Have you built a timber framed house?

[Phil Pascoe]

I'm toying with having a timber framed house built - not an oak framed one, just an ordinary house. Has anyone here done it? I'm interested in cost per M2, any snags, hold ups, unforeseen expenses - I'm not bothered about the cost of kitchens or bathrooms, but the costs of septic tanks, bore holes and any form of electricity generation would be of value. I'm not out and out green, but I'm looking to minimise future bills - I'm 59. Swmbo is very dubious, and as she is also effectively my bank manager, I'm not going to be able to cover any cock ups - I cannot afford to come out of this with a mortgage or debts.
All offerings gratefully received, including snippets of information and off the cuff remarks - I've got plenty of thinking time at the moment.
Many thanks, Phil.



P.s. I'm not interested in site value.
P.p.s. I'll probably build a separate workshop.

 

[RogerS]

try the greenbuild forum.

 

[o0dunk0o]

I've built a few stick framed extensions, it's a great way to build.

After the slab goes in it goes up really quickly, we've had a 3m by 4m extension frame up in a week (single storey, roof trusses on and felted, insulation in) then it's just a case of the bickies catching up with the exterior skin whilst the first fix wiring and plumbing goes in. As for cost it's comprable to traditional methods but the insulation R value is higher.

 

[nev]

not a house, but my workshop. from a materials point of view, block vs timber worked out near enough the same. I can cut wood myself but i cant lay bricks so the labour costs were what decided it for me.

 

[DrPhill]

Have you considered a straw bale house? Providing you can lime render it seems a cheap and easy option. I did a lot of reading/research on the idea once, but was not brave enough to go for the self-build.

If I was handed enough cash I would seriously consider it. Incredibly good sound/heat insulation. Minimal skills needed. Main trick seems to be sourcing good quality bales....

 

[dickm]

If I was handed enough cash I would seriously consider it. Incredibly good sound/heat insulation. Minimal skills needed. Main trick seems to be sourcing good quality bales....

Can't imagine it will be easy getting quality bales this year - there's still stuff unharvested up here, and the price of straw is going up fast.

Haven't experienced building a timber house, but we live in one, made from a kit design by Hedlund from Sweden in 1999. From what locals have told me, it went up really quickly and it's incredibly efficient thermally. If the OP is interested, I have the name of their UK agent somewhere.
Like others, have built various sizes of wooden sheds; found it much easier if you can prefabricate panels somewhere flat and dry, rather than being weather dependent.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

From what I can gather, straw bale ones are great but have a seriously short life expectancy. I was thinking of buying in everything ready made, rather than doing it myself - a workshop would be different of course.

 

[John Brown]

My brother-in-law and his wife built a straw bale house on a beautiful mountainside site in Washingto State. It was very cool(in the summer - I think it was fairly warm in the winter). I seem to remember the raw materials cost him less than $5,000.
One of the major downsides is that you have to put up with a lot of three little pigs references.

 

[stuvy]

i bet after building it they were 'huffing and puffing'

Iv been on sites in the past and seen timber framed houses go up in three weeks which isnt very long at all

 

[beech1948]

a really modern approach would be to use SIP panels made up to spec in a factoryand delivered to site for erection.

I also know that house plans can be bought from these people. I don't know if you would need an Architect /builders labour etc but worth exploring.

I'm moving next year and don't expect to work out of a double garage any more so I am seeing if I can have a SIP build workshop constructed.

Al

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes, this is the route I'm looking to take - when the time comes, there's a firm about a mile from me that I shall visit (I might wangle a workshop as well!) I can't see any need for an architect - their drawings are going to be accurate.

 

[Pond]

I am in negs to build a house at present.

I looked seriously into the pros and cons of timber framed V SIP v standard masonry.

I will be building with brick and block as the only advantage I can find for timber is the speed of getting it weathertight.

They worked out to be more expensive, mortgage lenders are still very conservative and don't like lending against them. They could be tricky to re-sell for the same reason. Council planning departments can also be very conservative; ours don't like them.