Planet friendly architecture, guidance and inspiration
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Taking the fuss out of architecture and building projects

Did you know that timber framed buildings go back several thousand years?

This February, the shortest month of the year, we’re looking at timber framing, which is possibly one of the longest known construction techniques used on the planet.

Apparently, in Japan, are some of the worlds oldest timber frame buildings, over 1300 years old. While these Japanese buildings clearly dispel any potential concerns about the durability of wood, this month we’re talking about the speed and cost of building with timber framing in the UK.

Keep an eye out, I might write a future newsletter about the Advantages and Disadvantages of timber framing, a story for another day. Oh yes, the header image is a quick freehand sketch I completed a few weeks ago for a new boat club storeroom for the rowing boats. It was quite difficult to make a steel shed look attractive, especially when it’s very near a decorative Victorian boathouse, and I’m not really sure if I succeeded, but it was fun and interesting to do, nonetheless. Absolutely nothing to do with timber framed buildings but hey.

Are timber frame buildings quicker and cheaper to build than conventional brick buildings?

Over the years we’ve worked on several timber framed building projects and I often reflect on how quickly they are built and also how much they cost.

For example, the basic waterproof shell of a large timber framed house, that we helped design, was erected in just two weeks. This is a big house, about 320m² / 3450 sq. ft. As the timber frame is a pre-fabricated construction system made in a factory, the component pieces are literally bolted, screwed and nailed together on site. A bit like a large-scale 3D jigsaw puzzle but with more organisation. As a result, the time on site is relatively minimal.

When looking at timber frame / pre-fab construction techniques something that is often overlooked is the pre-construction time and resources needed to design and co-ordinate everything to enable the products to be made in a factory or assembled on site. At face value timber frame buildings are erected very quickly but before this several weeks (or even months) of design time, heavily detailed co-ordination with double checking of sizes and dimensions has taken place to ensure that everything is very accurate, as late changes or errors can’t be easily accommodated during the building works. As we usually model everything in 3D with Archicad software this helps, but it’s still time consuming.

I have conducted my own in-house independent research with quantified costings prepared by professional Quantity Surveyors and at the moment my conclusion is that a single one-off house can be completed cheaper and just as quickly (if not quicker) using traditional methods of construction. This is mainly because the materials are more economical and quicker to source, and even with labour costs, will often still work out cheaper than a timber frame system. The time required to complete construction can also be better as construction can start several weeks earlier without the need for such heavily detailed or co-ordinated design work up front. For a single dwelling this means that timber frame is probably not as economical as people often think.

For larger scale buildings or volume estates of ten+ identical (or very similar) houses, then timber frame construction or alternative pre-fab methods should have a benefit as the overall time taken could reduce by several months which would equate to a major cost saving. It’s about scale of economies.

Energy efficiency is often a reason cited to use timber frame but equal or better energy efficiency can also be accommodated (Passivhaus and better) with conventional building methods, especially with some of the new insulation products on the market. This is operational, end use energy efficiency though.

However, and this is the big sticking point for me, the total embodied energy and embodied carbon (see Newsletter no. 2) of timber frame is probably less than conventional masonry building techniques. The amount of energy and carbon required to make masonry products and transport them is relatively high. However, this assumes the timber is sourced from UK grown forests and not imported and shipped over from far away foreign countries, which is often the case. This may actually mean the carbon generated from the timber could sometimes be higher. I understand that most of the UK market construction timber comes from European countries like Sweden, Finland, and Latvia, as well as North America (Canada and the USA) so hopefully the embodied energy and embodied carbon is not as bad as it could be.

If you are building from timber in the UK well done! I think you are probably using less embodied energy and embodied carbon even though it costs more.

I hope this gives you an objective and helpful understanding of timber frame construction vs masonry construction in the UK.

How we helped design a timber framed house that looks like it was built from stone

This project was an unexpected treat as it was from a repeat client, whose house we extended, one of our first projects. Peter and Jennifer originally extended their 1930’s semi-detached house in 2011 to create additional bedrooms and space for their growing family. However, the original house wasn’t as warm and comfortable as the newly, extended parts of the house. So, a few years later they then embarked on a ‘once in a lifetime’ project to create a new build timber frame eco-house. A sustainable, luxury, dream house suitable for all the family was high on the agenda. The house is located on a rare plot of unbuilt land nearby, in the desirable suburb of Dore Conservation Area, literally down [or rather up] the road from their old house. At 321m² / 3455 sq. ft. this is a large house.

A relatively traditional external design was used, mainly as the site is in a Conservation Area. This meant the new house fitted in sympathetically with the neighbours. Underneath the conventional exterior is a super insulated, timber framed house, approaching PassivHaus standards. Splashes of contemporary design, advanced tech and modern materials also feature. The majority of the ground floor is a single, open plan space that combines the Kitchen + Dining + Lounge. Four large double bedrooms + a home cinema room + Work from Home space + an expansive double Garage were also slotted in.

The timber frame system was made up from pre-fabricated panels that were delivered on the back of a truck and then literally lifted into position and fixed down, very quickly. I worked closely with the Structural Engineer and specialist timber frame manufacturer to make sure the foundations, steel beams and other parts of the structure were checked and co-ordinated so everything slotted together properly (literally) on site. As this was the first timber framed building, I’d ever help design on my own, I was a little anxious, as I needed to make sure the foundations and timber framed components lined up very accurately. Any errors could have meant a costly and time consuming fix. I think I probably checked the foundations and timber frame designs more than five times each. Very glad I did as everything fitted together without any problems.

Top quality materials have been used, such as split natural stone cladding from a local quarry (low embodied energy and carbon), natural slate roofing, aluminium framed, triple glazed, windows and doors, natural stone paving, and timber flooring. Additional wow factors are the bespoke oak and glass staircase with floating bridge link above the double height Hallway. The made to measure ‘T’ shaped red kitchen island and worktops help create visual contrast. An extremely large slide and stack patio door, about 7 metres wide, was also introduced, that pushed the boundaries. The door manufacturers couldn’t make them any wider!

The entire ground floor uses underfloor heating + a system of Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR), helps supply fresh, clean air, all through the year. PV solar panels on the roof also help reduce electricity demand. The TRADA Timber Frame Construction technical design guide (the acknowledged ‘bible’ for timber frame) was used extensively to help ensure the house was designed and built properly.

Another successful project, the clients and their family are currently living happily ever after in their dream house.

You can find out more about this timber framed home by clicking here

Interested in creating a new timber framed building or extension? Please get in touch and we can kick things off with a chat.

Let's talk

New places

If you are new to my newsletter then each month, I share a photo of somewhere I've been. Just sharing something about my love of buildings and nature. I also love travelling to new places and cultures. Whenever I go on holiday, I try to take a few photos of buildings and places I find fascinating and interesting. I’m by no means a professional photographer but I’d like to share some of these places with you, hopefully they capture something of what I experienced.

Last month’s photo was of Borgund Stave Church in Norway and shows the dragon head carvings at the roof edges. ‘Stave’ is the name of the vertical wooden boards that form the walls. This timber framed building was constructed in about 1200 AD so it’s over 900 years old. Another really old timber framed building and is a masterclass in original and creative timber work. If you ever get the chance, it’s well worth a visit.

So, what do you think this is a photo of and where was this photo taken? If you think you know where the photo was taken or like the photo and want to find out more, hit reply and let me know.

You’ll have to wait until the next newsletter to find out where this photo is from. I know, I can feel your supercharged eagerness from here.

What's next

Next time we will look at designing sustainable extensions, specifically demolition, the extension and the existing host building. Keep an eye out to find out more.

That’s it for now, hope you enjoyed this and I look forward to sharing more with you soon.

By the way, in case you are wondering, you’ve been sent this email because we’ve spoken in the past, perhaps discussing your project, or you have asked me a question via the website, social media or we have met in real life. I do hope you found this email helpful, entertaining and inspiring. However, if this is not the case, please hit unsubscribe at the bottom. I’ll try not to be offended, although I probably will be a little bit! I know, I know, it’s me, not you (it usually is).

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