The Advantages of Timber Frame

Timber Frame is the most widely-used structural building method in the world, offering a fast, eco-friendly, highly-insulated building solution.

Practical Advantages

• Construction times are reduced using Timber Frame techniques by as much as one third.
• Impact of inclement weather is reduced as construction need not stop in periods of rain, frost, snow etc.
• Programme of following trades is easier.
• Timber Frame offers a lighter form of construction which can be of benefit to foundations particularly where poor ground conditions prevail. Improved sound insulation compared with alternative construction methods, particularly at separating walls.
• Higher thermal insulation at an economic price when compared with alternative construction methods.
• Greater accuracy and a better standard of finish after handover.
• Timber Frame is a dry form of construction, there is no drying out period. You will not get drying out cracks common in wet construction.
• Adequately responds to environmental issues concerning energy use during production and after construction.

Whole Life Performance

• Wood is effectively a carbon-neutral material (even allowing for transport).
• Timber Frame has the lowest CO2 cost of any commercially available building material.
• For every cubic metre of wood used instead of other building materials, 0.8 tonne of CO2 is saved from the atmosphere.
• Processing timber is not a gas-guzzling procedure either. 77% of the energy used in the production of wood products comes from wood residues and recovered wood.
• Converting timber into a useable building material takes far less energy and creates minimal pollution compared to other mainstream alternatives such as aluminium, steel, concrete and brick.
• Strength for strength, concrete uses 5 times (and steel uses 6 times) more energy to produce than timber.
• Waste wood can be easily recycled as can the wood from products once they reach their "end of life".