Confused: wood vs core wood structural integrity

[zOldBulldog]

I was under the impression that core wood was supposed to be stronger and allow taller/wider buildings.

But... I tried to test, and with an 8m vertical poles followed by 45 degree poles (as in those to support a roof) the max horizontal distance was 6m FOR BOTH, meaning that the widest rectangular buiding is 12m or if circular, a 6m radius = 12m. Of course I can make it wider, but that would mean having vertical beams in the middle of the floor... not cool.

First, that puzzled me. I thought the core wood was supposed to be stronger and thus allow for a bigger building.

Second, that sucks! You can't make larger structures with core wood?

[JP_Russell]

Here's a breakdown of how structural integrity works with different building parts, if it helps.

https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Building_Stability

You can stack horizontal core wood beams on top of each other to make log cabin type walls, if you're not aware (and you can experiment with clipping other kinds of wood pieces into it for decoration, if you don't like just the log look). So that's another option for adding more vertical support with core wood that allows you to build wider.

Also, instead of just making a larger rectangular structure with a single roof, you can experiment with fitting together multiple shapes with separate roofs that blend into each other to create more internal space, as you can see demonstrated in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRjtg3wovJQ

[vinyblaster]

Yes, big roofs in real life need vertical support "in the middle of the floor".

Core wood does allow for taller structures, but it's still not some magical material to build gigantic roofs while throwing away even the simplistic physic model that Valheim implements.

[blprice61]

Early on, you can build wider by using the historic Viking Pit house architecture. Basically its a roofed basement.

[zOldBulldog]

Originally posted by vinyblaster:

Yes, big roofs in real life need vertical support "in the middle of the floor".

Core wood does allow for taller structures, but it's still not some magical material to build gigantic roofs while throwing away even the simplistic physic model that Valheim implements.

Yeah, IRL for truly tall structures you need steel beams encased in concrete.

But I think I might have figured out the trick for what I want to build... a single core wood pole in the center (that doesn't interfere much) - or a chimney - in the center.

[blprice61]

If you're using at least some 26d roofing (for the center part), you can gain a bit extra by making 2 fire places each on its own little raised earth foundation. This not only gives you a bit of extra support from your core wood supported chimney, but helps to even out the heat for rested bonus and gives you one to cook at, with the other for a cauldron.

[JP_Russell]

Originally posted by zOldBulldog:

Originally posted by vinyblaster:

Yes, big roofs in real life need vertical support "in the middle of the floor".

Core wood does allow for taller structures, but it's still not some magical material to build gigantic roofs while throwing away even the simplistic physic model that Valheim implements.

Yeah, IRL for truly tall structures you need steel beams encased in concrete.

But I think I might have figured out the trick for what I want to build... a single core wood pole in the center (that doesn't interfere much) - or a chimney - in the center.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxhAO3tqI1g

Here's an example of a simple build that uses a central chimney, uses horizontal core wood beams in the manner I mentioned (though I don't think any core wood is actually necessary for this build, so you could build much higher and/or wider than he does in the video), and uses additional rectangles with their own roofs to create more floor space that doesn't have to be covered all by one big roof.

[vinyblaster]

Originally posted by zOldBulldog:

Originally posted by vinyblaster:

Yes, big roofs in real life need vertical support "in the middle of the floor".

Core wood does allow for taller structures, but it's still not some magical material to build gigantic roofs while throwing away even the simplistic physic model that Valheim implements.

Yeah, IRL for truly tall structures you need steel beams encased in concrete.

But I think I might have figured out the trick for what I want to build... a single core wood pole in the center (that doesn't interfere much) - or a chimney - in the center.

Yeah usually when you build big buildings, it is very easy to have load bearing walls and such. It actually helps define layouts for your build.

[zOldBulldog]

Does the wood get weaker when it rains on it during construction?

[blprice61]

Originally posted by zOldBulldog:

Does the wood get weaker when it rains on it during construction?

Not structurally weaker, but loses some hit points. Wood pieces will not go below 50% durability from rain/immersion in water.

[Mharr]

Horizontal stability transfer is almost non-existent until you unlock iron. If you want to go big with wooden structures, base them around a tree or stone pillar.

[Happy]

Core Wood IS stronger vs Wood.

Whatever large structure you can't make with wood, Core Wood is better at before you unlock iron beams as they have much longer vertical parts, meaning less connections to the ground, also meaning stronger overall support, provided you are on solid foundation to begin with. (assuming you know how structural integrity works - blue, green, yellow, etc)

Core Wood is really good for internal roof supports, outer roof supports, general structure framing, crazy looking wall patterns (that also double as support), and decorative trim all in one, pretty versatile stuff.

You can even make a quick and easy log seat for +1 comfort for smoko if you need to rest mid build if need be which is helpful at times, so there is that.

You can still have vertical beams in the middle of the floor, I usually use a similar blueprint for building larger houses, so I can place a hearth or campfires in the centre of the floor space and build vertical supports from around the edge of my fire, as this gives you options afterwards when you finish your roof for either a roof vent, enclosed chimney, or a fully sealed in roof (a tall enough roof won't matter at all with smoke as it would be too high up to have any effect while at ground level)

But where Core Wood really shines is when it gets combined with both wood & stone build parts, everything compliments each other well with integrity from part to part connections and also adds strength to the build overall and looks good when built in certain ways.

[zOldBulldog]

@Happy,
Yes, through testing I ended up understanding how Core Wood is stronger vertically (not a lot of help horizontally or diagonally) and I managed to make a 10m-radius (20m diameter) circular structure, two 8 meter high floors, plus basement and roof.

The key was to keep a central dirt column for the basement, and of course dirt perimeter, a central core wood column, and towards the roof I had to make diagonal beam supports to meet the roof because I could not make a straight rafter from the central pole to the perimeter. I didn't think of using core wood for the perimeter beams, which would have made things easier, but still... it worked.

The hardest bit was digging the basement after the fact, even when trying to leave at least 2 m space of dirt to the center column and walls as a "safety".

[Mharr]

The biggest advantage of core wood beams is they're just physically longer which automatically extends stability by at last two meters.

[jonnin]

core wood is a minor upgrade. Not too long after you get it, you will unlock iron reinforce wood beams which can take you much, much higher.

that aside, build the fireplace/kitchen first. It is the most demanding part of a build, and its placement affects your comfort, you have to deal with any smoke venting, and all the stuff around it indeed offer support to the whole structure. I am a big fan of lofting it to the highest floor to AVOID having a big chimney running through the whole place, but that requires iron tech.

dirt support is a big deal. This was the biggest (tallest) I ever did and it is a dirt ring (the bottom outer walls contain this) and with it dug out inside that (the bottom floor is dug down very deep) its a series of stacked rooms about 15 of them one on top of another. Some people also plant trees and tie a support beam to the tree which counts as ground. Case in point... the fires are in the room with the roofed overhang little room. I shamelessly cheated in extra iron, there is enough in that castle for a good 6 vikings to have every item that uses iron maxed out in tier -- if you look closely you will see some 50 ironwood beams just on the upper ring floor's underside.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2799499755