Aside from the build method and materials used, the efficiency and close working relationship of the team – who were all based locally and had worked together before – contributed to the project’s efficiency. Scotframe and Cairnrowan have worked together many times in the past and have designed their own bespoke kit, which helped ensure the build was quick and smooth. Cairnrowan also project managed the entire build, which took a weight off the Jaffreys’ shoulders – they were kept updated on progress throughout with regular meetings. Cairnrowan took care of everything from preparing the groundwork and erecting the timber kit to organising the electrics and smart home technology. They also managed the internal decoration and landscaping, which helped make the project as seamless and stress-free for the family as possible.
“The game changer for us was that we had so much trust in the whole team,” says Iain. “It’s said that building your own house is one of the most stressful things you can do, but this honestly was relatively stress free and actually quite enjoyable!” He adds: “We’d come and visit the site once or twice a week to see how things were going, but otherwise they just got on with it.”
DESIGN
The family saw this as their “forever home”, so wanted an open plan space downstairs that their small children could enjoy running about in, and that they would get the benefit of for years to come. “That’s why we decided to have the smart technology installed,” Iain says. The house is pre-wired for nine zones of audio and six zones of HD/4K video, as well as 12 zones of heating and 16 zones of lighting. The 305 m2
detached house has two
reception rooms, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a cinema/bar room. Ample glazing takes advantage of spectacular views to the nearby hills of Dunnydeer and Bennachie. The 2.7 metre high ceilings and six metre double height areas give a feeling of space throughout.
The open plan ground floor area has floor-to-ceiling windows which open out onto an expansive decking area. One of the home’s most striking features is the galleried entrance hall, home to a contemporary, well-figured oak tread and glass balustrade staircase. The timber frame is covered with a mixture of timber cladding and white render, plus a glazed gable. The roof is finished with slate and,
september/october 2019
www.sbhonline.co.uk 23
to contrast against the white render, dark grey Nordan window frames were used. In order to meet their desires of being as eco-friendly as possible, the family installed solar panels, a Daikin air source heat pump, and underfloor heating. “From a green point of view, the house ticks all the boxes. Although it’s a much bigger house than we had before, we are paying significantly less for fuel bills, even though our previous house was also timber frame and well-insulated,” says Iain. “We chose the air source heat pump because it is clean and low maintenance, and along with the solar panels, it has been working well for us.”
As well as these features, the closed panel system and accuracy of the build has also contributed to the home’s efficiency, says Iain. It has been given an ‘A’ rating for energy, an as-built EPC of 97 per cent and an airtightness result of 0.38 air changes per hour, taking it to Passivhaus levels in terms of energy efficiency.
“We were blown away by how quickly we were able to get into our new home”
The likely energy usage is 28 kWh/m2
/year, achieving Gold Aspect level 2 for energy use for space heating from the Scottish Building Regulations – the highest possible level. The calculated
emissions are 5 kg CO2/m²/year – over 4.6 times less CO2 per year than the average Scottish household. “The quality
of the house is amazing,” says Iain. “Although we’ve been in for less than a year, it feels like we’ve been here for longer – that’s how we know we have made the right decision.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
