Discussion:
Timber Frame House
(too old to reply)
EF
2005-12-09 15:34:48 UTC
Permalink
Any one had any experience with timber framed houses
such as Space4 as used by Westbury house builders.
Paul James
2005-12-10 13:12:46 UTC
Permalink
Post by EF
Any one had any experience with timber framed houses
such as Space4 as used by Westbury house builders.
"One day all homes will be built like this" (Space4 promo video) - yeah,
right.
Wimpey built timber framed 'superwarm' houses in the early 80s but then went
back to traditional construction....
EF
2005-12-10 16:37:26 UTC
Permalink
So did Barrat and a few other builders but they do not any more.
No confidence in tmber framed houses would not buy one, ok in Sweden Etc
they do build a lot of them
but with better craftsmen?
Post by Paul James
Post by EF
Any one had any experience with timber framed houses
such as Space4 as used by Westbury house builders.
"One day all homes will be built like this" (Space4 promo video) - yeah,
right.
Wimpey built timber framed 'superwarm' houses in the early 80s but then went
back to traditional construction....
EricP
2005-12-10 16:54:35 UTC
Permalink
Post by EF
So did Barrat and a few other builders but they do not any more.
No confidence in tmber framed houses would not buy one, ok in Sweden Etc
they do build a lot of them
but with better craftsmen?
Post by Paul James
Post by EF
Any one had any experience with timber framed houses
such as Space4 as used by Westbury house builders.
"One day all homes will be built like this" (Space4 promo video) - yeah,
right.
Wimpey built timber framed 'superwarm' houses in the early 80s but then went
back to traditional construction....
You might find the problem is not so much construction as Lenders.

Building societies and banks are very conservative and like BSST
PDH's.

Private Dwelling Houses,

Brick or
Stone.
Roofed with Slate or
Tile

If nobody wants to lend on it, then it will not sell.
Paul James
2005-12-10 16:57:43 UTC
Permalink
Post by EricP
You might find the problem is not so much construction as Lenders.
Building societies and banks are very conservative and like BSST
PDH's.
Private Dwelling Houses,
Brick or
Stone.
Roofed with Slate or
Tile
If nobody wants to lend on it, then it will not sell.
Round my way Westbury are building Space4 types and they are all selling. I
have been watching them going up from foundaton level, I wouldn't buy one.
Each to their own. Most brand new houses seem to be bought by those who
only stay 3 years then move on when it needs decoratign & before major
problems show.
Scudo
2005-12-11 14:48:51 UTC
Permalink
In principle I dont think there is anything wrong with being `timber framed`
however my main concern would be the builder and their standards.
I got one built 16 years ago as it was the only way I could afford to move
up the ladder and to date I have only one hairline settling crack. I
purchased the land and then chose seperately the builder and the kit
company. the builder only built a few properties per year and they tended to
be larger ones so was not involved in building small estates. He arranged
for our foundations to be done by an engineering firm who specialised in
whatever was involved, he was adament that in the longer term we have to
make sure the foundations are done correctly.

other `self builds` on the estate have had a few problems due to cost
cutting and this probably because the individuals concerned arranged for
their own brickies/plumbers/electricians etc and went for mich cheapness. i
know one house left the wooden supports in after the foundation concrete was
poured, that should be rotting quite nicely by now and will cause the earth
to shift around his property if not now then eventually.

Well thats my view but so far no real complaints.
Post by Paul James
Post by EricP
You might find the problem is not so much construction as Lenders.
Building societies and banks are very conservative and like BSST
PDH's.
Private Dwelling Houses,
Brick or
Stone.
Roofed with Slate or
Tile
If nobody wants to lend on it, then it will not sell.
Round my way Westbury are building Space4 types and they are all selling.
I
Post by Paul James
have been watching them going up from foundaton level, I wouldn't buy one.
Each to their own. Most brand new houses seem to be bought by those who
only stay 3 years then move on when it needs decoratign & before major
problems show.
TF
2005-12-12 09:02:43 UTC
Permalink
In my experience, your comments seem typical of the British point of
view that 'Brick is best'...the truth is that brick is cold, it cracks
and builders find it difficult to meet building regulations (or they
will do come April 06). Timber Frame is chosen by 90% of self-builders
(that is, people paying privately to build thier own house) - they
don't choose timber frame because it's 'inferior to brick'..rubbish.
On the contrary, Timber Frame is much more energy-efficient, warm and
'precise' than any 'wet' build method. It is actually easier to meet
building regulations using timber frame than with brick too. And NO,
timber frame is not frowned-upon - in general timber frame is seen as
equal to brick and some lenders (like the Ecology) actually prefer
timber frame.

Yes, timber frame had bad publicity in the 80's - blame the massive
'cost-focused' housebuilders - but it's quality has come leaps and
bounds and there is now stringent details on how to build a home, which
must conform to national standards.

Don't be so naive as to condemn the most popular method of building in
the developed world. If you've lived in a timber frame house (like I
do) you would appreciate it's warmth and money savings on the bills.
And it's better for the environment too: for every house built using
timber frame over 'wet' brick saves around 4 tonnes of carbon being
released into the atmosphere.

Yes, timber frame is the future of housing construction in the UK.
Rather than living up to our "stiff-upper-lip" reputation, accept it
like a future-looking Britain should - for future's sake.
Post by EricP
Post by EF
So did Barrat and a few other builders but they do not any more.
No confidence in tmber framed houses would not buy one, ok in Sweden Etc
they do build a lot of them
but with better craftsmen?
Post by Paul James
Post by EF
Any one had any experience with timber framed houses
such as Space4 as used by Westbury house builders.
"One day all homes will be built like this" (Space4 promo video) - yeah,
right.
Wimpey built timber framed 'superwarm' houses in the early 80s but then went
back to traditional construction....
You might find the problem is not so much construction as Lenders.
Building societies and banks are very conservative and like BSST
PDH's.
Private Dwelling Houses,
Brick or
Stone.
Roofed with Slate or
Tile
If nobody wants to lend on it, then it will not sell.
EF
2005-12-12 11:26:30 UTC
Permalink
No I agree with your comments and as stated in an earlier post its been used
in Scandinavia and
North America for years. However what concerns me is the way its done in the
UK with not enough
care and attention to detail, put it blunt sloppy workmanship
Post by TF
In my experience, your comments seem typical of the British point of
view that 'Brick is best'...the truth is that brick is cold, it cracks
and builders find it difficult to meet building regulations (or they
will do come April 06). Timber Frame is chosen by 90% of self-builders
(that is, people paying privately to build thier own house) - they
don't choose timber frame because it's 'inferior to brick'..rubbish.
On the contrary, Timber Frame is much more energy-efficient, warm and
'precise' than any 'wet' build method. It is actually easier to meet
building regulations using timber frame than with brick too. And NO,
timber frame is not frowned-upon - in general timber frame is seen as
equal to brick and some lenders (like the Ecology) actually prefer
timber frame.
Yes, timber frame had bad publicity in the 80's - blame the massive
'cost-focused' housebuilders - but it's quality has come leaps and
bounds and there is now stringent details on how to build a home, which
must conform to national standards.
Don't be so naive as to condemn the most popular method of building in
the developed world. If you've lived in a timber frame house (like I
do) you would appreciate it's warmth and money savings on the bills.
And it's better for the environment too: for every house built using
timber frame over 'wet' brick saves around 4 tonnes of carbon being
released into the atmosphere.
Yes, timber frame is the future of housing construction in the UK.
Rather than living up to our "stiff-upper-lip" reputation, accept it
like a future-looking Britain should - for future's sake.
Post by EricP
Post by EF
So did Barrat and a few other builders but they do not any more.
No confidence in tmber framed houses would not buy one, ok in Sweden Etc
they do build a lot of them
but with better craftsmen?
Post by Paul James
Post by EF
Any one had any experience with timber framed houses
such as Space4 as used by Westbury house builders.
"One day all homes will be built like this" (Space4 promo video) - yeah,
right.
Wimpey built timber framed 'superwarm' houses in the early 80s but
then
went
back to traditional construction....
You might find the problem is not so much construction as Lenders.
Building societies and banks are very conservative and like BSST
PDH's.
Private Dwelling Houses,
Brick or
Stone.
Roofed with Slate or
Tile
If nobody wants to lend on it, then it will not sell.
a.n.other
2005-12-14 18:52:51 UTC
Permalink
My parents have a 1980s Wimpey timber framed house and are very happy with
it. It is incredibly well insulated, built on a concrete raft. Having
extended it, part of the back wall was removed and consisted of from outside
in, one row of brick,cavity, polystyrene, polythene membrane, plywood,
wooden frame then plasterboard as I recall.The extention was not built with
a wooden frame since the neighbours had already extended and there was not
the access to brick up around the frame, so a traditional cavity wall was
used. The extension is significantly colder than the main house btw.
Post by EF
No I agree with your comments and as stated in an earlier post its been
used in Scandinavia and
North America for years. However what concerns me is the way its done in
the UK with not enough
care and attention to detail, put it blunt sloppy workmanship
Post by TF
In my experience, your comments seem typical of the British point of
view that 'Brick is best'...the truth is that brick is cold, it cracks
and builders find it difficult to meet building regulations (or they
will do come April 06). Timber Frame is chosen by 90% of self-builders
(that is, people paying privately to build thier own house) - they
don't choose timber frame because it's 'inferior to brick'..rubbish.
On the contrary, Timber Frame is much more energy-efficient, warm and
'precise' than any 'wet' build method. It is actually easier to meet
building regulations using timber frame than with brick too. And NO,
timber frame is not frowned-upon - in general timber frame is seen as
equal to brick and some lenders (like the Ecology) actually prefer
timber frame.
Yes, timber frame had bad publicity in the 80's - blame the massive
'cost-focused' housebuilders - but it's quality has come leaps and
bounds and there is now stringent details on how to build a home, which
must conform to national standards.
Don't be so naive as to condemn the most popular method of building in
the developed world. If you've lived in a timber frame house (like I
do) you would appreciate it's warmth and money savings on the bills.
And it's better for the environment too: for every house built using
timber frame over 'wet' brick saves around 4 tonnes of carbon being
released into the atmosphere.
Yes, timber frame is the future of housing construction in the UK.
Rather than living up to our "stiff-upper-lip" reputation, accept it
like a future-looking Britain should - for future's sake.
Post by EricP
Post by EF
So did Barrat and a few other builders but they do not any more.
No confidence in tmber framed houses would not buy one, ok in Sweden Etc
they do build a lot of them
but with better craftsmen?
Post by Paul James
Post by EF
Any one had any experience with timber framed houses
such as Space4 as used by Westbury house builders.
"One day all homes will be built like this" (Space4 promo video) - yeah,
right.
Wimpey built timber framed 'superwarm' houses in the early 80s but
then
went
back to traditional construction....
You might find the problem is not so much construction as Lenders.
Building societies and banks are very conservative and like BSST
PDH's.
Private Dwelling Houses,
Brick or
Stone.
Roofed with Slate or
Tile
If nobody wants to lend on it, then it will not sell.
CAS
2005-12-15 09:09:05 UTC
Permalink
Post by a.n.other
My parents have a 1980s Wimpey timber framed house and are very happy with
it. It is incredibly well insulated, built on a concrete raft. Having
extended it, part of the back wall was removed and consisted of from
outside in, one row of brick,cavity, polystyrene, polythene membrane,
plywood, wooden frame then plasterboard as I recall.The extention was not
built with a wooden frame since the neighbours had already extended and
there was not the access to brick up around the frame, so a traditional
cavity wall was used. The extension is significantly colder than the main
house btw.
Its all fair comment about timberframes. Part of the problem with the early
ones was that the membranes they used were a bit rubbish, and construction
techniques and other materials have improved dramatically (particularly
around soundproofing and insulation) and a modern built timberframe house
should be perfectly sound (if ridiculously small and crammed in alongside
your neighbours, but that's a whole other thread!!!)

CAS
Stewart Knight
2023-06-21 13:21:45 UTC
Permalink
Post by a.n.other
My parents have a 1980s Wimpey timber framed house and are very happy with
it. It is incredibly well insulated, built on a concrete raft. Having
extended it, part of the back wall was removed and consisted of from
outside in, one row of brick,cavity, polystyrene, polythene membrane,
plywood, wooden frame then plasterboard as I recall.The extention was not
built with a wooden frame since the neighbours had already extended and
there was not the access to brick up around the frame, so a traditional
cavity wall was used. The extension is significantly colder than the main
house btw.
Its all fair comment about timberframes. Part of the problem with the early
ones was that the membranes they used were a bit rubbish, and construction
techniques and other materials have improved dramatically (particularly
around soundproofing and insulation) and a modern built timberframe house
should be perfectly sound (if ridiculously small and crammed in alongside
your neighbours, but that's a whole other thread!!!)
CAS
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