It is always beneficial to a construction project for work on site to be carried out quickly and efficiently. One the one hand, this sort of approach will help to keep costs down in the sense that you won’t have to staff your site for as long and you won’t have to pay for machinery for a lengthy period.
On the other hand, a fast and efficient construction process gives you a much better chance of running to schedule, which means less disruption to you and your family and means you’ll be able to decorate your home and move in precisely when you hoped when you started the venture.
Timber frame construction is arguably the quickest way of building a strong and attractive house. Before the construction process even begins, the design stage and manufacture of the frame ensure that time on site is kept to a minimum. These stages are so meticulous that they allow the erection of the structure to take place immediately after the delivery of the components.
The key is making the structure watertight as quickly as possible, then building work can begin to complete the house.
One of the most pressing things you need to know about timber frame construction before you embark on a self-build project employing the method is the actual sequence of events that take place in order to get your structure up and running. That’s what this article is all about.
Design
Design always comes first in a building project. This is the stage where you and your architect and timber frame specialist iron out every feature of the building in line with your tastes and the structural demands of the building. This is stage is particularly thorough in a timber frame project because these drawings are used to produce the frame itself directly.
Manufacture
From the drawings the components of the frame are cut very precisely. This takes place in a factory to save money on site and to make sure everything is as accurate as possible. The accuracy of the manufacturing process determines the speed of construction and the strength of the structure.
Erection
Finally, the frame is erected on site very quickly and made watertight. Then the builders can come in and apply all the finishing touches to get your new home up and running as soon as possible.
Timber frame homes are incredibly popular at the moment especially when it comes to new builds and new developments. There is a real attraction about using sustainable timber as a chief material in construction rather than using materials like steel which have become the norm in many situations.
Perhaps the most pressing matter that makes timber such a sensible alternative to steel is the fact that it is a cheaper material. Steel prices have risen steadily in recent times and they are currently so high that many developers and building companies are struggling to keep up with them.
By building with timber, you have access to a much cheaper material that is just as strong thanks to the very meticulous techniques used in their construction method. Accurate drawings make the structure incredibly strong and durable.
Another attractive reason to use timber is the fact that it is environmentally friendly. This has become more and more important as we have learnt more about the effect human practices are having on the environment and any opportunity we have to use greener practices represents a real bonus in terms of progressive construction.
Exercising your creative muscle is one of the main motivations behind building your own house. You’ve reached a point in your life where you are suddenly able to put into practice all the thoughts you’ve had over the years about the kind of home that would suit your family life most appropriately, as well as matching your own personal tastes when it comes to layout, architecture and so on.
Timber frame construction is an excellent construction method to consider if you are on the verge of making plans to build your own house and you have found the perfect spot for it. The thing about timber frame construction that makes is particularly attractive to a lot of self-builders is the simple fact that it allows them a measure of flexibility in design.
You can work alongside an experienced architect and timber frame specialist in order to commit your ideas to paper and create a final set of drawings that renders all the attributes of your dream home a reality. Thereafter, it is just a question of allowing your team of builders to take over whilst you concentrate on how you’ll decorate the finished product.
Timber frame construction is often used for projects that are quite ambitious in nature. If your self-build project or your development is likely to include some really impressive features that require a measure of flexibility from your building method, then timber frame construction is probably your best bet in terms of available techniques and practices.
Take the example of a swimming pool. Some ambitious developments and impressive home build projects have a swimming pool drafted into their plans. To accommodate a swimming pool, you need a large open indoor area uninterrupted by walls, preferably with a high ceiling and plenty of natural light.
This is something a lot of building methods fail to deliver on. However, timber frame construction allows you to building high structures to accommodate open indoor spaces because the weight rests entirely on the frame on not on any internal walls. You can furnish the plans with plenty of windows and skylights.
It also helps matters that timber frame ceilings and internal structures are really easy on the eye. For a structure housing a swimming pool, this would be particularly advantageous because you’ll want to follow a certain aesthetic code in your design.
The housing market has struggled to get off the ground for most of this year as a general state of inertia appears to have set in within the housing industry. A number of factors have conspired to prevent growth. Interest rates and the state of the mortgage industry have dissuaded people from upgrading to new homes and have in many cases prevented first time buyers getting on the market.
Then there is the fact that simply not enough new homes have been built in the last number of years. There is huge demand for new housing developments, especially those targeted at providing affordable homes for people looking to get a foothold on the property ladder with budgets that don’t stretch beyond entry-level.
Home building firms have struggled due to the increased cost of raw materials and the general financial difficulties that have arisen in the wake of the recession and that has prevented them from pushing ahead with large scale developments they can’t necessarily afford to invest in.
However, the fact that the housing market remains afloat may point to the fact that the storm is being weathered slowly but surely and eventually things will once again begin to look up.
Embarking upon a development in any local area requires considerable forethought. You need to satisfy the demands of the local area in a number of different ways in order for your project to be accepted in the surrounding area and for your involvement in the development to be looked upon favourably. If you are successful in this regard then you may find it easier to carry out further developments in the environs in the future.
Aesthetically, it is important that your project fits in with the surrounding area unless you are looking to significantly improve upon the current architecture of the local area. You will only obtain planning permission if you can satisfy these criteria. Timber frame construction is very flexible so it allows you to plan your project with changes in mind.
In terms of the environment, timber frame construction is also an excellent choice. You will win plaudits for your development if you can demonstrate your commitment to greener methods of construction – something local residents and councillors are likely to hold in very high regard. Winning people over in this fashion is fundamental to your cause.
Time, money and the environment are all inextricably linked when it comes to construction. It is more often than not the case that projects that take longer are more expensive. Practices that use up a lot of energy are also expensive and they also contribute to the negative effect of the project on the environment. These harmful effects are often compounded if the project turns out to be a protracted affair.
The most successful and progressive construction projects are those that employ methods to prevent costs running out of control, timescales to spiral out of hand and environmentally-harmful process taking place. If you can bring all of these things into line at the same time then your project is likely to draw considerable praise and deservedly so.
It is possible to take a very significant step in the right direction by opting to use timber frame construction techniques to get your project off the ground. Timber frame homes have a great reputation for being built quickly and at low cost, using materials that are sourced naturally and without expending a great deal of energy in the process.
A progressive attitude to construction is all about adapting to modern conditions. This means coming to terms with the economic climate and falling in line with governmental and public expectations regarding the environment whilst doing right by yourself and your surrounding area.
The most successful self-builders are those that take all of these things on board. The ideal situation is to cut costs, adhere to eco-friendly practices, find solutions regarding the environmental impact of your new build for the future, satisfy the demands of your local area in terms of planning permission and to build a house that is suitable for your family.
This seems like an awful lot to take in, but if you are in a position to press ahead with a self-build project then you ought to make the most of the opportunity by looking at all of these things. Fortunately, you can go a long way to satisfying all these demands by choosing timber frame construction as the method by which you build your home.
The economic, environmental, practical and aesthetic attributes of building with timber frames are all favourable and they are likely to ensure your project is a resounding success.
Speed is really important in the construction industry. However large or small the project, it is vitally important that the processes involved in the construction stages are ultimately efficient. The chief concerns related to efficiency and speed are to do with money.
It is possible for construction costs to spiral out of control unless your project is managed really tightly. You need to keep everything running smoothly and cut down the amount of time that is wasted on or off site wherever possible. This is one of the reasons timber frame construction is on the rise in the UK at the moment.
Timber frame construction allows builders to cut down the amount of time they spend on site which helps them to bring their costs into line. Self-builders are often restricted by tight budgets so inefficiencies have really negative effects.
After the design stage, timber frame homes can be built really quickly and efficiently which means less money is wasted on staffing your site and using heavy machinery during periods when work is relatively slow. Keeping up the pace of your project is a good way of staying on budget right to the end.
