Frequently Asked Questions:
- DO YOU HAVE A CONTACT AREA WHERE I CAN FIND OUT MORE?
- DO YOU HAVE A SET BUILD PROCEDURE?
- DOES HOT OR VERY COLD WEATHER AFFECT TIMBER FRAME HOUSES?
- GOOD BUILDING PRACTICE
- HOW LONG WOULD A HOUSE TAKE TO BUILD AND MOVE INTO?
- I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT TERMITES CAN DESTROY TIMBER BUILDINGS – IS IT TRUE?
- I WANT TO EXTEND MY HOME CAN I USE A TIMBER FRAME KIT?
- I WOULD LOVE TO BUILD MY OWN - BUT I DON’T KNOW IF I AM CAPABLE. WHERE CAN I GET HELP?
- IS TIMBER FRAME AN ECOLOGICAL METHOD OF BUILDING?
- WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TIMBER FRAME FOR A SELF-BUILD PROJECT?
DO YOU HAVE A CONTACT AREA WHERE I CAN FIND OUT MORE?
Yes, we have several websites or you can contact us by email or leave a question on our website www.timberengineeringeurope.com. You can also make enquiries through the Forum on this website. Whatever method you choose, we answer your query as quickly as possible.
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DO YOU HAVE A SET BUILD PROCEDURE?
We do have “How to guides” and a set building pattern template available. We will discuss all aspects of your project with you prior to order and as soon as you become a TEE client, all this information is available to you free of charge.
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DOES HOT OR VERY COLD WEATHER AFFECT TIMBER FRAME HOUSES?
Not at all! The technology we use and the way we build make timber frame the best option in
extreme weather conditions. Most defects in property built in Spain and Portugal using
traditional methods are caused by the materials used, and the way they are incorporated into
the building. Believe it or not Spain suffers very high damp ingress and major condensation
problems. The reason for this is because they do not build in a clear cavity, or install
damp proof membranes. They do not use insulation or even a damp proof course. ALL these
components MUST be incorporated into a building. Timber Frame is used extensively
In hot countries and in very cold countries and provided it is built correctly there are
rarely any problems. Because we incorporate all the components mentioned, plus heat barriers
our houses remain cool in summer and warm in winter and fuel costs are lowered considerably.
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GOOD BUILDING PRACTICE
THIS NOTICE APPEARED ON OUR NOTICE BOARDS IN OUR UK FACTORY IN THE
U.K
Dated: 16. 04. 2005.
GOOD BUILDING PRACTICE by: Chris Thorpe
The term GOOD BUILDING PRACTICE applies to the industry from the design
concept of a project to completion of the development. It simply means that a design, practice,
or operation concerning a construction, should be undertaken to the highest standards.
Although there are strict rules governing building control such as Building
Regulations and Robust Detail Compliance – these should be considered to be
the minimal standards that we at Timber Engineering Europe comply with during
the course of our day to day activities.
GOOD BUILDING PRACTICE is a standard, which exceeds or includes a contribution or a procedure that is not called for within Building Regulations , Robust Detail or any other International Code.
GOOD BUILDING PRACTICE is common sense, application and removal of doubt. Many times this may be referred to as “Over-Engineering”. Although this may sometimes be the case, we must always aim to improve our products and services.
Because all buildings are different, the rules and regulations laid down may not necessarily cover a particular design, although the designer will have complied in the areas he is responsible for and noted his instructions on a drawing. The building is however reliant on you to translate the respective rules and where necessary in the absence of instruction, use your experience, that of others and logic by applying GOOD BUILDING PRACTICE.
The expression QUALITY BUILDING does not necessarily mean that the property has an expensive bathroom, kitchen, fixtures & fittings. This term is also applied to a property that has been built in accordance with GOOD BUILDING PRACTICE. Care, consideration and application are therefore a major contribution to being recognised as a quality builder who will always engage in GOOD BUILDING PRACTICE.
All new contributions to Timber Engineering Europe GOOD BUILDING PRACTICE manual will be the included and implemented if they help to improve our services and products and especially if they benefit our clients.
If you can identify any improvements to our systems, having regard to the foregoing information using GOOD BUILDING PRACTICE applications, please advise Peter Stuart or Chris Thorpe.
If in doubt, don’t use it - If it improves it, adopt it.
Timber Engineering Europe
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HOW LONG WOULD A HOUSE TAKE TO BUILD AND MOVE INTO?
We need 8 weeks to design, manufacture and deliver your kit to site. An average 4 bed house takes us 5-6 days to erect and then its up to you how fast you go, but the average completion time is usually 12-14 weeks including erecting the timber frame.
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I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT TERMITES CAN DESTROY TIMBER BUILDINGS – IS IT TRUE?
Yes, this is true – but we do not produce timber buildings. All our timbers are treated with a vacuum impregnated water-borne boron based preservative and to press, no complaints! All the timbers we use are also dried in special kilns to specified moisture content that prevents rot.
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I WANT TO EXTEND MY HOME CAN I USE A TIMBER FRAME KIT?
Yes you can. It is very easy and a very clean way of extending living space. We have also converted bungalows into 2 floor houses very economically. If more space is required, you can use attic trusses and this is a very economical method of utilising wasted space.
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I WOULD LOVE TO BUILD MY OWN - BUT I DON’T KNOW IF I AM CAPABLE. WHERE CAN I GET HELP?
This is a common feeling and like anything you try for the first time there is natural apprehension. We can supply several different packages from basic help to full build, so you needn’t be worried at the prospect of self -build. As soon as you become a TEE client, we stay with you until your job is done. We are available 7 days a week 9am till 9pm to answer any questions or to advise you during the course of your project, free of charge. If you request site attendance a moderate fee will be charged but any charges will all have been agreed with you prior to placing your order with us. Look at our build options on this website or go to www.timberengineeringeurope.com for more information on this subject.
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IS TIMBER FRAME AN ECOLOGICAL METHOD OF BUILDING?
We take our corporate social responsibility very seriously, and this area is of great importance to us. ALL our timbers are purchased from renewable supplies in Northern Europe, Scandinavia and Canada. Everything is certificated on a “chain of custody” and for every two trees harvested, three are replanted and every year an area equivalent to the area of Cyprus is added to forests globally. Besides lowering carbon emissions over the full life of the house, very low carbon emissions (embodied energy) are generated in making the timber frames. Strength for strength concrete requires 5 times more embodied energy than wood and steel 6 times more. Our website www.timberengineeringeurope.com explains our philosophy and commitment to ecological and environmental responsibility.
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WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TIMBER FRAME FOR A SELF-BUILD PROJECT?
Certainly, this method of construction is favoured by self-builders because once we have erected the timber frame, including separating walls floors and roof superstructure, finishing it ready for occupation is fairly simple as all the hard work has been done by us. In the UK alone 20,000 self-build projects are undertaken every year, and this accounts for around 13% of all new-build starts each year. Most self-builders consider that they saved between 30% and 40% of the cost of buying a new house on the open market.
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