If your home is timber framed and you want to know more about its construction, take a look at these questions and answers.
What is timber framing?
Timber framing is defined as the craft of building structures, which are supported by exposed, heavy timbers.
Is it difficult to obtain a mortgage for a timber framed home?
As all of our timber framed homes are constructed to Building Regulation approval and are covered either by the NHBC Buildmark or Zurich Municipal warranty schemes there is no reason why a reputable mortgage company will refuse a loan on one of our homes.
How safe is timber framed construction in the event of fire?
Timber framed homes are built to the same safety requirements as a masonry (brick built) home. Every home, no matter how it has been constructed is subject to the requirements of the Building Regulations. This requires that the main 'elements of structure' e.g. floors, load bearing walls, beams and columns etc are to achieve at least 30 minutes fire resistance. In a timber framed home this is generally achieved through the use of plasterboard as a finish, which has excellent fire resisting properties.
Are timber framed homes subject to decay?
Timber frame components are built off-site under factory conditions and are preservative treated as an insurance against damp penetration rather than being a necessity. Additionally the construction design reduces the risk of moisture getting to the timber by two principle methods:
- A vapour control layer fitted to the inside prevents most moisture laden air from the house reaching the timber frame.
- A breather membrane fitted to the outside of the timber frame allows any moisture that inadvertently reaches the timber frame to permeate safely into the cavity, whilst maintaining a waterproof barrier.
Can timber framed houses be modified or extended?
Timber framed buildings can be modified or extended, but if the structural frame is to be altered it would be necessary to use the services of a suitably qualified professional such as an Architect. This would apply even in the case of a masonry building.
How are fixtures and fittings made to the walls?
Items fitted when the house is constructed such as radiators and kitchen units are fixed to timber supports or noggins within the frame, which were correctly positioned during construction.
Additional fixings can easily be made dependant upon the weight of the fixture. For example, lightweight fixings such as pictures can be fixed directly to the plasterboard with an appropriate fixing, whilst heavy shelving should be fixed directly onto a timber stud.
Are timber framed homes as strong as brick built homes?
Surprisingly timber frame construction is, in some ways, stronger than masonry built homes. The Building Research Establishment demonstrated this when they constructed 6-storey timber frame flats. If the same building had been constructed in a traditional masonry structure it would have presented both strength and stability problems. By way of a rather light-hearted comparison of strength, consider what the effect would be if cricket bats were made of lightweight block material instead of wood!
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