| Design, Planning & Timber Frame | | | | things like roofing, windows and doors, flooring, |
| While your Local Planning Authority, Parks, or | | | | external claddings, and so on. Some may also be able |
| Conservation Area officer will wish to consider | | | | to give you a broad idea of the total turnkey building |
| appearance and siting, the structural form of your | | | | costs. This can be a real help to you when trying to |
| building is not their concern. Indeed, a timber frame | | | | work out your budget to see what (if any) building |
| structure can take on whatever appearance you - or | | | | project is within your means. |
| they - wish. Such a building is generally | | | | Design, Planning & Building Regulations Submissions |
| indistinguishable from any other form in outward | | | | While most timber frame companies have their own |
| appearance. | | | | structural designers and structural engineers 'in-house', |
| However, this is where the similarity ends. | | | | only a few offer architectural design, planning and |
| Modern Building Physics | | | | building regulation service facilities. It can be worth |
| At its most basic, a structural timber frame merely | | | | while seeking these out, since not only can they |
| replaces the breeze or other masonry block-work | | | | keep prices down by linking in with the structural |
| inner skin of an external cavity wall with a structural | | | | design and engineering to make this easier and more |
| timber frame panel. | | | | cost effective, but they can also give you good |
| As an advanced part of building science it provides a | | | | pointers on how best to apply advanced timber |
| more structurally stable set of integrated individually | | | | engineering, including engineered timber products and |
| engineered building elements that can deliver less loss | | | | timber building components for your project. |
| of costly heated indoor air, better insulation, higher | | | | Project Management |
| energy efficiency, less settlement, better sound | | | | Besides the professional services referred to above, |
| insulation, and reduced foundation loads,... to name | | | | a very few timber frame firms may be able to offer |
| but a few of the benefits to the user. | | | | you partial or full Project Management services. Using |
| Popularity of Timber Frame Homes | | | | such a service effectively means you can really |
| People who live in timber frame homes often rate | | | | become the 'developer / contractor', engaging highly |
| them as more comfortable, warmer, less draughty, | | | | qualified, professional construction managers to select |
| needing less maintenance, and so on. | | | | and manage individual sub contract building trades, |
| Quieter Homes | | | | keeping to tight budgets, and making sure you keep |
| Sterling University statistics show timber frame | | | | on the right side of increasingly onerous Health & |
| apartments and row houses to have less sound | | | | Safety legislation, etc. Once you've agreed budgets |
| transmission than masonry construction and Housing | | | | and sub-contracts with them, all you have to worry |
| Associations are showing growing preference for this | | | | about is writing the cheques to keep the work |
| form of construction. | | | | progressing. |
| Easier to meet Building Regulations | | | | Depending on the size of the project and the extent |
| As Building Regulations become ever more stringent, | | | | of your instructions, your Project Manager's fee is |
| timber frame is growing in popularity. It is rapidly | | | | likely to be between 9% & 12% of the contract |
| becoming the preferred method of construction for | | | | value. But this will usually mean you can save most, if |
| many types of building, not just residential. | | | | not all, of the main building contractors profit and get |
| Getting a Quick Building Estimate | | | | a job that is much more under your control. |
| While most timber frame manufacturers will give you | | | | Chartered Builders and Chartered Building Consultants |
| a building price estimate for producing a timber frame | | | | Building firms and Professional practices can only gain |
| to their specification for your house design, the | | | | this accreditation if they are run by, and employ |
| leading companies can be much more flexible and | | | | professionally qualified members of the Chartered |
| helpful. One such firm now provides all its enquirers | | | | Institute of Building in their direction and senior |
| with a range of different wall make up types and | | | | management. Whether or not you look for a timber |
| specifications. | | | | frame company to do most, or any, of the above |
| Your Choice | | | | works and services, it is a good idea to seek out |
| This means you can now get to choose what type | | | | project managers who hold this accreditation. Good |
| of wall make-up best suits your particular site, energy | | | | Luck with your building project |
| performance and other 'green building' requirements. | | | | Remember, each and every building project is |
| All you have to do is provide reasonably detailed, | | | | uniquely different. It may be similar in many ways, |
| dimensioned plans and elevations to enable them to | | | | but it will have an inherent shape and issues of its |
| give you a pretty firm price. | | | | own. I hope the above information will be of real use |
| Working to Your Building Budget | | | | and value to you, and that your project runs as |
| You'll find that any firm that is really 'clued-in' will also | | | | quickly and smoothly as you would like. |
| be able to give you fairly accurate ideas of prices for | | | | |