According to the National Custom and Self Build Association, structural timber is the most popular building system with a market share of just over 40%. Coming in second place is brick and block, which has a market share of 35%. Over the next two months, I’ll explain why these methods are both so popular and what you need to know when building with these systems. This month I’ll focus on timber frame and SIPs.
WHAT IS A TIMBER BUILDING SYSTEM?
A timber building system is the structural chassis of the house and incorporates all the building elements to form a coherent engineered building structure (panelised walls, floors and roof trusses), which is known as the structural thermal envelope. Timber building systems are popular with self-builders due to their attributes of speed and flexibility to match pretty much most architectural designs. As with any product manufactured in a factory, they come with a host of accreditations and certificates to prove they’re durable, safe in use and comply with the requirements of the building regulations. The principal advantages of using a timber building system are:
Single point of responsibility for the entire timber building system — no opportunity for blaming someone else if mistakes are made
Fast construction time — making the build quicker and easier to manage
Manufactured in a controlled factory environment — thereby ensuring quality
Reduced labour hours on site — simplifying site management and risk of accidents
thereby saving money
