mmc builds the dream


The build of a new barn style home, combining spacious elegance with the very latest energy saving innovations, is being showcased by self build experts Kingspan Potton, at their Self Build Show Centre, St Neots, Cambridgeshire.


The latest products and materials were used to meet the code level four rating as well as those needed to create a home that has all the charm of a barn style property, but with all conven- iences of modern day living. The build, which would normally take just


twelve weeks, has been extended to eight months to show exactly how it is possible to cre- ate a home that is not only stunning to look at and live in but future-proofed from rising energy costs as well. This build demonstrates the biggest single


advantage of MMC (modern methods of con- struction) to a selfbuilder, as it de-risks the process of building a dream home in three ways: • Guarantees quality • Speeds up the build • Improves energy efficiency and sustainability credentials


Guarantees quality The barn has been constructed off site at Kingspan Potton’s own manufacturing base. Established over 40 years ago, the company pride themselves on their strict quality control procedures on all timber frame packages, including the doors, stairs and windows. The company holds accreditations to both the


 58 selfbuilder & homemaker www.sbhonline.eu


Timber is a building material with


proven sustainability credentials


ISO 9001:2000 quality management system and the UKTFA Q-Mark Plus scheme for design and manufacture. In terms of sustainable build- ing methods and getting a code four rating, the fact that they are using timber frame makes life a lot easier. Timber is a building material with proven sustainability credentials, it is a renewable, non-toxic product and is also a car- bon neutral material: even allowing for trans- port it has the lowest CO2


cost of any commer- 


cially available building material. According to the UK Timber Frame Association, with tim- ber frame buildings you save, on average, 0.8 tonnes of CO2


emissions when compared with


brick and block construction. Nowadays, thanks to a greater concern for


the environment and the need to future-proof our homes against rising fuel costs, timber frame is fast becoming the preferred building method for both selfbuilders and large developers alike.


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