Single-family houses have traditionally been constructed from tree, concrete, brick or ingot. The chosen material affects for the costs and the valuation of the house, so the decision should be considered carefully. With prefabricated houses (in Finnish, talopaketit) the chosen frame material will affect at all stages, so the amount of work will increase or reduce according the chosen frame.

When thinking about the frame of the house, one should first check the planning regulations for the area. In some areas, only one possibility might be permitted. Finance can set limitations for the frame materials, as well skills of the workers available. Allergies of the family should be known, and manufacturers’ catalogs checked for possible emission categories of materials. One should also consider own preferences and the own idea of comfort living.

Stone or wooden house
Nobody can tell which is more favorable, the stone or wooden house. Here are some issues to consider before the decision is made.


A simple, standard-height building is cheaper when made by wood elements, if the purchase price is only compared. The stone house does not require as much maintenance as the wooden house and it is usually more airtight and better sound insulation than wooden house. The stone house has a large thermal mass, which - according to studies - saves energy 5-15% compared to the more lightweight house. Large thermal mass is wormer in winter and cooler on hot summer days. Stone house is more resistant to moisture and has usually a better fire safety than wooden one. Generally the stone house is perceived as the quality product, which can affect to the retail value of the house. That, however, depends a lot on the location – in some areas, the wooden houses are seen as the more typical for the place.