Building a timber frame house in the mountains - Ekodom 110 in Cięcina

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Glazed gable walls, wooden terrace. View: knee wall window, gable finish. Facade: black gutters, large terrace window. Rear wall: window, stone foundation. White facade: wooden soffit, black pipe. Barn house under construction in winter: glass wall, frame. Terrace structure, view against sun. View from terrace: snowy mountains, wooden soffit. Wooden entrance recess, structure on slope. Frame house on mountain slope, winter, spruce. Modern black entrance door, recess. Front of house: canopy, terrace structure. White house on slope, terrace in winter. Front of raw house: glazing reflecting landscape. Unfinished house, winter, terrace frame. Drone view: dark roof, chimney, tree shadows, winter. Winter panorama: forest, city in valley, sun. Drone: black roof, window, chimneys, building in snow.

Implementation Details:

Project Model:

Ekodom110

Construction Type:

Timber Frame House

Purpose:

Single-family House

Roof Covering:

Blacha Janosik

Facade Finish:

Plaster Finish

Window Joinery:

VEKA Windows

Finish Standard:

Developer Standard

Additional Features:

Kocioł na pelet

Additional Features:

Ogrzewanie podłogowe

Additional Features:

Grzejniki

Country:

Poland

Voivodeship:

Silesian

City:

Cięcina

Usable Area (m²):

105

Number of Floors:

3

Number of Rooms:

3

Number of Bathrooms:

1

The specifics of the location in Cięcina and the choice of timber frame technology

Building a timber frame house in Żywiec (Cięcina), surrounded by steep slopes and a dense forest, defined every subsequent action on the construction site. Timber frame construction was chosen not only for its speed of erection but primarily due to the logistics of transport in difficult terrain. From a building physics perspective, light wooden elements are easier to carry up a slope than tons of ceramic or concrete, which in mountain conditions drastically reduces the costs of heavy equipment. The alternative was masonry technology, which, however, with such a steep slope and the necessity of working during the winter (project 2024/2025), would risk technological downtimes related to mortar setting. The choice of a timber frame allowed us to continue work even at sub-zero temperatures, as seen in the attached photos documenting the closed shell stage in full snow cover. This decision, though pragmatic, required a strict moisture regime – the structural timber had to be perfectly protected from the mountain humidity.

Adapting the Ekodom 110 project to the existing foundation

The biggest challenge of this project was not erecting the walls, but placing them on the existing foundation of a demolished barn. Ekodom 110 is a project with a compact body that we had to precisely "fit" onto a stone-concrete foundation dating back to times of completely different construction standards. From my experience, adapting old foundations is often more complicated than pouring a new slab, as it requires a detailed expert assessment of the load-bearing capacity and the condition of the damp-proof insulation. In this case, we had to use a reinforced concrete ring beam to tie the old structure together, providing a stable base for the sill plate of the timber frame wall. Investors often ask if it's worth taking a risk with "old" concrete – in Cięcina, the answer was yes, because the foundation created a nearly 3-meter high basement (50m²), built into the slope, which was a huge added value in terms of usable space. It would have been a mistake to ignore the irregularities of the old perimeter; we had to cantilever the terrace structure to compensate for the geometric differences and achieve a modern, rectangular building shape.

Partition construction and insulation to an energy-efficient standard

When building in the mountains, we must remember that the climate zone here imposes much higher requirements than in the lowlands. The external walls in this project are an advanced technological "sandwich", where mineral wool and silicate mineral plaster play a key role. We used a layered system designed to move the dew point outside the partition, which is critical with the large temperature amplitudes in the Beskids. Historically, highlander houses dealt with this through massive logs, but we had to achieve the same effect (or better) with a much thinner wall. An alternative to wool could have been PUR foam, but we decided on wool due to its better acoustic and fire properties, which is a safety priority in a wooden frame. The end result is a wall that "breathes" but does not lose heat, which, with pellet heating, directly translates into operating costs.

• Structural frame: C24 wood, kiln-dried, pressure-treated.
• Thermal insulation: Rock wool with a low lambda coefficient (min. 20 cm in cross-section).
• Wind insulation: High vapor-permeable membrane, crucial in the windy mountain climate.
• Finish: Silicate plaster resistant to biological corrosion (mosses, lichens typical of the forest).

Mountain-style roof - Janosik metal sheet

The roof in a project realized in the mountains is not only a matter of tightness but also of aesthetics imposed by local development plans and regional tradition. The choice fell on the Janosik metal sheet covering, which imitates a wooden shingle but has the durability and parameters of a modern metal roof tile. From an executive perspective, this is a grateful material but requires precision in processing details, such as valleys or chimney flashings, as can be seen in the drone photos. A traditional shingle would require maintenance every few years, whereas a metal sheet with a protective coating provides peace of mind for decades, while maintaining the desired, regional character of a "black cap" on the building. It is worth noting that with such a steep roof, typical for the Ekodom 110 project, snow slides off rapidly – that's why we used system snow guards to protect the terrace and communication routes. The decision to use metal sheeting instead of heavy ceramic tiles was also dictated by the desire to reduce the load on the old foundation and the roof truss structure itself.

Window joinery and gable glazing

A characteristic element of this project is the huge glazing of the gable wall, which opens the interior to the panorama of the Beskids. We used the VEKA Ideal 8000 system here, which is currently one of the leaders in the class of energy-efficient profiles. The installation of such large glazing units in a timber frame structure requires the use of special reinforcements in the lintels to avoid the frame settling under the weight of the glass and wind pressure. From a scientific point of view, these windows provide passive solar gain in winter, heating the interior, but in summer they can be a source of overheating, which is why their exposure and solar energy transmittance parameters (g) are so important. A counterpoint to these advantages is the need to clean such a large surface at a height, which can be a challenge in mountain conditions. However, looking at the visual effect from the inside, the decision to maximize the glazing was a bull's-eye, integrating the house with the surrounding nature.

Heating system. Hybrid of pellets and underfloor heating

The choice of a heat source in a location without a gas network is always a compromise between convenience and cost. In Cięcina, we opted for a Viessmann pellet boiler, working with a hybrid heat distribution system: underfloor heating on the ground floor and radiators in the attic. This solution is dictated by thermal inertia – underfloor heating in a timber frame (often made in a dry system or on an anhydrite screed) provides a stable thermal background, while radiators upstairs allow for a quick reaction to temperature changes, which is very desirable in bedrooms. From an economic point of view, pellets are a price-stable and ecological fuel, which fits in with the name "Ekodom". A common mistake in timber frame houses is to oversize the boiler; here, thanks to good wool insulation, the heat demand is low, so the boiler operates in its optimal efficiency range, not cycling too often.

60m² Terrace

The terrace in this project is not just an addition; it is basically a second, summer living area with a surface of 60 m². Due to the slope of the terrain, the terrace structure had to be supported on a system of posts and beams, creating an impressive viewing platform. The finish with composite decking was a decision dictated by the desire to avoid annual oiling, which would be cumbersome with such a large area and difficult access from below. The load-bearing structure of the terrace had to be expansion-joint-independent from the building, so that ground movements under the terrace posts would not transfer stress to the delicate structure of the house frame. The carpentry braces visible in the photos are not just decorative – they are crucial for the spatial rigidity of this "platform", especially during the strong foehn winds, which can be destructive in this valley.

Logistical challenges of winter construction in the mountains

The project, taking place during the winter (turn of 2024/2025) in Cięcina, was a logistical training ground. The biggest engineering problem we had to face during this project was not the construction of the building itself, but the access road to the property. Cięcina, due to its topography, often offers plots with difficult access for heavy construction equipment, which in the case of traditional technology could have completely prevented the investment or drastically increased its costs. In the case of the timber frame house in question, we had to develop a precise logistical plan for the delivery of prefabricated materials and structural elements to avoid downtime and damage to the unpaved surface. This situation required the use of smaller transport units and the transshipment of materials in the last kilometer, which is a common practice in difficult terrain. The snow, visible in every documentary photo, not only made access difficult but also required continuous clearing of snow from the structure before the next stages of work. It was crucial to protect the open frame with tarps and quickly bring it to a closed shell state. The construction log shows that the most difficult moment was the installation of the roof sheeting in icy conditions – this required specialized protection for the roofers. Another aspect was the storage of materials; mineral wool cannot get wet, and on a small, steep plot, there was no flat ground for storage. We had to use "just-in-time" deliveries, which is risky with the variable weather in the mountains, but it allowed us to avoid material degradation. It is these operational decisions, invisible at first glance, that determine the success of construction in such extreme conditions.

Developer-ready state and interior finishing

Currently, the building is in the developer-ready phase. This means that the structure is closed, insulated, and inside, installations and plasterboard are being installed. The interior finishing in a timber frame house requires special attention to the plasterboard joints to avoid cracks resulting from the "working" of the wood. We use double plasterboarding or special American-type reinforcing tapes here. An interesting feature is the functional layout of 3 rooms and 1 bathroom in 105 m², which with an additional 50 m² of basement provides a very comfortable space for a family. The developer-ready standard also includes the preparation of floors for the final finish; on the ground floor, the screed must be perfectly level for panels or boards, which, when connecting to the old foundation, required the use of self-leveling compounds. This is the moment when the investor begins to see the real shapes of their future home, and we, as the contractors, must take care of every detail so as not to spoil the final effect.

Summary

Analyzing this project from the perspective of time and the difficulties encountered, I can say that it is a model example of adapting modern construction to difficult terrain conditions. The combination of a timber frame structure with a massive, old foundation resulted in a hybrid building – visually light, but solidly anchored in the ground. The use of materials such as Janosik metal sheet or silicate plaster guarantees that the house not only fits into the landscape but will survive decades of harsh climate. This investment proves that one should not be afraid of difficult plots or winter construction deadlines, provided that there is a precise plan and a team that understands the specifics of working with wood. The house in Cięcina is not just square meters; it is a sanctuary created with respect for nature and engineering, which, thanks to VEKA glazing, allows one to draw the best from the mountains – the view and the light.