Focus on sustainability

Honka homes utilize cross-laminated timber for their structural frame and wood fibre for wall insulation. These materials are sourced from PEFC-certified forestry, where reforestation efforts exceed deforestation rates, allowing trees to effectively absorb carbon dioxide from the air.

With an area of 150m2, a Honka home can capture approximately 90 tonnes of carbon, equivalent to circling the globe 14 times. Honka aims for an A rating EPC and carbon emissions of zero or better, with a focus on the sustainability benefits of incorporating wood into their homes.

What is Honka Fusion Technology?

Honka developed an innovative construction concept, Honka Fusion, that combines massive wood with other building materials, such as glass, stone, and steel. Unlike traditional log houses, Honka Fusion uses vertical, non-settling, cross-laminated solid wood beams that allow for bolder and more diverse structures without the settling issues associated with traditional wood construction.

Honka Fusion houses are ideal for modern architecture and urban settings, and can be finished to meet the architect’s specifications, from thin coat render to stone slips and timber cladding.

The Honka Fusion log is manufactured by crosswise laminating six sections together, and to minimize the settling effects, vertical middle layers of laminated logs are used. The non-settling feature is achieved by incorporating a vertical wood lamella in the middle, a wood-on-wood profile, tight bolting that eliminates installation clearances, and a specialized drying process.

Honka Fusion technology allows for the creation of striking architecture without the typical settling spaces and wide architraves of traditional log construction. This technology retains the advantages of natural, solid wood, while providing architects and designers with greater flexibility to design contemporary and architecturally distinct buildings.

Naturally breathing log walls

Honka’s solid wood possesses a remarkable capacity to regulate the effects of moisture and temperature fluctuations within an indoor environment. Their wall structures have been designed with the purpose of preserving the wood’s natural breathability, allowing for unobstructed movement of water vapour between the air and the walls.

Based on a comprehensive study conducted in Europe, it has been found that utilising thicker wood for the interior walls of a residence leads to improved air quality, which is beneficial for one’s health. Moreover, the equilibrium effect of wooden logs has been verified through a test carried out by VTT within a Honka house located in Finland. Also, various studies proved that wooden environments have a similar stress-reducing effect as being exposed to nature.

Great airtightness

The tightness of the log walls and structures is crucial for achieving energy efficiency in Honka log houses. This prevents uncontrollable air leaks and heat loss while also significantly improving living comfort by eliminating drafts. Honka has conducted numerous tests on their houses for airtightness and consistently received excellent results, typically falling within the energy classes A or B.

Honka Fusion wall structures

 Honka have developed low-energy walls that are highly efficient and offer additional thermal insulation, achieving the highest energy classes, which is a standard spec in the UK.

The insulation can be added on either side of the load-bearing wall. However,  most commonly, it is fitted externally to improve thermal performance and provide the opportunity to finish the exterior of the house with any proprietary cladding system.

What U-values can Honka Fusion achieve?

The UK construction industry focuses on achieving passive house standards by emphasizing U-values, PSI’s, and airtightness. Companies compete to prove their systems can achieve the lowest values, but Honka takes a different approach and offers unique selling points that set them apart from other building systems.

Despite this, Honka’s U-values meet UK industry standards with additional insulation outside the superstructure as a standard in their UK specification. Honka Fusion technology can achieve the required U-values, PSI’s, and airtightness for passive house certification if their clients require it and are willing to pay for it.

Heating systems for log homes

You can achieve any desired energy class for your Honka home by installing an ecological and modern heating system. There are many energy solutions available for their homes, including geothermal, air source, and water-to-air heat pumps, which are popular among customers in colder climates. Solar panels have also become increasingly popular, as their prices have significantly decreased in recent years.

Honka at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre

Honka have their stand (stand no 82) at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre, where you can speak to them about your project. Because ACA and Honka share the same values about building modern, sustainable and low-energy houses, we established mutual cooperation to help our clients build stunning design houses and maximise their energy efficiency.

In conclusion, Honka’s approach to building environmentally friendly and energy-efficient homes is unique and effective. The company’s emphasis on airtightness, low-energy wall structures, and a fabric-first approach to building design results in homes that are not only healthy to live in but also cost-effective to maintain and operate.

With a wide range of energy solutions to choose from, Honka’s homes offer customers the opportunity to build their dream homes while also reducing their carbon footprint.