Self-builders are often very ambitious in their plans because they recognise the excellent opportunity they have to create a home that is truly sensational. That is why a lot of self-builders incorporate some pretty impressive features into the houses they build provided they have enough space and all the practical implications have been considered thoroughly.
Among the features that a lot of self-builders get very interested in are swimming pools. Indoor swimming pools and gym areas at home are things that domestic dreams are made of. They make it onto the radar of lots of self-builders because it is in their nature to think about the things that really make the perfect place to live.
It is possible to introduce an indoor swimming pool to your plans thanks to building techniques like timber frame construction. Timber frame structures can be built to house large open spaces which are essential for indoor swimming pools. Since they do not rely on internal walls to bear their weight, these structures can be very sizeable indeed. Exposed timber frames are really attractive to look at too and they make an indoor swimming pool area a real feast for the eyes.
Steel is a material that is used very widely in construction at the moment. However, steel is just the sort of material that many construction experts and developers are looking to move away from. They are always conducting research into methods such as timber frame construction because they recognise that an alternative to steel construction is of great benefit to them. So what is the problem with steel?
The main issue with steel is that it is very expensive and its cost is rising all the time. Construction projects do not always have the financial clout to use steel and if they do they often sacrifice other areas that require investment such as quality architecture and design. This often does against the principles and developers and builders alike.
Steel is also a very high energy material. This partly accounts for its high price on the market. However, conscientious builders and developers are also put off using steel because they want to find a more environmentally friendly way of getting structures built. Timber is one of the materials that has been identified as a suitable alternative in terms of cost and energy.
Affordable housing is something that the government is particularly focused upon trying to provide. The current fortunes of the housing market are thought to depend upon the provision of plenty of quality housing at the entry level of the property ladder. Currently, it is thought that there is simply not enough affordably housing available and as such people cannot get onto the property ladder.
Of course, there is more to it than that, but it seems very reasonable to suggest that more affordable housing is needed if people are to find good quality homes when they need them. There is already a great deal of demand and this is only likely to rise in the future. This is why developers are looking into new projects up and down the country.
It is interesting to note that timber frame construction certainly has a part to play in the aspirations of government bodies and developers when it comes to the provision of affordable housing. Timber frame homes can be built very quickly and very cost-effectively and when demand must be met fast, these are among the chief factors as far as construction is concerned.
It is only natural as a developer to wonder how timber frame construction can compete with conventional methods that use very strong and resilient materials like steel in their processes. This is something you are likely to be interested in looking into further simply because there are advantages to using timber frame construction that have to do with flexibility, design, cost and the environment. IF you are able to use the method there is every reason to go ahead.
So how does timber compete with steel when the two materials are clearly so different? Well, it is important to consider the fact that timber is actually very resilient in itself. However, it is clearly neither as strong nor as hard as steel. Nevertheless it is perfectly capable of replacing the material in practice.
This is because timber frame are built with the bigger picture in mind. The joints and architecture of the frame make the strength of the structure far more than the strength of each individual component or beam. As each stage of the frame is built, the structure becomes stronger. This is all down to the physical laws on which timber frame construction is based.
Highly accurate engineering is behind the strength of timber frame structures. It is true to suggest that timber is not as strong as a material such as steel which is also used widely in the field of construction, but that is no reason to suggest that a frame made of timber is not as strong as a frame made of steel. It is all about the engineering and the way things are put together.
Timber itself is very lightweight, but when beams are put together using techniques honed during the entire history of construction, the material suddenly becomes one of the best to build with. Timber allows you to build flexibly and yet it is incredibly strong because timber frame construction specialists understand the physics underlying the method and how best to design a frame so that it supports a structure.
Without this understanding, timber frame construction would not be the fantastic building method it is recognised as today. As it is, all timber frame structures are far more than the sum of their parts and they are wonderfully strong and long lasting.
Building with timber gives you a great deal of flexibility in terms of how you approach the layout of your home. This is something that can be seen as a real advantage because building your own home obviously gives you the chance to do things your way. If this chance were removed simply because the building method you chose was not flexible enough to accommodate your preferences it would represent a missed opportunity.
Doing things your way means exercising a bit of control over the design and layout of the house even when you are working alongside a team of experts whose job it is to turn your ideas into a more concrete set of plans. Timber frame houses are often more original in their layout simply because the method makes allowances for architectural creativity on the part of you and your team.
If you like the idea of building your own house at least in part because it gives you the chance to express yourself a create a space that is truly your own then timber frame construction ought to be the sort of technique you look at in order to get the project started.
The real difference between timber frame construction and conventional construction is that the design stage focuses on the production of a thorough set of plans for a wooden frame. This is then something that gets carried into the construction stage. The construction stage itself can be split into two parts – manufacture and erection.
The manufacturing stage uses the detailed plans in order to have the team produce every component that contributes to the wooden frame of the structure. This manufacturing stage is particular to timber frame construction and it takes the pressure off the on-site processes. Of course, the construction does make it on site eventually when the manufactured components are delivered.
This is when the erection takes place and the components are pieced together strongly and quickly and the structure suddenly takes shape. It is then a matter of supplying all the finishing touches and putting into effect all the necessary techniques to make sure that the building is energy efficient. Then it is all about interior design to get the house into shape so that you can move in and enjoy your new home.
Building a house using the timber frame method is a matter of stages as with more conventional methods of construction. It is relatively easy to split these stages up in order to get a better picture of what building a timber frame house is all about. Figuring out these stages is a really good way of assessing what lies ahead if you are planning a project of your own.
You can expect to be involved in a pretty intensive spell of design at the beginning of your project. This is arguably the most important part of any project in the sense that it determines how things will go ahead at each subsequent stage. Moreover, the design stage represents the period of time when you anticipate potential problems and issues.
Planning to overcome these issues ahead of actually meeting them is really important and it is great in terms of preparing you for the construction stage itself. The next article will look at the construction stage which tends to be very different in timber frame construction than in other attitudes to construction.
It is only natural that modern people should look for ways to make their lives less of an imposition on the environment. This change of attitude is just what comes from having a more enlightened approach in day to day life. The fact is that it is not hard to make a few changes at home. However, you can make an even bigger change if you are able to build your own house.
The situation represents a really good opportunity to cut down your carbon footprint, save yourself money in the long run and feel confident that you are making a real difference as far as conserving the planet is concerned. You can achieve this when you choose timber frame construction instead of a conventional method.
Timber frame construction is the natural choice because sustainable materials are used, the process requires very little energy compared to other methods and it takes into account the bigger picture, preventing households from further reliance on central heating thanks to a very active approach to insulation and other techniques that help to preserve energy instead of wasting it.
Modern concerns tend to make timber frame construction an even more attractive method of building than it already was. The fact is that priorities nowadays are not the same as they were even a few years ago because of changes in the economy, changes in attitude and changes in our understanding of the environment and the impact of construction and industry.
When it comes to changes in the economy, you will find that people are much keener on saving money nowadays and this means cutting the time it takes to build quality housing. It also means cutting the cost of materials. These are two areas where timber frame construction proves a really attractive option.
People’s attitudes to the environment and to saving money on a personal level have also changed dramatically. Members of the public want to save on a domestic basis and timber frame houses are excellent when it comes to cutting energy costs at this level. Reducing energy wastage is something that also appeals to our greater understanding of how we impact the environment simply by heating our homes, using electricity and other ordinary activities.
