23 October 2025, 16:31

‘Everything fits together perfectly.’ Stories of families who chose wooden houses for their homes

Three years ago, the head of state instructed the government to develop a mechanism for allocating timber for private residential construction at a lower cost. Around the same time, forestry enterprises began developing affordable house kits that can be easily assembled onsite. Belarusians appreciated the idea. For example, only 10 wooden houses were sold in the country in 2023. In January-September 2025, around 200 houses and saunas have already been sold. BelTA found out which forestry enterprise projects are the most popular and whether owners of wooden houses regret their purchase after living in their new home for at least a year.

It was a dream

Just over a year ago, the Kozel family from Pinsk embarked on a rather ambitious project: the couple decided to open an agritourism estate where all the buildings would be made of wood. Symbolically, it's located on Lesnaya (Forest) Street. Last autumn, they purchased a plot, demolished the old house, and cleared the area for future construction. They installed the foundation before the New Year and began assembly work in the spring.

Currently, two houses produced by the forestry enterprise have been erected on the plot. The Kozel family plans to live in one of them, while the second will accommodate their guests. In the near future, the couple will install a sauna, with plans for two more in the future.

“We want to develop the national traditions, organize steam bath and spa days. When this idea emerged, we visited a specialized exhibition and the Forest House trading outlet in Minsk, where we saw samples of ready-made houses. We liked everything very much. Firstly, the price is attractive; secondly, the quality is excellent. Another big plus is the opportunity to take out a loan at 4% which we took advantage of. It doesn't strain the budget at all, it's simply fantastic,” Yekaterina said. "My husband has 20 years of experience assembling wooden houses, so we carried out all the work ourselves. You could say we only spent money on materials.”

The family previously lived in a private house too, but it was a frame house. However, the head of the family had a dream of building a wooden house.

“For a long time, it seemed out of reach. Now it’s absolutely attainable,” said Yekaterina Kozel. “Forestry agencies offer excellent options. People don’t yet understand that these little houses are a real deal.”

A week ago, she and her spouse created a social media page to detail every stage of building their wooden house.

“This year, we’ve had about 50 calls from people, each wanting advice on where to start, what insulation to choose, how to treat the wood. So we decided to share our experience, explaining what we built, how we prepared and leveled the site, installed the wood, and how we’ll paint it. When the bathhouse arrives, we’ll show the installation from the moment it arrives on site.”

Meanwhile, Minsk resident Natalya Sverchkova visited the Forestry Ministry’s trading floor to choose a small house for her summer cottage, never considering anything other than wood.

“For me, a wooden house and a village are inseparable parts of a whole. Brick or block are definitely not my thing. And I never wanted a mansion. But a log house is a different story. It has the texture of real wood, and the smell,” she said.

“I learned about forestry enterprises starting to produce these prefabricated house kits from the news about three years ago when the prime minister happened to be visiting the Forestry Ministry’s trading floor. We were intrigued and went to see for ourselves what these houses were like. And we really liked how these prefabricated houses looked. And, frankly, the price was also attractive. We realized that with a loan, we could easily afford this option.”

Natalya chose a house made from kiln-dried profiled timber. After completing the paperwork, she received a call just a couple of months later informing her that her order was ready.

“The biggest advantage for us was that the house was ready for use as soon as it was assembled. No long waits. In March, we signed a contract with Uzda Forestry Enterprise, and in May, we received our prefabricated house. The forestry employees produced everything not only quickly but also with exceptional quality. Without a single flaw, so to speak. Every question we had, whether for the forestry department or the marketplace, was answered, we received full guidance. We are absolutely thrilled that we chose this particular house. It goes together like a construction set. We were lucky with the weather, too, so we managed to assemble the house on our plot literally during our vacation leave. It's perfect, inside and out; every beam fits perfectly, you don't even need extra finishing work. The main construction is already done - the roof, doors, and windows are in place, and that's the most important thing,” Natalya says.

She is eagerly looking forward to next summer to spend her weekends in nature. She admits that this year she has become, you could say, a regular customer on the marketplace. She is now looking at options for a sauna.

“When I come to the plot and see this house, it just makes my soul happy. I haven't regretted choosing it for a single moment,” Natalya adds.

An eco-style housewarming

When wooden houses first came on the market, people preferred options made from unseasoned, rounded logs because they were more affordable. Now, attitudes have changed, and our citizens are increasingly choosing those made from dry timber. They don't require time for settling and drying; you can move in and start living right away.

The growing demand for wooden house kits among Belarusians was confirmed by Forestry Minister Aleksandr Kulik. At the Lesdrevtekh international trade fair held last week in Minsk, the minister said:

“In January-September, about 200 house and sauna kits were sold, which is significantly more than in 2023, when only ten houses were sold for the entire year. We are increasing our production capacity for such products. People are beginning to understand that a wooden house is eco-friendly and comfortable to live in.”

Today, the Forestry Ministry's trading platforms are established in every region and the city of Minsk. In total, there are 19 of them, where you can order and purchase the full range of goods produced by the forestry departments, including house kits - five models are currently available on the market. To see them we head to the platform of the Kopyl Experimental Forestry Department, located in Logoisky Trakt street in the Belarusian capital. As of 17 October, 100 contracts have been signed here since the beginning of the year:a total of 61 houses and 39 bathhouses have been sold. Notably, 97 out of 100 buildings were purchased with the use of credit funds.

“Our trading site presents all five house kits. Buyers can walk through each house, assess the room sizes, and imagine how they would arrange their furniture. It’s very convenient,” noted Yulia Grankova, a sales consultant with the Kopyl Experimental Forestry Enterprise’s retail network.

Prices are more than affordable. For raw log houses, prices start at Br19,000 and go up to Br32,000. A dry log house costs from Br50,000 to Br75,000. In addition to the walls, the package includes a complete rafter system, floorboards, ceiling boards, and in the larger set, terrace boards. The buyer is responsible for roofing, installing windows and doors, and adding insulation. Such kits are ideally suited for year‑round living.

“The final cost of a log house primarily depends on the choice of material. Timber can be rounded, planed, profiled, dry, or raw. The lowest prices are for houses made of raw rounded timber. But it’s important to note: you cannot move into such a house immediately. It needs at least a year to a year and a half to settle,” Yulia Grankova explained.

Preparation of the plot, foundation, and utilities is the responsibility of the buyer, but staff at the trading site are always ready to help. Each kit also comes with a product passport containing all the necessary technical documentation. Delivery and assembly of the house, as well as windows, doors, and roofing, are not included in the price.

Together with the sales consultant, we head to the first exhibition model: a house kit with a total area of 102 square meters. It features three living rooms, a spacious open-plan kitchen and a terrace – a perfect home for a large family. If needed, the attic space can also be converted into a fully functional living area.

“The minimum production time is 60 days from the date of the prepayment, which is half the cost of the house, while the maximum time is six months. The remaining amount must be paid after the forestry notifies that the kit is ready for shipment,” Yulia Grankova explained.

The stacks of wood arrive at the site wrapped in appropriate packaging. All logs are marked according to the instructions. All you have to do is to assemble the house like a construction set. Specialists assure that you do not need to be a professional builder to assemble it. But if you want to play it safe, you can hire a crew to install everything. There are plenty of offers on the market now. Weather permitting, the work usually takes from two to four weeks.

“For the house to serve you for decades, it needs proper care. Do not forget to treat it, use antiseptic to prevent pests or rot. Repaint and impregnate it when needed. Initial impregnation during installation is mandatory, the next one is after a year, and then when needed. We always discuss all these things with buyers before signing the contract,” Yulia Grankova emphasized.

“As you open the door, the aroma of wood welcomes you inside!”

The fact that forestry enterprises themselves have started building such wooden houses for their employees also speaks to their high quality. Exactly a year ago, the Luchenok family moved into a rental log house in the village of Bervishchi. It was built by the Uzda Forestry Enterprise. This project was the first in Minsk Oblast and one of the first in the country.

“We received the keys to the house exactly a year ago on 10 October 2024. And just three days later, we moved in,” Yulia Luchenok said. “The bath, toilet, boiler… Everything is here. The forestry gifted us a kitchen set and installed cabinets in the hallway and living room. All we had to do was move our things and furniture from the dormitory where we lived before. The house is spacious, with a living room, a master bedroom and children’s rooms. Before we moved in, our sons chose their own room. They really liked it here.”

Both Yulia and her husband Aleksandr grew up in single-family homes, so they were very glad when this option was offered to the family.

“We learned back in June that the house would be wooden. We immediately went to the land plot. And after that we came back several times to watch how it was being built, how the walls were ‘growing’,” Yulia says. “The house is fully insulated, including the attic. We were also delighted to learn that a gas boiler would be installed. Having lived here for a year, I can say that we have not found any flaws in the wooden house. Of course, I was most concerned about the walls in the bathroom, which are also made of wood. As it turned out, I worried for nothing. Their look hasn’t changed at all after a year; nothing has darkened, blackened, or gotten moldy. But the most pleasant thing is coming home after a day at work. You open the door, and you’re greeted by the smell of wood! I also really like the outside appearance of the house. By the way, it hasn’t darkened anywhere in a year — it’s in excellent condition.”

A spacious gazebo has recently appeared at the site. By the way, it is also made of wood. In the future it may be complemented by a bathhouse. The Luchenok family has no plans to move from here. Moreover, as Yulia admitted, she and her husband are seriously considering buying this rental house in 10 years. It means that there is no doubt about its quality.

You can take out a loan intended for buying Belarusian goods in order to buy wooden houses. They are granted for a period of three years at 4% per annum. The maximum amount you can count on is 500 base units (currently Br21,000).

The Forestry Ministry has recently presented a new product: a summer house with a total area of 80m2, 39 of which are occupied by a spacious terrace designed for outdoor recreation. It is made of profiled dry timber with the moisture content of 12%, a material that is durable, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly. The structure includes a log frame, a roof framework, joists, beams, lathing, floorboards as well as ceiling and terrace lining. All the elements have been thought out to the smallest detail.

In January-September 2025 forestry enterprises sold about 200 sets of houses and bathhouses while 94 house kits were sold in the whole of last year.

By Yulia GAVRILENKO,

Photos courtesy of the author and characters of the publication,

7 Dnei newspaper.