to three people.

The attic completely replaces the second floor Source: akprefabrikev.com

The project of a small two-story house with a veranda and a balcony is the best option for living on a summer cottage in the summer.

Modern layout combining living room and kitchen Source picdeer.com

A miniature copy of a classic mansion with a terrace and columns will accommodate a small family, and the peaked roof will add additional flavor.

The house looks great on the site Source c-m-t.ru

A mini version of a standard country house with an entrance hall, porch and a common large room is a country housing option for budget-conscious owners. Traditional siding will protect the walls of the house from moisture.

American style house Source pinterest.com

• The rectangular design of the house with glass walls and a wide canopy will give the owners a good overview of the surrounding area. If necessary, the glass walls are covered with wooden shutters, which replace walkways in good weather.

House project for fans of non-standard solutions Source mckshop.by

• With an attached garage and two separate rooms, the domilion is a suitable option for year-round living.

Home layout for full use of usable space Source houzz.com

And also, on our website you can get acquainted with the most popular projects small houses from construction companies represented at the exhibition of Low-Rise Country houses.

Conclusion

Building a small house will not cost much, and will also allow the owners to save time and money. In addition, the variety of materials and ready-made projects will allow you to create a functional and cozy home in a minimal area. Domilions are not only an option for temporary residence during the construction of a permanent house, but also a good way to save on the maintenance of suburban real estate.

Since you are reading this article, holidays outside the city on your own site are attractive to you. A country house is, of course, necessary for this. It is highly desirable to build it simple, cheap and. For the sake of saving not only money and your labor, but also land area. In this publication you will find information on how to build a country house with your own hands as simply, quickly, easily and cheaper as possible. It is also desirable that the ergonomics of the house allow you to wait out long periods of bad weather in it without experiencing discomfort, and that the design of the building makes it possible to use various design solutions for its external and internal design.

Where to start

The first question that needs to be resolved when planning to build a country house is what to build it from? Where is already known, the site cannot be transported anywhere. Based on the material, soil at the construction site and weather conditions, the design of the house is selected, a ready-made project is developed or selected for it, and then - estimates, purchases, and off to work. We will start with the choice of material.

What to build from?

Since we are interested in options that are easy to implement, log houses are also excluded from consideration: building them yourself is very difficult. In addition, such houses are sensitive to seasonal soil movements and therefore require a foundation no less reliable than a full-buried strip foundation (from 0.6 m below the standard freezing depth of the NGP, counting along the base of the strip). A fully buried foundation must be able to withstand its own shrinkage from at least the end of summer until the full warmth of spring next year. Insulated slab foundations require the same endurance, for example. Swedish stove. There is, however, a type of foundation for wooden houses that does not require a technological break (see below), but even the timber or log structure itself must be allowed to shrink for a year before it is ready for finishing. That's why a log or log house will be disproportionately expensive (from approx. 12,000 rubles/sq. m) and difficult to build independently.

The same situation arises with brick houses and. Ultimately, the construction of a small country house made of brick, foam block or timber turns out to be advisable only on very small areas, when an extremely compact structure is required. In this case, the house is built with 2 floors; brick and timber technologies allow an untrained, but attentive and careful builder to build a 2-story house. Examples of the layout of a compact 2-story brick and timber house are given in the figure:

Note: It is easier for a novice builder to build a foam block house than a brick, timber or log house. Building a country house from foam/gas blocks makes sense if the country house is visited all year round - no additional insulation is needed and heating costs will be lower.

The simplest and fastest ways to build a small house is to assemble it from a ready-made panel house kit or structural insulated panels (SIP). A prefabricated panel house 20x20 feet (6x6 m) is erected within a week by a pair of chimpanzees of average mental abilities trained according to the instructions for the kit. It’s no joke, there were such experiences. But, alas, the cost of construction. At current prices, somewhere from 18,000 rubles/sq. m. Without foundation.

A house made of SIP will cost less, approx. from 15,000 rub./sq. m with a foundation on geoscrews (see below). However, SIP structures are held together with locks between the panels. For a SIP house to be completely reliable, it must have quite a lot of internal partitions made from the same SIPs with locks. Since there are few or no partitions in a compact house, we also do not touch SIP as a material for it.

So, we come to the conclusion: to build a country house quickly, simply and inexpensively from wood. With one small but very significant exception, see below.

Project

It is better to build an inexpensive garden and/or compact country house according to a standard design; For significant construction details, see below. A ready-made free project for a country house is quite easy to find using any search engine. Or for a fee - a detailed standard design of a garden house for 300 rubles. can actually be found on the relevant websites.

How to choose easier and cheaper

However, when going through projects, you need to take into account some significant circumstances, namely the cost, duration and complexity of the zero cycle, i.e. excavation and foundation laying. The problem is frost heaving of the soil. During seasonal movements, the ground under the house does not shake and does not roll in waves. Dacha plots are cut out on diverse soils, but with one common property - sufficient self-connectivity, otherwise no one needs such a dacha. Therefore, within a certain space on the surface, frost heaving of the soil is reduced mainly to the raising/reverse subsidence of its surface with a slight tilt.

On the other hand, a small country house has excessive rigidity and elasticity. The square-cube law, well known in technology (and stubbornly unnoticed by amateurs), applies here. It’s easy to test it experimentally: glue together cubes with sides of 2 and 10 cm from ordinary writing paper and try to crumple both. The third factor is the soil’s own cohesion is inextricably linked with its mechanical properties.

Without going into further details, we will immediately state the conclusion: if a small wooden country house fits into a circle of a certain diameter in the plan, then on ordinary garden soils it can be built on a shallow foundation, which is much faster, simpler and cheaper. In which circle should the design of a wooden house fit into the plan, so that it can be built on a shallow foundation on soils up to and including medium heaving, is shown in Fig. Here everything depends, as we see, on the proportions of the structure: the more “square” the house is, the better it copes with seasonal ground movements. Therefore, it is better to build “tram” houses for narrow areas, without looking closely, on a foundation of normal depth. But if the ratio of the “sticks” of a T-shaped house lies within 1

Note: the veranda/terrace is included in the projection of the house if it is rigidly connected to its structure. Verandas that do not have a mechanical connection with the house or an articulated connection with it are excluded from the house plan projection.

Foundation

We will assume that we have decided on the foundation. Let us only remind you that under a brick, timber or log house on all soils except non-heaving soils, you need to lay a normally buried TISE strip or foundation. A slab foundation with insulation “settles” on the ground for 2-3 years; this is enough for a timber or log house to begin to crack. Under a house made of timber or foam blocks on slightly heaving soil, you can lay a foundation using geoscrews (see below) with a steel grillage.

Non-buried

The easiest and cheapest way to assemble a non-buried foundation for a compact country house is a columnar one from ready-made concrete blocks 200x200x400. The blocks are laid out on cement-sand mortar from M150, two in a row; the top ones cross the bottom ones. Thus, the column is 400x400 mm in plan.

The pits for the posts are dug to a depth of 0.5 m; of which 15+15 cm is made up of an anti-heavy sand and crushed stone cushion. There is no point in deepening the pillars of blocks by more than 20 cm: the ligation of the seams is weak, and the horizontal components of the forces of frost heaving will tear the pillars. The number of rows of blocks in a column is made more than 2, if the house needs to be raised above the ground by more than 20 cm. The maintenance break after installing a columnar foundation made of blocks is required to be minimal, for hardening of the masonry mortar, this is approx. a week.

Recessed

The buried foundation of a compact house is often made, following the example of large buildings, on bored piles in soft roofing felt formwork. If the house is on a slope, asbestos-cement pipes are placed on the shell of the piles, which makes it possible to compensate for the difference in height along the slope of up to 1.7 m or more. With regard to fast, small-scale construction, the disadvantage of these foundations is the same as that of the tape - they must stand and settle at least from autumn to spring.

Note: There is no point in laying a TISE foundation for a light compact house - the “caps” of TISE piles work normally in the ground only under sufficient weight load from the building. Of small-sized houses, only a 2-story brick or concrete one can create one.

Geoscrews

The best option for a buried foundation for a compact house is with geoscrews. Geoscrews are a type of shortened screw piles specifically for light buildings. Unlike conventional ones, geoscrews are not designed for muddy, loose and floating soils. A foundation with geoscrews for a large house will cost significantly more than a homemade strip foundation, because... Geoscrews themselves are not cheap, but for a small house this is not so bad, since few screws are required.

A geoscrew for low- and medium-density soils, by the principle of holding it in the ground, is somewhat similar to a confirmed furniture screw and also looks like it in appearance, see fig.:

The smooth head of geoscrews for dense soils is uniformly cylindrical. Both geoscrews can be used on soils up to excessive heaving. You can either lay the wooden bottom frame of a building on the heads of geoscrews or mount a steel grillage. For information on how to build a wooden house on screw piles, see, for example. track. video:

Video: installing a frame house

The advantages of geoscrews for quick construction on a small site in cramped conditions are enormous:

• No preliminary geological surveys are required.
• Geoscrews can be wrapped in fairly heavily clogged soil: a cobblestone or piece of concrete the size of a child’s head will push the screw to the side.
• There is no need for special equipment or access roads for it: 2 people use a crowbar or a homemade collar from a piece of pipe to wrap up to 10 or more geoscrews in a day.
• No preparatory excavation work is required: the screw is simply placed with the end into the hole on the bayonet of the shovel and twisted. It is leveled vertically when the pointed tip enters the ground by a third to half.
• Screwed geoscrews can be turned/unscrewed to align the heads to the horizon.
• There is no need for a technical break to settle the foundation - construction can continue as soon as the last screw is screwed in.
• An incorrectly screwed screw can be unscrewed and screwed back in close to the previous hole.

Note: If you are building according to a ready-made project, which indicates the type and characteristics of the foundation, then you need to follow the recommendations of the designers, or consult with them on whether such and such a foundation is suitable on such and such soil.

What kind of house should I build?

Let's get to the point: what kind of simple country house will be cheaper and more likely to be built? In order of increasing cost, complexity and construction time, as well as potential aesthetic qualities (suitability for design and decoration), the options are arranged as follows. way:

1. House from a military kung;
2. Hut house;
3. Bungalow house;
4. Frame house.

When there is no time for excesses

KUNG is an abbreviation for Unified Body of Normal (Zero) Dimensions. In the USSR, unified closed bodies for cars appeared after the Second World War, and thanks to their convenience, the name kung soon became a household name. A country house made of kung, most importantly, is very cheap: a decommissioned kung cabin from ZIL-131 can be found for 30,000 rubles. And the construction comes down to bringing it and placing it on posts, concrete supports for grape trellises, etc., laid on a crushed stone cushion (so that weeds do not sprout and annoying living creatures do not appear). A foundation for a kung is not needed on any ground in any climate - the kung is designed for off-road driving and overturning of the carrier vehicle.

The kung as a country house has only one drawback: its utilitarian appearance, which any design efforts only stick out. But there are a lot of advantages:

• Excellent insulation - a stove the size of a desktop computer system unit heats the kung from the most severe frost.
• The price is more than an order of magnitude less than that of a construction shed, a residential container or a section of a modular country house.
• High resistance to external influences - warehouses, change houses and utility rooms made of kungs have stood practically without maintenance for more than 50 years, and they are not in sight of demolition.
• Fire safety is built into the design.
• Built-in electrical wiring or channels for it, electrical input panel (ISB) and terminals for grounding connections.
• Wide possibilities for redevelopment, internal equipment and finishing (see below).
• No legislation or installation permission is required. Bought - brought - installed - live.

It is better to look for a kung for a country house from a ZIL-131 or GAZ-66 car (see figure): they have a flat floor and it is easier to place them on posts due to the small or absence of recesses for the wheel arches. You need 6 pillars (you can use dry stacked brick ones): in the corners in the middle of the long sides. Among other things, kungs from ZIL-131 and GAZ-66 are cheaper and can be converted into housing easier than Ural and KAMAZ ones.

Note: Don’t take non-standardized “booths” from ancient ZiSs and GAZ-51-53, their frames are highly susceptible to corrosion and the insulation is no good.

The width of the kung is standard according to zero vehicle dimensions (2.4 m), and the length can be in the range of 3.5-8.5 m. If your site is long and narrow, then a “tram” house made from a kung on it is practically the only way to do without laying a buried foundation.

For a country house, it is preferable to look for a two-compartment kung (double-compartment), on the left in Fig. But any other empty one turns out to be surprisingly spacious, in the center. The kung cabin (top left and right in the figure) already provides normal habitability for 3-4 people, but it would be even better to look for a kung cabin from old communication hardware. There are also sleeping places for a crew of 3-4 people, and after some effort, such a kung turns out to be not a house, but a piece of candy, below right in the figure. It is better to remove the right (looking from the entrance) compartment for the autonomous power supply unit (BEA): in its place is a mini-toilet with a shower. By removing half of the shelves above the left compartment of the BEA, we get space for a gas stove with 1-2 burners and a small cutting table. The BEA compartment itself is purposely designed for gardening tools, planting material, etc., with access also from the outside, through a wide hatch. In addition, communication equipment shelters have side windows, which cannot be said about all military shelters.

Chalet

Chalet means hut, but what changes the meaning of this word has undergone with the development of architecture is another matter. The country hut house is almost as durable as a kung, because... its load-bearing trusses are triangular. A small hut house (up to approximately 4x6 m) can be placed on a shallow foundation on any soil except excessively heaving soil. A hut house requires 1.5-2 times less materials than a bungalow or frame house, and it is easier to build it without experience and with a minimal set of tools. The hut house has one more advantage, inherited from its ancestors: it fits perfectly with almost any decoration into any landscape, see fig.:

There are few disadvantages to the chalet house. The hut house retains all its advantages up to a size of approx. 6x9 m, then it becomes more complex and material-intensive than traditional ones. Even in a small hut house, one of the sleeping places has to be equipped in the attic, where you have to climb a vertical ladder, that’s all.

In America and Canada, single-occupancy hut houses are quite widespread - shelters for hunters, fishermen, beekeepers, seasonal tenants and sharecroppers (this is the same as the Soviet hectare owner, who remembers), left and center in the figure:

Construction of a single house hut - shelter and a 3-bed country house

But the hut house, only 3x3 m in plan, can also be a country house for 2-3 people, on the right. Heating costs in both cases are small, because the relative heat loss area of ​​the hut house is smaller and it warms up faster due to more active air circulation. If your summer cottage is habitable from the first warmth of spring until the winter cold, then a hut house is optimal for you. After the kung, if you manage to buy it, who knows, they know the real price of the kung.

How to build a chalet

The construction of a hut house measuring up to 6x4 m in plan is carried out step by step. in this way (this is the so-called airship technology developed by the Germans to build their zeppelins):

1. Lay a columnar or pile screw (on geoscrews) foundation;
2. The load-bearing A-shaped frames of the frame are assembled from boards (130...150)x40 lying on the plaza - any sufficiently hard, flat surface;
3. The assembled frames are stacked in order to check for distortion and size; for a hut house this is extremely important;
4. The calibrated frames are transferred one by one to the foundation and laid flat with the sole in place;
5. Each frame transferred to the foundation is lifted with a rope, aligned vertically and fixed with temporary jibs;
6. When all the frames are in place as they should, fix the frame in the corners - at the bottom with cornice boards (see below), at the top with a ridge purlin, also made of a pair of boards;
7. When building a house more than 3x4 m, the frame is reinforced with additional longitudinal ties;
8. At the level of the tie (transverse tie of the A-frame) the ceiling is assembled; without it the house will not be strong;
9. The floor of the house is assembled using the usual technology for wooden houses;
10. The wings of the frame are sheathed with 40 mm boards lengthwise, preferably tongue-and-groove;
11. Assemble window and door frames;
12. Facades are sheathed;
13. Carry out the remaining required construction work.

The hut house will be strong enough and durable only if the work on its construction is carried out in the specified sequence. This is probably the reason that few people build hut houses - it’s easier to work on the principle of “take more, throw further.”

Drawings of a hut house 3x3 m for two or three are given in the figure:

The inset at the top left shows the design of facade frames for a house up to 4x6 m. The material, like the intermediate frames, is 150x75 timber. Firstly, on facade frames, 2 ties are added to the tie (intermediate frames without them). Secondly, instead of a ridge girder, a ridge beam of the same cross-section is used. Thirdly, the frames, except at the corners, are fastened with middle and top strapping (longitudinal stiffening links) made of the same timber. Longitudinal and transverse connections are connected by a half-tree insert. Those. Using the example of a 4x6 m house, you can already see how the complexity of construction and the material consumption of a hut house increase with its size.

Note: On the bottom screed, 2 more ends of the 100x75 timber are visible on the sides of the window. The internal partitions rest on them. The door frame on the other façade extends up to the tightening and is made of 75x150 timber; The lower screed of this facade is split. If the house does not have a basement, the window frame is made in a similar way.

Bungalows and... bungalows

In the general concept, a bungalow is an unheated one-room country house with an extensive covered veranda, which is structurally integral to it. For a weekend summer cottage in fairly warm regions, the “generally accepted” bungalow house is optimal, because... spacious, well ventilated, not overheated by the Sun, and the construction is no more complicated than a frame house, but less material-intensive.

However, little is known to construction specialists outside the tropics these days that bungalows are also a type of construction technology. The hut-bungalows built on it (another name is hakale) can still be found in the forest wilds of Russia, the northern United States and all of Canada. Some of them are over 200 years old, but most of them are still suitable for habitation. The house, built using bungalow technology, is easily recognizable by its 2-layer cladding made of vertical boards; the outer row is intermittent, see fig. on right.

The bungalow as a wooden construction technology combines elements of half-timbered and frame structures with working cladding. Compared to both, bungalow technology has a trace. advantages:

• In wooded areas with developed logging, it is cheaper, despite the increased consumption of material for cladding, because unseasoned low-quality materials are suitable for it (cladding), including unedged boards and waste in the form of slabs.
• The bungalow house is quite simple and can be built on a shallow foundation on soils up to and including highly heaving.
• In damp places, houses built using bungalow technology are very durable due to the fact that the paths of penetration of atmospheric moisture into the skin are minimized: the upper ends of the boards are covered with roof overhangs.

The disadvantages of construction using bungalow technology are, firstly, increased requirements for the experience and accuracy of the worker (see below). Secondly, there is some complexity in the design of the openings: the outer cladding boards need to be cut in place to fit the platbands, otherwise pockets will form - moisture traps.

Bungalow like a bungalow

Bungalows as shelter houses are generally more popular than hut houses due to their better habitability. In a bungalow, you don’t have to climb up to sleep and stick out to eat lunch.

The structure of a bungalow-type shelter house is shown in the figure:

Drawings of a mini bungalow house - shelter

The foundation, of course, is not necessarily a strip foundation (in this case, a non-buried strip foundation, NZLF), but any one suitable for local conditions. If it is columnar or pile, then you need 12 supports: 3 on the sides along the veranda and 4 (under each vertical post) on the others. This house can be extended up to 3-3.5 m in length. Then, if you do not extend it accordingly. veranda, you can fence off the toilet, and the attic in any case remains free for property and supplies.

A “real” bungalow for outdoor recreation measuring 4x5.875 m in plan is, of course, more complex (see next figure), just like a frame house (see below). There is no attic (this is a characteristic feature of “real” recreational bungalows). The requirements for the foundation are the same, but for soils up to and including medium heaving; prev This option also works well on heavily heaving soils.

Bungalow as technology

The main features of the bungalow as a construction technology are indicated above. In addition: the power frame is assembled from timber from 150x150 without jibs. Yes Yes! The rigidity of the structure is provided by cladding made of vertical boards. Plywood and OSB are of little use because... Under each joint of the sheets, backing posts and lengths are needed.

Bungalow construction diagrams are shown in the figure:

The rafter floor structures are not shown, they are ordinary. Please note, on the left in the figure: the triple corners of the frame are assembled by cutting into half a tree and into a tenon, and the tenons of the racks are located on the inside of the corners. This is an indispensable condition for the strength of the structure: the elements of the load-bearing frame must cling to each other at the corners without steel fasteners. Although it is necessary, see the corner reinforcement diagram in the center of Fig. The use of steel corners, overlays and other innovations in this case is unacceptable! You have to pay for the Old Testament “stupidity” with labor.

The sheathing boards need to be oriented with “humps” (convexities of the annual layers) as shown on the right in the figure: internal inward, external outward. The outer boards should be slightly narrower than the inner ones, then in the process of warping the wood the sheathing will compact and compress the frame. With any other arrangement of the “humps” it will split and the whole house will weaken.

All boards are attached to the frame along the short (end) edges with triplets (not pairs!) of nails or self-tapping screws. The edge boards are also attached along the long edges to the corner posts with the same fasteners in a row or in a snake (zigzag) with a pitch of 100-120 mm. The outer boards are attached to the inner boards along the short edges with pairs of fasteners; along the long ones - in a row with the same step.

Assembling the bungalow's load-bearing frame is a very important stage of work. And labor-intensive, because You can’t hammer in staples with a carpenter’s hammer, and you can’t tighten 12x300 self-tapping screws with a screwdriver. In old designs, instead of self-tapping screws, oak dowels were installed using wedging. The frame of the house is assembled using bungalow technology. order:

1. Assemble the lower frame on the foundation;
2. The racks are installed, aligned vertically and fixed with temporary braces;
3. Assemble the upper frame on the racks;
4. Drill pioneer holes for the staples (marking with the staples themselves at an angle of 45 degrees). The depth of the pioneer holes is 2/3 of the length of the staple bar, the diameter is 3/4 of the diameter of the bar;
5. Choose grooves for the shelves of brackets, because staples must be recessed into the wood;
6. The staples are fastened with a hammer;
7. Once again check the verticality of the racks and install the upper steel fasteners;
8. They hammer in the staples with a sledgehammer;
9. Produce wall cladding;
10. Remove the temporary braces and carry out the rest of the work.

Frames

A frame mini-house does not have any special features compared to a large residential one; a diagram of its device is shown in Fig.:

The construction procedure is described in detail and with illustrations in many sources. You can also watch a video about the construction of a “classic” frame house 6x4 m:

Video: 4x6 country house using frame technology

The complexity and cost of building a frame house is higher than all those described above. The attention, knowledge and accuracy required to build a hut and bungalow do not count: they do not require costs and do not take up time. But the frame mini-house also has an undeniable advantage: its simple shape with vertical walls and smooth cladding make it suitable for a wide variety of design delights, see fig.

Also, the design of a frame house is very flexible. On the one hand, it forgives the rather serious mistakes of novice builders. On the other hand, it gives creative amateurs some scope for experimentation. See, for example, a video about building a small frame shelter house:

Video: DIY mini frame house

To this story we only need to add that the viewers’ comments about insulation are fair. Since it is impossible to “drive” the dew point out once and for all, and there are no massive walls where it could “walk”, insulating materials in such structures must be used that do not allow condensation to form in the insulation layer and further inside: EPS or cellulose insulation (ecowool) .

In conclusion about the roof

The roof beam (all as it is, its supporting structure) of a small house also has a peculiarity. It is determined by its small size, and, as a consequence, by the excessive rigidity of the structure, as well as the lack of a load-bearing partition (internal capital wall) in it (excuse the bureaucracy). To support the latter, a fully connected foundation is required; at a minimum - a tape of normal depth.

Rafter structures (in this case, this is the same roof crossbar) are, as you know, hanging (pos. 1a in the figure) and layered (pos. 1b):

In the first, the truss rack rests on a transverse beam-screed, and in the layered version on a load-bearing partition; split screed. It is technically possible to make a load-bearing partition in a small house, but it is not justified in any sense, including ergonomic - habitability. Therefore, the trusses of small houses are made only hanging. As for the methods of assembling the truss structure of a small house, they can be any of the known poses. 3 and 4. Choose whatever you like based on your skill, availability of materials and desire. The minimum standard size of boards for a house up to 6x6 m is 40x130, ridge beams - 100x75 and mauerlat - from 150x75. In a bungalow house and a frame mauerlat, the timber of the top frame can serve directly.