The way to inform if a home is timber framed

Timber-framed homes are nothing new within the UK, they’ve been part of our house buildings for hundreds of years, however with extra new builds being constructed with this materials than ever earlier than, how straightforward is it to inform if timber has been used?

On this weblog, we undergo the steps you must take to appropriately establish whether or not a home is made from timber or a special materials and the way secure it’s. 

How frequent are timber-framed homes within the UK?

Usually there are two sorts of timber-framed houses within the UK. We will break up them into Tudor-style buildings, which have been constructed earlier than 1900, and the newer model constructed after 1960. 

Older timber-framed homes have been constructed utilizing wattle and daub or cob for partitions, to assist hold folks heat. Utilizing this materials was thought of an actual ability of expertise through the Tudor period.

After the Second World Battle, and significantly through the 60s and 70s, timber-framed properties have been constructed to assist restore the county’s homes after the Blitz and are nonetheless prevalent in cities that have been created within the many years after as a part of the New cities motion.

Now, as a result of UK’s housing disaster, timber-framed houses are sometimes raised as the answer by the federal government to assist construct homes faster, and to assist save carbon and attain the nation’s purpose of changing into web zero. 

Nevertheless in terms of home constructing the business has, a minimum of to this point, failed to actually tackle timber as a mainstream building method. In 2019 fewer than one in 10 houses inbuilt England have been timber-framed. Throughout the identical time interval, Scotland produced timber houses in over 90% of their new builds.

Nationwide, of the 190,612 houses constructed, 40,053 have been timber framed, with 22,790 of these located in Scotland, 13,711 in England, 2,183 in Northern Eire and 1,369 in Wales.

Figures from the Nationwide Home Constructing Council (NHBC) counsel the timber body market share has developed from 19% in 2015 to 22% in 2021. The report did state that it could be attainable to see timber use throughout the UK develop to round 27% by 2025.

The way to spot a timber-framed house

Recognizing whether or not a home’s body is created from timber is getting more and more more durable to determine, particularly in new builds. 

Most trendy timber-framed houses have partitions which are constructed of an inside wood body to help the load of the constructing. This body will both include or be subsequent to the insulation of the constructing. It is best to word that there could also be a slight cavity to permit air to maneuver across the timber, with the outer layer being a single layer of brick.      

The next factors must be thought of when establishing the wall kind:

The faucet take a look at 

Tapping the inside partitions is likely one of the quickest methods to inform if the home has been constructed utilizing timber. You’re primarily tapping on plasterboard mounted to timber studs so this can sound completely different to the stable sensation of tapping on a cavity wall. 

Nevertheless, a cavity wall with a plaster-boarded inside floor mounted on wood battens or plaster dabs could produce the same hole sound.

If it’s timber framed, you need to hear the sample of sounds made by the vertical timber studs. You may as well use a stud finding software, or use a steel detector to find the plasterboard fixing screws. It’s because masonry houses use dot and dab plaster for fixing plasterboard. 

Home windows set again into the reveals 

Some timber-framed properties can be constructed with the home windows in keeping with the wood body, inflicting them to look barely recessed within the wall. Nevertheless, you need to at all times ask if the home windows have been changed as a result of this may occasionally not at all times be the case.

Gable finish and firebreak within the loft 

If the property has a loft, then the within of the wood triangular gable partitions can be seen, or might be lined by a sheathing board materials. This differs from cavity-built houses which are usually constructed from brick or block.

When the home is connected to a different, the plasterboard could also be seen between lofts as a firebreak separation to assist cease the unfold of fires between properties.

Wall thickness 

The wall thickness of a timber-framed home is often 250-300mm. If it’s a brand new construct it will likely be 300mm. This thickness is thinner than conventional homes, however on the plus facet it additionally means your own home is extra space environment friendly.  

Open perpends 

Homes with timber frames usually have open perpends, extra generally often known as vertical gaps, within the brickwork. They often have a ventilated plastic spacer, above floor degree at about 1.5m spacings. They’re designed to let air in to maintain the body dry and hold rodents and pests out. 

Entry factors 

Looking on the exterior entry factors might be a straightforward strategy to spot if timber has been used. Take a look at telecoms hatches, vents and meter cabinets. The openings will present the wall’s construction making it a easy, but surefire approach of understanding if the constructing has a timber body.

Ask for paperwork 

In case you are unable to make use of the above strategies, or really feel uncomfortable doing so, you possibly can at all times  contact the corporate that developed your own home or the native council to ask for a duplicate of the development drawings. This could point out what materials your own home is made out of. 

What are the advantages of a timber-framed home?

Timber-framed houses include an array of advantages. Not solely are they constructed rapidly, they’re additionally higher for the atmosphere as a result of wood body absorbing carbon dioxide as a renewable power supply. Listed below are another advantages to proudly owning one.  

They’re power environment friendly

Throughout the price of residing disaster we’ve all been in search of methods to cut back our month-to-month payments, however timber-framed houses do that naturally.

The timber and the insulation work properly collectively to maintain your own home hotter for longer, that means you don’t have to hold reaching to your heating dial as a lot through the colder months. In flip, your power payments can be significantly decrease. 

They’re simpler to transform

Should you’ve lived in a home for a very long time and need to transform, or for those who’re seeking to purchase and have plans to renovate, then timber-framed houses are an amazing choice. Load-barring partitions are sometimes the reason for constructing work not happening. 

Remodelling traditional-built houses would require you to work round them and drive up labour prices. 

With a timber body, this may be as straightforward as demolishing the adjoining wall whereas cosmetically adjusting rooms.

Timber framing is robust and sturdy

Typical houses don’t evaluate to timber homes in terms of sturdiness. Timber is extra versatile by way of its foundations. Shifts in your basis won’t lower your construction’s stability, together with requiring little or no upkeep.

Timber can be extra proof against the unlucky occasion of fireside harm. Typical buildings use thinner cuts of wooden, whereas thick timbers are extra proof against burning utterly via.

They cut back undesirable noise

The buildings of a lot of these homes can assist forestall the noise of echoes and soak up inside sound via the woodwork, that means you received’t must hearken to your neighbours as a lot as those that are in conventional-built properties. 

What are the downsides of timber-frame houses?

Regardless of the variety of advantages to timber-framed houses, there are – like each different materials – downsides to proudly owning one.

Hearth danger

There are research which present that timber-framed homes are extra vulnerable to fires getting uncontrolled than different supplies. However for those who use fire-resistant timber and coverings, you can also make your own home safer.  

They will make getting mortgages and residential insurance coverage trickier 

Getting a mortgage is already powerful for a lot of within the present monetary local weather, however timber houses might provide you with an additional impediment to beat. 

Some lenders may even see them as riskier due to the factor of fireside. This in flip will imply your insurance coverage could also be larger because of this.

Fortunately there are some insurance coverage suppliers, equivalent to Adrian Flux who provide timber-framed house insurance coverage at aggressive charges and might tailor an insurance coverage coverage to your precise wants. 

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