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Choosing a timber-frame …

Dreadnaught

Entry posted by Dreadnaught

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My first jobs after my planning approval are to: (i) choose a timber-frame supplier; and (ii) arrange a conversation with my arboriculturalist. This post is about the (i). The next post will be about (ii).

 

Timber-frame suppliers:

  1. I am in touch with the usual names known to this forum. Not sure if I should be naming names here. Six in total.
  2. Two companies supply panellised frames with a range of insulation levels, including open panel and double stud.
  3. Two companies supply I-beam-based frames, one of which is a company local to my plot in Cambridge, just 30-min away.
  4. One company provides a passive-house certified I-beam frame but as a pre-cut kit, complete with all tapes, etc. Frame erection would be by my own team.

Quotes from them all are due by next Friday.

 

Some random thoughts on my choice …

 

The local company proposing an I-beam solution is interesting. Its a solution they use for school classrooms: I-Beam walls and roof filled with rock wool, although I see no reason in principle why the rock wool could not be replaced with blown cellulose. Airtightness using SIGA tapes & membranes. My dwelling is very simple in form (a simple L-shapted bungalow with a flat roof about, 125 m²) so when the rep from the this company saw that he immediately suggested this solution. Looking forward to that quote.

 

My plot has problematic access: small plot, about 20m x 20m, a narrow 45m access road, mature tree overhanging the only gate, no space for a big crane. So a non-panellised I-beam solution has its attractions, although I suspect I am over doing it as one of the panel-based company seemed to think they could manhandle the panels on to site pretty easily, especially for such a relatively small build.

 

The passive-house pre-cut kit supplier is also interesting. They provide everything from frame design to foundation design to PHPP and the kit includes Austrian passive-certified windows and MVHR system too, as well as the I-beams, all membranes and tapes, and all to a single firm price. They also include training sessions for your contractors.

 

If I went down the route of a stick-build, albeit pre-cut I-beams, I have met a carpenter who is doing exactly such a build at present and using the pre-cut kit provider above. He has expressed an interest about possibly coming onboard in the spring and thinks he could erect the frame in 3x weeks. That sounds quite interesting as an option.

 

As you can see I am mid-decision and still thinking through the pros and cons for my particular circumstances.

 

 

 

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oldkettle

oldkettle 160

Posted

Hi, 

 

Could you possibly share the names of the companies you are talking to, via a PM if you prefer? Still looking for somebody who'd do an extension rather than a new build. 

 

Thanks! 

Oz07

Oz07 607

Posted

Why can't you share publicly. All sound interesting and obviously you're not here touting for business. The pre cut supplier sounds interesting. Why change their specified insulation?

Dreadnaught

Dreadnaught 613

Posted

Thanks @Oz07

 

  On 10/11/2019 at 18:23, Oz07 said:

Why can't you share publicly.

Expand  

 

Not really sure, to be honest. Just feels right not to while I am choosing. Public forum and all that.

 

  On 10/11/2019 at 18:23, Oz07 said:

Why change their specified insulation?

Expand  

 

Oh that's not the kit one. That's the local company proposing using their classroom-suited solution: they do erect. Reason for possibly substituting blown cellulose for rockwool is only because it has a better decrement delay. I think they have similar λ values (W/m.K) so there probably isn't much difference there. 

 

Roundtuit

Roundtuit 438

Posted

I'm pretty local to you I think, and have a local-made timber frame.  Happy to share experience by pm if that's preferred.

vk108

vk108 1

Posted

Hi @Dreadnaught @Roundtuit could you please pm me company names as I am local,  I am looking for a good timberframe supplier

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