Timber Frame House Construction

Looking At Timber Frame House Construction

The building fraternity in Britain have different and varying opinions on the nature of house construction. Some favour traditional brick building, or brick and block, as it is more often today. Others favour timber framed construction, although to many people, the difference, once they are complete is hard to tell.

Those who favour timber frame construction will cite the obvious advantages that can be gained by using it, notably the speed with which the basic erection happens.

Digging the foundations for the footings is the same procedure for either. These will be built up out the trench in brick or blocks, or be poured concrete up to ground level.

The difference in time scales then really shows, as the prefabricated timber frames, which are factory made, can be delivered to site and once there, the skeleton can be erected and then panelled to weather proofing levels within a matter of days.

Once this is done, the trades can begin their work of, of plumbing, electrical, and the internal plastering put up in the form of dry lining.

The masonry build can take several weeks to get this stage, possibly longer in inclement weather, one of which is temperature, which, should it fall below 2% centigrade, no bricks can be laid at all.

Other considerations which are gaining popularity are the green credentials involved with sustainable timber construction. Cutting down trees may seem an odd way to approach sustainability, but there lies the difference between deforestation, and forest farming.

Trees are our first line of defence against carbon building up in the atmosphere, and growing trees absorb carbon into their fabric, and there it stays unless the timber is left to rot, or is burnt.

Sustainable forestry is a continuous pattern of growing and harvesting trees. The sustainability is in ensuring that at least as many trees are planted as those which are harvested.

Actively growing trees, such as those in their younger stages, capture more carbon in older stages, and the sustainable farming methods can significantly help in carbon capture.

As a building material, the timber requires a minimum of processing and therefore a low carbon footprint, in comparison to other building materials such as concrete, steel, bricks and blocks.

Provided the planting of trees is carried out in strict ratio to the cutting of them, the resource is infinite, as opposed to the finite materials which are extracted to manufacture concrete, bricks or steel.

Overall the timber frame constructed house may run out slightly more expensive than the traditional one, but for many it may add an extra feeling of warmth with its eco footprint.