Timber frame construction to build a new house has numerous advantages for your project. Unlike brick and mortar homes, timber frame structures allow you to begin construction off-site, speeding up your process and reducing time on-site.
Timber frame construction includes a variety of techniques, ranging from oak frames to certain structural insulated panels, also it is a common building method. Timber frame homes construction is projected to account for about 25% of all new buildings in the UK, which also includes DIY build homes.
The following are a few pros and cons of building such timber frame homes.
Pros:
- Speed of construction
A timber frame can most likely be less hampered by severe weather than any masonry build, which must be completed entirely on-site. This will allow you to construct without fear of delays.
- Suitable for any remote sites
While some of the timber structure is constructed off-site, it is still quite light and portable. This is ideal for distant locations or plots where heavy forms of construction would be impractical due to poor ground conditions.
- Environmentally sustainable
When selecting a carbon-neutral, organic, and renewable material, keep these factors in mind. Furthermore, the energy required to manufacture timber components, known as “embodied energy,” is significantly lower than that required to manufacture steel, plastic, or concrete counterparts.
- Accuracy and also detailed design
Because of the engineering involved in producing a timber frame, it may be easily changed to a variety of shapes and architectural ideas. If you want a home with an open floor plan, a timber frame might help you achieve that.
- Increased surety of cost
It can provide better cost certainty because building takes done off-site and is not susceptible to the same delays as masonry construction.
- Save on your running costs
Because timber frame homes usually are built to be highly insulated, they are incredibly energy efficient and hence less expensive to heat. In the winter, no more turning on the heat hours before you must get up.
Cons:
- Material costs
A short Google search of timber frame prices will immediately reveal that the frame will be more costly than the alternatives. When purchasing a timber kit, the cost difference may be even greater.
- Access to materials
The inaccessibility of materials and specialists compared to your trip to the merchant if fall short during building is commonly cited as a disadvantage of timber frames vs masonry.
- Cash flow
Although your timber frame will most likely take a few months to arrive on-site, you should anticipate paying for this phase of your project ahead of schedule. Before the timber frame can be manufactured, you may be required to pay a deposit.
- Noise
While considering soundproofing and noise reduction, masonry structures will always have an advantage due to their weight and density. With a timber structure, there are techniques to combat this, such as using sound-absorbing comforters and stronger plasterboards for creating double layers.
While there are disadvantages to consider, the industry of timber framed homes has grown over time, and each of the above has been minimised.