WestaTre timber-framed modular homes are an investment in the future. It is not only environmentally friendly and energy efficient but also a comfortable and healthy place to live. Find out what we do to offer our customers all these benefits.

Ecological modular houses - the advantages of prefabrication

Traditional house building is becoming a thing of the past. In many Western European countries, in the United States and in Canada, prefabrication is becoming an increasingly common direction. This is not surprising - the production of houses under controlled conditions offers many advantages. Above all, it allows easier access to high-quality prefabricated products. At WestaTre, we relied on timber materials produced by a proven manufacturer, the international brand STEICO. The company has also set up its factory in Poland, thanks to which we have constant access to the materials necessary for the production of modular house elements, and our customers do not have to worry about postponements due to deliveries from abroad. 

Prefabrication is also a good solution for the health of our planet, eliminating limitations associated with traditional construction. Prefabricated modular houses offer:

• Less wastage of materials. In prefabrication, components are manufactured in the factory, allowing precise dimensioning and minimising waste.
• Energy efficiency. Due to controlled production conditions, prefabricated buildings are airtight and better insulated, leading to less energy consumption for heating and cooling.
• Less impact on the construction site. As most of the construction is done in the factory, the construction site is less exposed to erosion and other forms of degradation.
• Recycling and reuse. Many prefabricated components can be dismantled and reused.
• Shorter construction time. Prefabrication reduces construction time, which in turn reduces emissions from construction vehicles.
• Reduced transport. As most of the production takes place at one site, instead of transporting different materials to different construction sites, it can be done in one transport, which reduces CO2 emissions.

Is every timber-framed modular home energy efficient?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. It depends on the way the modular house with a wooden structure is built. Despite the natural characteristics of wood, not every construction made from it will meet the required legal regulations and energy efficiency standards. It’s essential to be aware that energy efficiency regulations are becoming increasingly stringent due to international climate protection efforts. Therefore, it is crucial to have a conscious and thoughtful approach to selecting construction technologies and materials that allow for achieving the required parameters, avoiding constant and time-consuming retrofitting work after the completion of the construction.

Wood, when properly processed and used with appropriate technologies, enables the construction of buildings that not only meet energy-efficient standards but also achieve low-energy, passive and even positive-energy standards. This is why, for the houses that are produced in our factories, we have chosen solutions offered by the company STEICO.



What ensures their high thermal comfort? External partitions in the STEICO construction system, for example, are narrower than traditional, commonly used solutions. However, this does not mean that they offer worse insulation. On the contrary, they are almost entirely made from thermally insulating materials derived from wood fibres, providing significantly better thermal comfort, both in winter and summer. Higher energy efficiency is also ensured by more dimensionally stable I- joists and layered LVL. Thanks to these solutions, slimmer cross-sections of certain structural elements can reduce heat loss through thermal bridges by up to 50% compared to solid or glued timber.

Why is it worth investing in ecological modular houses?

Houses made of wood in a structural system perfectly align with the growing pro-ecological trends and environmental protection is achieved in two ways. The building, by sequestering CO2, does not exacerbate the greenhouse effect and thanks to optimal thermal insulation made from wood fibres, it reduces the demand for thermal energy, resulting in lower carbon dioxide production and its release into the atmosphere.

Furthermore, by manufacturing in a factory, we reduce the amount of waste generated on the construction site and its impact on the surroundings. During construction with prefabricated components, we also use less water - up to 70% less compared to traditional building works. After the end of its lifecycle, the building can be recycled and the material can be reused.

Construction and thermal insulation materials produced from wood retain all the best characteristics of the natural raw material, which are further optimized in the industrial process. Therefore, houses built with them are healthy and eco-friendly. It is also essential to note that the raw material used for production is sourced from sustainable forest management, minimizing the impact of wood house production on the natural environment.

No compromise on comfort

Modular houses, therefore, offer solutions that are environmentally friendly while providing comfort and convenience to the residents. They guarantee optimal indoor temperatures by ensuring high sealing of walls and other structural elements, as well as excellent thermal insulation. Let’s remember that in the STEICO technology, natural wood fibres provide this thermal insulation, retaining heat inside during winter and acting as an excellent barrier against heat during the summer.

The diffusion-open wall system further eliminates the problem of water vapour condensation. This means that if any water vapour condenses within the walls, it will be safely directed outside, protecting the inhabitants from mould or health-threatening fungi. The STEICO system also has a fire resistance class, confirming its high resistance to fire propagation. Even in the event of a fire, the walls will not contribute to the spread of flames, allowing for quick extinguishing.

Ecology is important to you, but you don’t want to compromise on comfort and high quality? Contact our advisors and let us know your expectations. We will gladly answer any questions and address any doubts you may have →

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