Expanded clay or wood house – what to choose?

Expanded clay or wood house – what to choose?

Comparison of the two most frequently chosen prefabricated technologies in 2025

When deciding to build a prefabricated home, a key question arises: expanded clay concrete or wood? Both technologies have their advantages—and their pitfalls. In this article, I compare them from an investor's perspective: cost, durability, construction time, and user comfort.

⚒️ What is the difference between expanded clay and wood?

Characteristic Expanded clay concrete Prefabricated timber (frame or CLT)
Base material Lightweight concrete blocks (expanded clay) C24 / CLT structural timber
Prefabrication technology Wall panels with a concrete core Wooden modules or sandwich walls
Sound insulation Very good (heavy weight) Good, but depends on thickness and layout
Thermal insulation Depends on insulation (e.g. wool 20 cm) Natural + additional (e.g. cellulose, wool)
Assembly time 1–3 days 1–5 days
The feeling of the interior Like in a brick house Warm, natural, wooden
Durability and resistance Very high, low humidity, fire resistant Good, but requires security
Cost of execution (developer) from PLN 4,500/m² from PLN 4,200/m²

📊 When to choose expanded clay and when to choose wood?

➕ Expanded clay – choose if:

  • Do you want to have the acoustic comfort of a brick house?

  • You are building for many years (durability + resistance)

  • You don't mind the increased weight and the need for a better foundation

  • You have a budget of at least PLN 300,000–350,000 for 70 m²

➕ Wood – choose if:

  • What matters to you is the execution time and cost

  • You like natural materials and friendly interiors

  • Are you planning a weekend home or a second home for rent?

  • The budget is, for example, PLN 260,000–320,000 for 70 m²

🔥 What about heating?

In both technologies you can use:

  • underfloor heating (more common in expanded clay),

  • air-to-water heat pump,

  • electric heating (more common in wooden houses),

  • stove or fireplace with distribution (both possible).

💡 Important: a wooden house heats up faster, but also cools down faster – this must be taken into account when planning the installation.

✍️ Comment by Dorota Burzec

"There's no single right answer – expanded clay provides greater peace of mind for years to come, while wood allows you to move in or rent more quickly. The key is knowing the differences and what's more important to you: durability or flexibility. I'm here to help you decide."

FAQ – What investors ask

Is a wooden house only for summer residences?
No – modern wooden houses (CLT, prefabricated frame) are suitable for year-round use and have excellent thermal parameters.

Is expanded clay heavy and expensive to transport?
Yes, that's why you need to factor it into your budget. It requires a crane and a solid foundation.

Is wood less durable?
Well-secured – no. But it doesn't forgive execution errors. The team is important.

Still don't know what to choose?

Fill out the form and compare offers for both technologies.
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👉 Order a comparison of expanded clay vs. wood

🔗 See also:

– How much does a 70 m² prefabricated house cost?
– Stages of building a prefabricated house – step by step
– Single-story house or one with an attic?