This issue, we put the spotlight on the benefits of working with an STA member to deliver the weathertight shell of your home build – and the valuable services they can offer on your project

Timber is a hugely versatile building material, used for a whole range of project essentials: roof structures, stud walling, beams, floors, cladding, doors, window frames and – of course – to create the watertight structural shell of many wow-factor homes. Sustainable, thermally efficient, easy to work and quick to install, timber offers many advantages over other building materials. This makes it an excellent choice for both the structural work and finishes in your dream home project.

Building with structural timber

These days, the vast majority of timber-built homes are manufactured offsite in a quality controlled environment. Whether it’s a timber frame, structural insulated panels (SIPs) or oak house, this approach offers much greater confidence over the delivery and performance of your home versus site-based building methods, such as blockwork. Here are just a few of the benefits:

1 Speed of construction. A high degree of factory/ workshop fabrication reduces the need for onsite labour and enables a rapid build process. 2Cost & programme certainty. Scheduling and pricing is more predictable versus traditional build methods. 3Quality. Controlled offsite production ensures you’ll get the high-performance, modern building envelope you specified – including in terms of energy efficiency. 4Design flexibility. Timber systems can embrace any architectural style, enabling stunning designs, and are suitable for all manner of claddings and finishes. 5Sustainability. All STA members use timber from certified PEFC or FSC sources, so you know the wood is procured from responsibly managed forests.

This exceptional Passivhaus project is an oak frame build by STA Assure Gold member Oakwrights (www.oakwrights.co.uk)

MARK BOLTON

Systems such as SIPs can enable fantastic design features, such as vaulted ceilings and double-height spaces. STA Assure Gold member SIPCO (www. thesipcompany.com)provided this project’s superstructure

Timber frame offers excellent benefits in terms of sustainability, efficiency, factory-guaranteed quality and construction speeds. This build is by STA Assure Silver member Fleming Homes (www.fleminghomes.co.uk)

Here, we’re helping you identify great partners to take your project forward. These Structural Timber Association (STA) members are vetted under the STA Assure scheme, giving you confidence that you’re making a quality choice