A Scottish house builder has seen a fall in turnover of almost 50% because of the recession. Mactaggart & Mickel reported that they have seen a loss of £3.9m and their turnover has fallen 47% to £42m.

The company added that they have taken some measures to cope with the downturn which is being felt keenly by the construction industry. They have branched out beyond building homes, moving into the social housing sector which includes veterans’ homes at the Erskine Hospital in Bishopton, and they have a contract for building athlete’s village for the next Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.

The company has also stressed that the timber frame construction at their Coatbridge factory has helped them a great deal by reducing the build time by 30%.

Ed Monaghan, CEO of the Mactaggart & Mickel Group and MD of the company, said that, like many others, their company has faced the brunt of the economic recession. They have seen many economic challenges during the past 84 years of their history but claim never to have experienced such difficult times.

The MD claimed that his company is fortunate for being a medium-sized, family-owned business, making them well-situated to ride out the crisis. The Commonwealth Games contract and the forecast growth in the housing market will help Mactaggart & Mickel to grow during 2010.

If you are considering building your own home, then the construction of a timber frame house is a unique, extraordinary and extremely long lasting option.

Timber frame homes are contemporary homes with natural designs. When building a timber frame house, it is important to enlist the help of experienced architects to achieve your dream home.

Build a timber frame home

• Timber frame homes can be constructed in less time than conventional homes.
• They are extremely sturdy and durable when compared with other building options.
• Finance is granted by mortgage companies to self-builders who construct timber frame homes.
• Timber frame homes are environment friendly. The wood is a non-toxic, organic, renewable resource and can help reduce the carbon footprint of the construction of your new home considerably.
• Timber frame homes are well-insulated. They have the ability to save 60% more energy than traditional masonry construction.
• Use of new technology like solar heating, wind turbines and so on can be introduced to make timber homes even more eco-friendly.

No other type of construction offers quite so many practical and stylish advantages as timber frame housing. Build a timber frame house to be proud of for many generations of your family to come.

Timber frame construction is a method in which a timber frame provides the skeleton of the home giving structure support. These frames are frequently referred to as light weight construction but they are much more than that. A timber frame is a precision engineered structure which is very strong and durable.

At the time of construction, an open panel in a timber frame is internally covered with plasterboard and it is filled with high performance insulation. Vapour and moisture barriers follow before the outer side of the wall completes the building. The outer side of these buildings is usually made up of brick, stone, timber or render.

Different benefits of timber frame have been mentioned below:

Quick in construction – If a two storey building is constructed using a timber frame then time can be saved by up to 30%, and 40% for four storey buildings. These frames are easily erected and it can be made watertight in no time for constructed in poor weather conditions.

Low maintenance – Timber frame construction is a dry method which helps to eliminate the cracking of plasterboard. Homebuilders have reported a 75% savings on call-back costs after installing a timber frame.

Environment friendly – The raw material comes from the sustainable coniferous forests of Scandinavia, Britain and America.

When selecting a modern family home, it is essential to be aware of how you want to utilise your new space. It is crucial that your property should mould to your particular lifestyle, right from your morning schedule till you come back at night; coming back to your home must be something you can look forward to.

At Persimmon Homes Deben Heath development in Rendlesham, Anglia, there are plenty of properties that not only provide plenty of room; they are also designed to create pleasant surroundings for the entire family to enjoy. L-shaped Curtis housetype with four bedrooms is one of the most popular designs.

After entering the Curtis, you will immediately feel being at home in the welcoming hall. The spacious dual feature lounge is a perfect place to get together along with your family at the end of the busy day and the huge French doors open into the appealing rear garden.

The stunning kitchen is obviously the focal point of this modern home. There is also an adjoining breakfast area, perfect for informal dining, for socialising with guests and for watching over your kids while cooking. On the ground floor, you can find a separate dining room that can easily be converted into a games room.

Wood has been a popular material used in building for many years. These homes provide a very aesthetic and rustic look. Wooden homes are built in many types and designs. One of these is timber frame homes.

Timber frame homes can bring a rustic elegance to your home with a varied look. Maintaining timber frame homes is easier compared to other typical wooden homes and they are preferred by many people.

Timber frame homes are a luxurious option to choose. Thanks to the advancements in technology, there has been a significant improvement in the way timber frame homes are built nowadays.

Timber frame homes are sturdy and durable. Timber frame homes are meant to last for a lifetime. They are the best homes to pass down to your children.

One of the benefits of timber frames homes is that they help to keep the cost of your home considerably low. You can add your ideas to the layout of your home. You can decide on how you want your home to look.

Timber frame homes are energy efficient and they can help to lower your electricity bills to some extent. Timber frame homes are therefore very popular. If you are planning on building a home, then consider building a timber frame home.

Are you planning to build a new home? Using a timber frame structure for your new home can prove very beneficial. Timber frame homes are very popular today due to the many advantages they provide.

Beauty and safety
• Timber frame homes are beautiful. Your home will look splendid from the outside and inside. They also provide warmth and comfort and cosiness within the home.
• Building a strong home is important. Timber frame houses are strong and sturdy and can last for hundreds of years.

Time and energy
• Timber frame homes can be built quickly. They take less time to construct, compared to other houses so your build can be completed in a relatively short span of time.
• Moreover, these homes are energy efficient. As the walls and roof of such homes are made around the timber structure, you can create a thermal envelope, full of insulation. This can make your home more energy efficient.

Durability and resale value
• Timber is really strong. So homes built from timber are extremely long lasting.
• Timber frame homes have a high resale value.

Everybody wants a home that offers warmth and style. And timber frame houses provide just that.
Timber framing is one of the oldest ways used to build homes and is the perfect choice to build your self build project.

If you are planning a self build, then timber frame homes are the best option. These homes have something about them that makes the home have a warm, cosy and rustic feel. This is a building method that has been used for thousands of years.

Timber frame homes possess exposed beams which are made artistically in such a way that they have interconnected joints without nails. The frame is put together using these beams made up of wood. Woods like Douglas Fir or white pine can be joined together with mortise (hole) or tenon (tongue) joints and these are held together with the help of wooden pegs. Timber frames are then covered with insulation panels and studded interior walls.

Timber frame homes are great for open concept designs. This is because all the support is given by the exterior frames. It is normal to see a cathedral ceiling at the height of a two storey building. This is because the strong beams provide wide and open rooms along with high ceilings.

Timber frame homes are extremely durable. If you are planning to build a house to pass down to your children then these are the best homes to build. Timber homes can in fact last for hundreds of years. Moreover, they are also strong and sturdy.

When you build a timber frame home you can to save a lot of money on your heating bills if you insulate the home with the latest eco-friendly materials.

When it comes to building a home, there are certain things that most homeowners look for. These include a beautiful and unique design, sturdiness and durability. However, finding a home which can meet all these conditions is not easy to do. And even if you do manage to find a home like this, you can be sure that it will be expensive. Fortunately, current construction options have made it very affordable to have a unique home, with timber frames.

For centuries people have been constructing timber frame homes all over the world as they meet the important considerations of all homeowners. This makes them one of the most preferred homes today. Here are the factors that make timber frame homes ideal:

Unique and beautiful designs
This is one of the best things about timber frame homes. Each timber frame home can be made using different architectural designs and this makes them unique. Along with being unique, timber frame homes attain a beautiful rustic appearance. This beauty can be combined with just about any décor for a uniquely beautiful home.

Sturdiness and durability
If there is one thing timber frame homes are known for, it is their sturdiness. This can be seen from the century old timber frame homes still standing today. All timber frames are made from the sturdiest of woods and this enables the home to endure all kinds of weather.

In addition to these features, building a timber frame home can be less costly than building a regular home. With all these considerations, it is no wonder that timber frame homes are so popular.

Many people prefer to build an additional home as an investment for the future. It could either be let out or used as residence. Regardless of what the other home will be used for, it is important that it is well-built and sturdy. Those who are looking for a really good investment would have to ensure that the home offers certain things that other homes do not. This is where timber frame homes come into the picture.

What makes timber frame homes special?

There are a number of factors which make timber frame homes more special than other homes. Of course the most prominent factor is that they are constructed using timber frames. However, it is the frame that increases the speciality of these homes. Here are the things that contribute to making these homes special:

• The timber frames allow these homes to have bigger and airier rooms. Timber frame homes can also have high vaulted ceilings which can increase the beauty of the home

• One of the best things about timber frame homes is that they can save on energy consumption and this can eventually reduce bills

• Another excellent feature of timber frame homes is that they can be decorated in almost any way a person desires. Although they are perfect for traditional décor, you can use contemporary furniture and accessories to decorate them as well.

Not all timber frame homes need to be designed by professional architects. Enthusiastic homeowners can also provide their ideas and designs to the timber frame home building company and watch their ideas come to life.

If you are planning to build a home for yourself, why not build a timber frame home? These homes have a unique look. They stand out for their rustic appeal. Timber frame homes can be made according to the style and design you want.

Timber homes are great as they can remind us of the olden days. These homes are a blend of elegance and rusticity. Many people are building timber frame homes to live in or are making one their holiday home due to its eternal beauty.

More about Timber frame homes

Wooden materials have been used for centuries in building homes which are extremely sturdy and strong. These are homes that will last forever. These homes are ideal to pass down to the next generation.

The size of timber makes your home look robust and long-lasting. Timber frame homes are very energy efficient. The walls and roof of timber frame homes provide clients with a never ending thermal envelope. This layer provides an increased level of insulation inside your home. Timber frame homes reduce your electricity bills to a great extent. You can save on power bills. Moreover, they give your home a higher resale value.

Timber frames homes are made from high quality materials. The prices of these homes exceed conventional homes when you put them on the real estate market. Building timber frame homes are easier and faster. These homes are extremely beneficial and hence you should consider them when building your new home.