The UK Government’s Timber in Construction Roadmap was well received, as only 9% of UK new homes were built using timber frames in 2019. It outlined ways to decarbonise our housing stock, and increase the usage of timber in construction. Timber is a durable building material that has many advantages. When used in the design and construction of our buildings, timber can reduce carbon emissions by as much as 60%.
This also helps to strengthen the UK’s green job drive and supports the ambitious tree planting targets of the government. It is a key part in solving the housing crisis, as well as supporting the homegrown construction industry. Timber frame homes also offer practical benefits to both homeowners and builders. For Timber Frame House Kits, visit Merlin Timber Frame
An energy-efficient choice: A wood house is more efficient than one built with bricks. Timber frame houses are a great alternative to brick because wood offers a significant improvement in thermal insulation. With modern insulating material between the inner- and outer-layers of the wall, they retain heat very well. Timber frame houses are less likely to crack after construction because they use only dry materials.
Many people worry that timber frame homes offer less protection against fire. It is not true, because all buildings, whether they are made of masonry, wood, or steel, must meet certain standards in case of a fire. Brick-built homes still have wood floors, stairs and roof trusses. The external envelope is often the only difference, as the internal walls are also timber.
It is a common belief that brick-built homes last longer. However, this is another myth that must be dispelled in the construction industry, as the longevity of a house is determined by its quality and maintenance. Timber is used in some of the UK’s oldest buildings.
Benefits to housebuilders: Most surveyors agree that timber frame construction is more expensive. Housebuilders do see an advantage in terms of the time it takes to build a home. The site can be finished faster and with less defects if it is well managed.
When weather conditions force traditional construction methods to stop, timber frame construction can continue. With good project management, the completion of the exterior envelope can be removed as a critical path for a timber-frame project. This allows both internal and external work to be completed simultaneously.
A truly sustainable building materials
Timber frame construction does not offer a solution that will lead to net zero carbon emission. It does, however, reduce our dependence on steel and concrete – both of which emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide during their manufacturing.
Why timber suits greener homebuilding
Much of the case for timber frame construction rests on its environmental record. Most of the wood used for timber homes in the UK comes from sustainable forests in Northern Europe, where trees are replanted faster than they are felled, and it is certified as a renewable source. In countries such as Norway and Switzerland, wood is already the main building material.
Timber is also easier and less damaging to extract, manufacture, transport and build with than concrete or steel. It is a strong performer for reducing carbon emissions, and using wood in place of other materials avoids much of the carbon dioxide they would produce.
There are benefits for the people who live in these homes too. Wood naturally helps regulate humidity, creating comfortable living conditions, and its look, feel and smell make a welcoming space. It suits bespoke design, and because much of the work is done off site, build times are short, which helps keep costs down.
Green oak in commercial buildings
Green oak has been used in British homes for centuries, and it is now appearing in more commercial buildings too. A visible oak truss, barn doors or frames can help a new building sit comfortably alongside older ones in a rural setting, or make it stand out among identical modern blocks.
Oak is very durable and resists the weather for many years, as centuries old oak framed barns show. When it comes from a sustainable, well managed source, it is also a good choice environmentally. A growing tree absorbs carbon dioxide, and using the wood for building rather than burning it keeps that carbon locked away for as long as the building stands.
An oak frame can also make a building structurally sound without internal load bearing walls, which allows open plan layouts. Combined with vaulted ceilings and glass walls, this makes even small spaces feel generous. Oak works as panelling and flooring as well, or as cladding over a steel frame to give a warmer, natural feel.