There are many advantages to constructing a timber frame home when considering your home plan. Structurally speaking, there isn't a system that is absolutely better than all the rest; it's a matter of considering your pros and cons as well as your aesthetic desires and budget. There are also other factors, such as site/soil constraints and location. This article offers some benefits of timber frame homes (professionally-built) over the conventional block/brick home.
1. Easy to construct and high quality
Getting the timber frame up is not difficult, especially because most suppliers of timber frames also provide the manpower to erect the frames. This is because very strict quality procedures must be followed to ensure structural integrity. You will, however, need to invest in knowledgeable supervisor to ensure the exact construction standard is followed to the letter.
2. Speed of construction
Prefabricated timber and wall frames take a very short time to construct compared with standard brick/block homes. With sufficient manpower, you can have the structure up in just a few days instead of weeks or even months with the latter option. This means that you can move on to other phases much faster, such as plastering and wiring stages which require that the interior be protected before beginning. All-brick homes require a few weeks for internal plaster and mortar to dry completely before other work can start. However, there is lead time for delivery of prefab timber materials according to your own house plan, and this can take as long as a few months depending on complexity and availability of desired timber. Once materials have been delivered, however, construction can be completed within a very short time.
3. All-weather construction capability
Masonry homes can be limited by weather conditions, whereas timber house constructions can still proceed even when there are extreme temperatures. Low temperatures affect the hydration and curing of cement, thereby compromising cured strength of the structure. Mixing mortar in high temperature results in high moisture content that can contribute to shortened board life.
4. Better thermal insulation
At the heart of timber construction is its superiority in thermal insulation of the home compared with its brick/block counterparts. Timber structures have better insulation capacity because the structure is sealed off to prevent transfer of moist air inside the construction. In addition, timber, unlike concrete, does not need to soak up heat before a room is heated up. Masonry walls need to absorb some heat in the inner walls before the room heats up. They are also slow to release heat if cooler temperatures are desired. Timber framing on the walls and roof will therefore allow a room to heat up or cool down faster. This presents great benefits in terms of energy conservation.
Share19 May 2017
Hey! Welcome to my blog. My name is Walter and I live in Alice Springs, Australia. Last year, I woke up in a state of shock. The roof of my home had collapsed. I walked out into what use to be my living room only to discover a complete disaster zone. There were bits of slate and wood everywhere. Thankfully, no one in my family was injured. I called in a local roofing company and I worked with them to replace the roof. I learnt a lot about roofing during that week so I decided to start a new blog.