Timber Frame
Enhancing the quality, speed and ease of construction
With their many benefits over brick and block construction methods, timber frame systems have been a long-established method of construction. In the past 10 years, however, they have mushroomed in popularity as a direct result of the pressure on developers to deliver high quality, good value homes at speed to meet the national housing shortage.
Even more impetus for this demand came in the form of the change to Building Regulations Part L (Conservation of fuel and power) which became law on 15 June 2022. This interim step towards the 2025 Future Home Standard and Future Buildings Standards placed an onus on developers, contractors and architects to meet strict new environmental standards – standards that made timber frame construction, with its many advantages over brick and block, the natural choice. As a result, the construction sector has embraced timber frames as never before, making this method the go-to solution for many new developments.
The Future Homes Standard is a criteria linked to energy efficiency that comes into play in the UK in 2025. The key purpose of the standard is to significantly reduce carbon emissions, with properties being built with 75% less carbon compared with existing regulations.
New building regulations changes to part L (conservation of fuel and power) are now in effect
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Part L Regulations 2022
New building regulations changes to part L (conservation of fuel and power) are now in effect
The new Building Regulations Part L (Conservation of fuel and power) insists on higher building performance targets, more rigorous air tightness requirements and lower U values to achieve the revised fabric energy efficiency standards. CO2 emissions are to be reduced by 31% for dwellings. These regulation changes are the interim steps towards the arrival of the Future Home Standard and Future Buildings Standards that will come into effect in 2025.
How can Hauser Timber Frame help achieve these new stringent standards?
Timber is a naturally well-insulated building material, timber frame is perfect for helping you hit the lower u-values demanded by the new Part L – even with thinner wall thicknesses than brick and block construction.
What’s more, the building materials used in timber frame construction produce 41% less carbon per m² than comparative masonry construction materials. That’s a significant contribution towards the lower carbon emissions set by the new building regulation.
And when it comes to the stipulated lower air-tightness levels, timber frame scores again. Thanks to the inner vapour control layer, which acts as an air seal, air-tightness below 5m2/h.m2 @ 50 Pa can be achieved without any additional measures. These levels are impossible to achieve with brick and block construction methods at the same cost, time and floor space.
A timber frame system enables you to deliver your project
These are some reasons for choosing Timber Frame over brick and block construction methods.
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Faster and more efficiently
More sustainably
More cost-effectively
More reliably
Improve energy efficiency
Reduced onsite labour
Advantages of Timber Frames over alternative built methods
We can also offer energy modelling
Working closely with expert specialists, we at Hauser Timber Frame can also offer an Energy Modelling, Analysis and Calculations service to calculate the precise values you need to achieve the new Part L requirements. Having determined your required level of panel insulation, we then incorporate these into our design.
Timber Frame Extensions
Timber Frame Extensions are becoming increasingly common as people look to maximise the space they have within their existing building. A highly versatile solution, these timber frame structures can be added to any existing property and extend dwellings by any size, subject to Planning Permission approval.
Timber Frame extensions have many advantages over brick and block building method for the home owner. We construct your timber frame extension off-site within our modern factory. This not only means a high-precision product, it also means this part of the build can run alongside the on-site groundworks – resulting in significant time savings for the build programme. What’s more, since the timber frame is easily installed, you’ll use fewer man hours and ensure your extension is water-tight more swiftly. All of this can save you significant costs whilst dramatically reducing the disruption caused by your extension project.
We service local builders and self-builds across the North of England directly or via a multitude of local timber and builder’s merchants, designing, manufacturing and installing the timber frame extension components on their behalf.