Expert Advice UKFTA
Thinking of an Eco home? Many self builders choosing timber
frame because they wish to take advantage of the many sustainable benefits timber frame has to offer. Quite simply, a well constructed, highly insulated home provides the basis of an eco home. The fabric, walls, floors and roof do all the work to keep the cold out and retain the heat generated within, you can look forward to years of maintenance free energy conservation performance. If you were thinking of using renewable energy sources, solar, geothermal or wind, these only work at their optimum if the building fabric provides the opportunity. Timber frame is the most cost effective solution, a perfect partner for renewable energy.
Types of timber frame There are a number of timber frame types available today and the choice
can sometimes be bewildering. Early involvement with your timber frame provider can help you arrive at the right conclusion for your build. Open panel timber Frame: The very basic timber frame solution using either 90mm or 140mm timber studs, these are structural engineered panels forming the inside load bearing leaf of the cavity wall. During the manufacturing process the Timber Frame open panel system is made from treated timber framing over which a structural sheet material usually 9mm OSB board (known as sheathing) is fixed with a vapour permeable but waterproof membrane, similar to Gortex, fixed to the outside. The panels are delivered open,
hence the name. Windows and door frames can either be fitted on site or factory fitted, depending on your choice or the recommendation of your timber frame manufacturer. Once the building is weather tight and the electrical and plumbing has been
completed, the insulation is installed between the studs before a vapour proof barrier is tacked up followed by the internal lining with plasterboard. The outer leaf is typically stone, brick, render or timber to suit the local vernacular and planning requirements. Factory insulated timber frame: A number of UKTFA members provide a wall panel with factory fitted insulation and a high performance breather membrane which yields a superior performance, known performance rather than leaving site fitted insulation to chance. This method delivers typical
U-values of 0.19W/m2K however this can be improved further through the addition of a 25mm internal service zone. This can deliver a U-value ranging from typically 0.17W/m2K down to as low as 0.10W/m2K through the addition of face fixed insulation to either the internal or external face of the timber framed panels. This provides a real low cost
90 Self Build Homes | April 2012
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