Weren’t the Three Little Pigs right about only a brick house being able to withstand the wolf’s huffing and puffing?
According to the Timber Frame Association there are Norwegian churches which are over 1,000 years-old and 200 year-old buildings in the UK – both were built from the same type of wood employed today. In fact, because more of the dwelling is manufactured under controlled factory conditions, timber frame houses perform better than masonry homes (source: National Housing Building Council, UK). So a new timber framed home will last as well as, if not better than, any other type of new home, whatever huffing and puffing might come it’s way!
But shouldn’t I be investing in “Bricks and Mortar” for a lasting investment?
As a minimum requirement, all new timber frame homes must meet the lifespan demanded by banks and building societies for lending purposes
In addition, our timber frame homes come with an independent engineer's certificate. So you can be sure that your home will still be around when your great-grandchildren are grown up.
Being made of wood, isn’t my home more likely to go up in smoke?
Our homes not only meet, but exceed all building requirements relating to fire regulations and are therefore as safe as any other form of construction. Not only that, timber chars and burns rather than buckling and crumbling, as steel frames and masonry products do when exposed to extreme heat. A timber frame structure is therefore maintained during a fire and afterwards, which reduces the risk from collapse.
Won’t my home need lots of additional maintenance?
Rather than tell you what we think, the National House Building council (NHBC) has said: "NHBC expects and insures many thousands of timber frame homes every year. Our claims records actually show that these houses tend to perform better than masonry homes, as more of the dwelling is made under closely controlled factory conditions."
The reason for this is that timber frame is also a dry construction method, which takes away the possibility of plasterboards cracking, unlike traditional construction which uses anywhere between 1500 and 5000 gallons of water. This means that owners face less drying out, less shrinkage, less differential movement, less making good, and less redecoration than a 'wet build' structure.
DIY is simple! Pictures and shelves can be hung using plasterboard fixings. Heavier items can be supported by fixing into the studs. Plumbing and electric lines do not need to be dug out of solid concrete to be replaced or fixed.
Will I get a mortgage on a timber frame home?
Absolutely. But don't just take our word for it. Tony Armstrong, Director of Corporate Relations at Northern Rock said "As a lender we do not differentiate between timber frame and any other standard form of modern property construction".
Isn’t insurance going to cost me more?
No. The Association of British Insurers says; "Insurance companies generally draw no distinction between modern timber frame and brick and block construction, provided the external roof covering is also of tiles, natural or mineral slates, or concrete."
Yes. Timber Frame party walls provide outstanding sound insulation - improving domestic comfort. In an acoustics study the Building Research Establishment stated that "if all dwellings had sound insulation as good as that measured in the party walls of timber frame dwellings, the problem of noise from neighbours would be greatly reduced."
