Timber Kit Direct - The Timber Frame Home Specialists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Timber Frame Home?
Structure of the load-bearing walls are generally prefabricated as wall panels in the UK. These are made up of timber studs and beams stiffened on one side with wood-based panels like OSB. Usually they are 2.4m high panels with varying widths according to design. The inner side of the building is lined with a minimum of 12.5mm plasterboard. Insulation and other required features are applied on the construction site. Floors in Pod form are supplied ready for crane erection. Constructing load-bearing elements of a building is the inner leaf of the external walls and any load-bearing internal walls as required by a structural engineer. These, plus the floors and the trusses constitute a Timber Frame Home.
Why choose a Timber Frame Home?
Timber frame homes are an ideal method of solving demanding site conditions. For buildings 6 or more storeys a reinforced concrete foundation is required in order to support the timber structure. This is not always neccessary in lower buildingd of 2-4 floors.
Timber Frame Homes are manufactured off site. This ensures high quality through close monitoring in factory controled conditions. Timber frame homes increase the speed of building, once your frame is up all other components of the build can proceed. Timber is a natural insulator ensuring that your home meets regulatory values.
Will my Timber Frame Home be more at risk from Fire than Steel Frame structures?
eExposed timber Frame beams are designed with Char ratings incorporated. This means that when burnt the charring element will leave enough structural timber remaining to allow a slow and controlled loss of structural integrity. Timber does not distort at high temperatures the way steel frames can. The Home itself will be protected from fire by the use of 12.5mm plaster/drylining board.
Are Timber Frame Homes quicker to build than Brick & Block?
The load-bearing elements of your Timber Frame Home is quick to construct. As soon as the erectors are finished, other trades can work inside in a dry environment while the external cladding is built. This double track work line cuts time and improves cost effectiveness.
Are Timber Frame Homes more expensive than Masonry?
Timber frame homes are lightweight which means your costs for your foundations is greatly reduced. Timber frame homes are a fixed price. Once you have designed your dream home you will have a defined cost for the supply and erection of your home. Higher insulation qualities means your heating costs will be reduced.
What are Robust Details ?
These are a set of approved details used in the Construction Industry to ensure that unacceptable levels of noise will not travel from one apartment or flat through the party wall or compartment floors to the adjacent dwellings. If a building is designed and manufactured to these approved details and has been registered with Robust Details Ltd the contractor will not be required to have the building Sound Tested. These details can be obtained from www.robustdetails.com
What is the Disproportionate Collapse for a building?
If damage is done to a block of flats by a car hitting it for example, the collapse of the building must be in proportion to the damage done. The requirement is that “The building shall be constructed so that in the event of an accident the building will not suffer collapse to an extent disproportionate to the cause”.