Discover Our Timber Frame Homes
SYSTEM-S of Żywiec produces year-round timber frame houses in three models: Ekodom 50 (50 m² usable area), Ekodom 75 (70 m²) and Ekodom 110 (105 m²). Prices start at €37,000 net (Ekodom 50) and construction takes 8–14 weeks.
What are timber frame homes?
More and more people dreaming of their own home are looking for fast, modern, and affordable solutions. Timber frame homes – also known as year-round wooden houses – perfectly fit this trend. It is a technology that combines ecology, energy efficiency, and user comfort.
A timber frame house is a building erected on a wooden structure. Beams create a kind of “frame” – a skeleton, which is then filled with insulating and facade materials. This results in a light, but exceptionally durable structure that can be put up in a few months, and sometimes even weeks.
This type of home can take various forms – from small year-round wooden cottages, through single-story house designs, to modern barns (barn-style houses). Depending on the investor's needs, designs for houses without a permit are also possible, which further speeds up the realization of dreams of owning a home.
Why are timber frame homes gaining popularity? – Advantages of the technology
Speed of Construction
Thanks to prefabricated elements and “dry” technology, a timber frame house can be put up in a closed shell state in a few to several weeks, and most work up to developer's standard will be completed in 3-6 months.
Energy Efficiency / Low Heating Costs
Walls filled with high-quality insulation, excellent airtightness, and elimination of thermal bridges – lower heating bills in winter and comfort in summer.
Durability of Construction
Good quality wood, properly dried and impregnated can serve for decades – comparable to a brick house.
Ecology / Healthy Microclimate
Natural, renewable materials, a smaller carbon footprint, wood regulates humidity and interior comfort.
Design Flexibility
Single-story house designs, houses without permits, houses with an attic, or barn-style houses – the timber frame construction allows for easy modifications and space adaptations.
Step-by-step construction process
- Design and preparation: selection of design, checking norms, zoning conditions, and permits.
- Foundations: footings or foundation slab, insulation, and site preparation.
- Construction and prefabrication: production of structural elements, assembly of walls, roof truss, windows, and roof.
- Installations and insulation: installation of water and sewage, electrical, heating, and ventilation systems; filling walls with insulation.
- Finishing and handover: facade, interior work, door installation, bathroom and kitchen finishing, inspections.
Total process time: usually 3-6 months, depending on size, design, prefabrication, and local conditions.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
Yes – if the construction is correct, insulation is good, and materials are high quality. Timber frame houses are designed with climates like France's in mind – cold winters, humidity. Proper insulation and airtightness ensure thermal comfort. The external walls of SYSTEM-S houses reach a U-value of 0.13–0.15 W/(m²K), against the WT 2021 maximum of 0.20 W/(m²K), and the walls are insulated with 200 mm of mineral wool.
Yes – it's possible if the house fits within the square footage limit (e.g., up to 70 sq m, depending on local regulations) and meets zoning conditions. This helps to speed up the investment process. It's worth checking local regulations. A house of up to 70 m² of building footprint is built on notification, and the authority has 21 days to object; assembly itself takes 8–14 weeks.
This is a myth – a well-built timber frame house, with certified wood, proper impregnation, and moisture protection, can be just as durable as a masonry house. Timber frame houses have stood in Scandinavia and North America for over 100 years, C24 structural timber is kiln-dried to 15–18% moisture, and the service life of a Canadian-style house, when properly built, is 50–100 years or more.
Acoustic insulation is one aspect that is given attention – if appropriate materials are used: thick layers of mineral/rock wool, boards, acoustic drainage, well-made ceilings, and roof. In good timber frame houses, the difference in acoustic comfort compared to a masonry house can be minimal. In SYSTEM-S houses the walls contain 200 mm of mineral wool (150 mm + 50 mm) and the roof 30 cm.
This is a common myth – modern technologies require the use of fire-retardant materials (boards, impregnations) and appropriate structural layers. The construction can meet the required fire resistance standards. Structural timber keeps its load-bearing capacity for a defined time (fire resistance classes REI 30 and REI 60), and plasterboard and stone wool (which withstands over 1000°C) mean the wall withstands at least 30–60 minutes of full fire exposure.
On the contrary – if well-built, with good insulation and airtightness, heating, cooling, and general operating costs are often lower than in masonry houses. However, it does require inspections and maintenance of wood, membranes, or external elements. SYSTEM-S year-round houses often use less than 40–70 kWh/m² per year, whereas cheap holiday cabins can reach 150–200 kWh/m² per year.
No. Timber frame house designs can be very diverse: single-story houses, houses with attics, modern barns, small houses without permits, year-round wooden houses – everything depends on the design, finish, and aesthetic preferences. The range includes three models: Ekodom 50 (50 m²), Ekodom 75 (70 m²) and Ekodom 110 (105 m²), each available with a mezzanine or with an upper floor and two rooms in the attic.
Often yes, but the scope of 'without a permit' depends on local regulations and square footage; a timber frame house can be built under this formula if it meets local conditions. The models range from 50 m² (Ekodom 50) to 105 m² (Ekodom 110) of usable area.
