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I'm dithering between getting a house desing via an architect, or going with a TF company who will do design&supply. I'm nervous about going with desing&supply basically around cost: if we get a design done with TF company A, expecting to use them for supply&erect, how do I then check that their cost for the supply portion is going to be reasonable? While of course I can set a maximum budget for them, presumably they'll simply aim to charge that amount. However, asking them to pause after the design stage to allow getting a quote from TF Company B seems, well, rude. If I go via an architect for design, what input and when in the process would be best from a TF company to ensure efficiency in buildability (e.g. what are their standard panel sizes, joist spans...). I'm guessing that without an intial design most TF companies won't be interested in a conversation?

I have contacted the following companies for quotes, but I was wondering if there were any others that anyone might be able to recommend from personal experience? Also any personal experience with the companies below would be greatly appreciated. The site is based in the South East, just outside Reading. Companies contacted: English Brothers Merronbrook MBC Fleming Vision Development (https://www.timber-frame-suppliers.co.uk/) Timber Frame Tech (https://timberframetech.co.uk/) Frame Technologies (https://www.frametechnologies.co.uk/)

Hello, I am about to start off of a self build project for a 300 sqm house in Devon. I am completely new to the construction industry, all be it, I do have a fair amount of First and Second Fix experience from small projects I have done on weekends for friends and family. For the past year, whilst we've been waiting on planning, I have got a quote from about 10 different timber frame companies, as i have been searching for on that will offer me the most complete kit package at a cost effective rate [not the cheapest necessarily]. Now we have planning I have narrowed it down to four people to provide the timber frame kit, and wanted to see what other people's experience had been with them. 1) Scotframe - offer the most in terms of supply of materials, down to internal joinery [doors, skirting stairs etc] but not so much in erection, ie they don't erect internal studwork walls. Also they are a large company, and some people have said you just become a number in their system once you have placed the order. 2) Fleming Homes - again Scottish, however smaller, only make 70 homes per year, you deal directly with the MD once you place the order, and they do offer more in terms of erection, they do erect all internal stud walls. However they do not offer the internal joinery items. 3) All Timber Frame (Crediton) - small unit again, make 50 houses per year, they supply all fermacell board fitted to external walls, including electrical conduit in these walls, and one board fitted on all internal walls, all internal walls are erected. Downside, is their wall insulation system for the external walls is maybe not as sophisticated as Scot frames etc, but their 235 wall system does meet U Value of .17 i think. 4) The Timber Frame Company (TTFC) - Irish Out fit, offer the most complete package, with all internal and external walls conduited for electrics and boarded, they say that the house build is 75% complete when they leave site. I cant find many people that have used them or how much work they have done in the UK. Can anyone on this forum offer me advice or feedback on any of these companies to help me make my decision? Thank you