Timber frame construction - Mold and pests

Hello everyone,

an acquaintance told me that in a building with timber frame construction, mold growth and/or pest infestation can occur in the walls. Can this really happen? I have not heard anything about this so far. What might it look like after 20-30 years? Can this happen then?

Thanks and best regards
Herbert

There are prefab house providers who have been building in timber frame construction for more than 60 years, and who still renovate, expand, etc. their old houses today. Do you think if this were really such a big problem, these companies would still exist today?

It all depends on the HOW. Which materials are used, and how they are handled. Mold can be avoided through clean construction practices and good ventilation with a ventilation system or manually. By the way, you have the same problem in solid construction. And insects or pests should not occur if the exterior shell is well processed and cleanly plastered. The only thing I have read about this is that in cold roofs there can occasionally be insect infestation. But this problem also exists in solid houses, as the roof trusses there are also made of wood.

I think your acquaintance has informed himself little about the topic and parrots badly researched press babble. There are extremely unscrupulous prefab providers who sell only on the basis of CHEAPNESS. You get what you pay for. Sweden, Canada, USA, Norway… they have been building with this method for a very long time… and somehow it can’t be bad when you look at the weather conditions there.

I agree completely. My parents built a timber frame house in 1979 and haven't had any problems since. Of course, a house also needs to be properly maintained (which you have with solid construction as well).

Hello everyone,

an acquaintance told me that when building with timber frame construction, mold growth and/or pest infestation can occur in the walls.
Can this really happen?

yup! it can...

any more questions?

@Shism: Yes, the further questions are: How can this happen? And how can it be prevented?

...I also know 50 - 60 year old "solid" houses that had to be demolished...

It depends, as is the case almost everywhere, on the treatment and maintenance.

By the way, roof trusses of masonry houses are also made of wood...

...and ants "eat" their way through bricks, for example.

Regards... (from someone who is now rushing home immediately and is examining his timber frame house with eagle eyes for mold and pests, and will not rest until he has found nothing - and at the same time envies a few neighbors living in solid houses)