Below-grade mass timber tech comes to Canada

Key Takeaways:

• Timbase specializes in timber basements using cross-laminated timber (CLT) to replace traditional concrete.
• Structural integrity is achieved by a multi-layered protection system to keep the wood dry and a an integrated digital moisture monitoring system.
• The benefits include faster installation (4 to 5 times faster than concrete), reduced carbon emissions by more than 50%, and creating a more comfortable atmosphere in basement spaces.

The Whole Story:

Mass timber is going down. 

Timbase Project Manager, Bruno Stadler, a trained carpenter and timber framer, is bringing new technology and expertise from Switzerland to Vancouver that could take mass timber where few have ever seen it: below grade.

Timbase specializes in the development and installation of timber basements, utilizing cross-laminated timber (CLT) as the primary structural material to replace traditional concrete. 

For Stadler, the job is a dream. Wood has long been a passion of his. 

“I used to go into the forest and build huts and shelters out of wood and crazy projects that never got finished,” he said. “I’ve liked wood material since I was a little child.”

But it isn’t without its challenges, mainly keeping moisture out. Their core technique revolves around structural wood preservation through a multi-layered protection system, which includes a levelled grit layer, high-performance insulation, and prefabricated EPDM sealing adapted from flat-roof and tunneling technology to ensure the wood remains permanently dry. 

To guarantee long-term structural integrity, the company integrates a digital moisture monitoring system within the CLT panels, allowing for real-time tracking of humidity levels and the ability to perform targeted repairs. 

“There is a sensor in a grade approximately 10 ft. by 10 ft. It all depends on the building but that’s the main grid we have with the sensors and then there is an additional layer which helps to spread out the currents so that we are able to localize it even closer if needed,” said Stadler. “If you keep timber dry, it’s going to last forever, and that’s the main part we have to focus on.”

But when done right, the benefits can be huge and the results can be stunning. Projects are up to 90% prefabricated which ensures a fast installation (roughly 4 to 5 times faster than a traditional concrete basement build). This also makes it an ideal choice for remote locations or sites with narrow, limited footprints. 

When doing multiple units with the same plans, these gains compound as you simply have to produce the same pieces over and over. For rental projects, this means a faster path to revenue. 

“One of the main things is like for the client is the comfortable atmosphere in the building. If you go into a mass timber building, it feels completely different compared to concrete,” said Stadler. “And having that below grade opens up really new opportunities.”

He added that this creates more value in basement space, allowing clients to have home cinemas, fitness rooms, offices and more that don’t have a concrete basement feeling. 

It’s also about sustainability. Timbase was founded by a timber engineer who, driven by a personal mission to eliminate concrete from construction, built a six-unit multi-family home in Switzerland featuring one of the country’s first full timber basements. In some cases, the approach can reduce carbon emissions by more than 50%.

“And at the same time we were able to store a big amount of carbon in the building for another 100 years which is a big difference at the end,” said Stadler. 

Timbase also uses glue-free components and non-pressure treated wood, ensuring much simpler deconstruction/recycling and healthier spaces. 

Stadler noted that the project has to be a good fit and with a client that is comfortable with the technology. It doesn’t work for every situation. For example, if there is high groundwater, or in a floodplain. And, sometimes the footprint is too complex or soil conditions aren’t ideal. Currently they are targeting projects below six stories

“We are focusing on the Vancouver market for now so that we have a solid base and then of course our plan is to spread it out all over B.C.,” said Stadler. “Our vision is to have that product as well-known as mainstream products. The strategy is having a solid base, and to have enough revenue to to grow the company in a sustainable way. And then we might think about getting a licensing system out on the market. But that would be a long-term vision.”