What is Jikugumi method?

Nowadays, there are many construction methods used in the construction of traditional wooden houses. The most popular and widely applied one is the Jikugumi method. You may have heard the name, but to help you understand the features of this method, Sobokuya Vietnam will introduce the Jikugumi method in this article.

This is the typical method in Japan. We believe that the information below will make you interested in knowing what a house built by the Jikugumi method will look like.

What is the Jikugumi Method?

The construction of wooden houses is divided into two types: 2×4 construction methods and traditional construction methods. Jikugumi (じくぐみ) is a traditional construction method that has been used for a long time in Japan.

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Horyu-ji is a temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan, built 13 centuries ago using the Jikugumi method. Despite many terrible earthquakes, wars, or the wear and tear of time, the temple still stands as a symbol of the pride of Nara Prefecture when it becomes a world heritage site – the oldest wooden structure that remains today.

The traditional Jikugumi method is still a widely used construction method in Japan. According to the Japan Forestry Agency, among the methods of building wooden houses, the Jikugumi method was applied to 76%, ranking first in the construction methods of wooden houses in 2018.

Features of the Jikugumi method

Basic construction steps of the traditional Jikugumi construction method: Concrete basement → wooden foundation → Building of main posts, beams, etc. (house frame) → Building roof frame → Finishing roof → Walls → Flooring.

The feature of this method is the use of wooden posts and beams to support the house. First, the wooden foundation frame is built on the concrete basement, and the posts are erected from the wooden foundation. The beams are then combined with the posts to form the frame of the house.

The structure of the house is built by using wood mortise and tenon and Kigumi joining techniques so that it is not necessary to use nails but will still be strong for hundreds of years. In addition, braces are used to ensure force resistance and safety for the whole house.

The roof structure is called “koyagumi”, which is the structural part that is placed on the main frame of the house. Like some old Vietnamese houses, the Japanese roof structure also has similarities when using beams, ridgepoles, and trusses.

Since Japan is a place with a lot of rain, the roof is installed quite early so that the materials used inside the frame can be protected from the elements. This is one difference compared to Vietnam, which often builds walls before roofs.

After erecting the roof, wooden panels are attached to the frame to start making the walls. The walls in the Jikugumi method are not load-bearing, so they contribute little to the structure and rigidity of the house. This is an advantage when homeowners want to renovate the house without affecting the main structure.

Why is the Jikugumi method popular in Japan?

Sobokuya has been using the Jikugumi method to build houses and other wooden projects. We would like to introduce this traditional Japanese construction method to Vietnam and the world.

Japan is a country prone to earthquakes, so earthquake resistance is one of the key points when building a house. The Jikugumi method with diagonal bracing in the wooden frame plays an important role in improving the earthquake resistance and durability of the house.

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