WHY BUILD WITH TIMBER?
From quick build speeds to design flexibility, Rebecca Foster outlines the key benefits of this popular construction system
According to a 2022 sur vey by the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA), timber frame accounts for 31.8% of self build projects. That puts it in a firm second place, only fractionally behind masonr y (35.2%) – and the gap looks to be narrowing ever y year. Two main systems fall into the timber frame bracket . Closed panel is now the most prevalent option, with the insulation (and sometimes additional components, such as windows) pre-fit ted into storey-height panels in the factor y. This minimises the amount of work required on site, and provides a strong guarantee that the designed per formance will be delivered in your finished home. The alternative is open panel, where one face of the structural walls is lef t open so insulation can be installed on site. In both cases, the timber frame kit will also include the floor and roof structures, internal load bearing walls etc. Here are the key benefits of using a timber frame system: