Where do we start with timber frame extensions? Their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years and interest in the home improvement method just keeps on rising.
In this blog post, we’re going to be giving you the rundown on timber-built extensions, so you can decide if one of these would be ideal for you.
Let’s not waste any more time and get straight into it. So, if you have a spare five minutes, keep on reading.
What is a Timber Frame Extension
When we’re talking about timber frame extensions, we are essentially talking about building a wooden extension on a brick house.
What you hear is what you get – a home extension using timber instead of the traditional bricks and mortar.
Why would you do this? Well, there are a handful of reasons why you may want to build a timber frame home extension, such as:
- Your home extension could be built faster
- Often more energy efficient than standard extensions
- Building with timber offers different benefits, as opposed to building with brick
- Could disrupt your day-to-day life less than regular home extension construction
Do You Need Planning Permission For a Timber Frame Extension
The short answer is, maybe. Through permitted development rights, you may be able to build a wooden extension without planning permission.
So it’s worth doing some research on permitted development rights and then seeing if your ideal timber extension meets the restrictions and requirements.
To get started, check out our earlier blog posts on extensions and planning permission (the same information in these blogs can be applied to timber frame extensions): ‘CAN I BUILD A TWO-STOREY EXTENSION WITHOUT PLANNING PERMISSION?’ and ‘DO YOU NEED PLANNING PERMISSION FOR A SINGLE-STOREY EXTENSION?’
Finding the Right Builder to Build Your Timber Frame Extension
Building a timber frame extension is best achieved when you work with a construction company that has the experience and capacity to do so.
At Bespoke Construction Group, for example, we have built some excellent timber frame home extensions for our past customers.
If you know of a company you want to work with but are unsure if they offer timber frame construction as part of their services, check their website and social media to see if they mention wooden extensions anywhere. Or you could get in touch with them and ask directly.
Timber Frame Extension Construction
When it comes time to build your timber frame home extension, you’ll see first-hand just how time effective building a wooden frame extension can be.
As long as you’ve made a good decision, regarding the construction company you’re working with, there are a few ways the extension building process can be sped up using timber, including:
- The fact that timber is a more lightweight material, making it easier to work with and quicker to assemble
- If needed, larger or more complex pieces of your timber frame can be assembled off-site and delivered to your home/site
- After a timber extension’s foundations are set, it will get to a watertight stage faster, leading to internal work being started sooner than usual
Timber Vs Brick
Which is better, building with brick or building with timber? There is no clear answer to this question as each build is different and has different goals and desires, so let’s run through some quick benefits of each.
If you choose a timber-built extension:
- Building a wooden frame extension will likely be quicker than building an extension using brick
- Wooden extensions make for a more ecologically friendly home construction project (more on this later)
- A timber frame home extension could be more affordable
If you choose a brick-built extension:
- An extension built with brick may retain more heat than a timber extension
- Brick is believed to be a more durable building material
- Building with brick is the standard go-to choice – why try to reinvent the wheel?
To answer the question, reach your own conclusion by noting down everything you want out of your construction project and picking the most suitable option.
Is Building With Timber Ecologically Friendly?
As far as sustainability is concerned, timber is an excellent building material to use for your new extension. That’s because timber is a sustainable material – when a tree is taken down to produce timber, another tree can be planted in its place.
In regards to energy efficiency, building with timber is proving to be a promising avenue to achieving housing that is more efficient with its energy use.
There are even discussions that indicate building with timber can help fight climate change.
Final Thoughts
A timber frame extension can offer you heaps of benefits, along with the standard advantages an extension provides, such as enlarging your home.
What it all comes down to is will a timber frame home extension be right for you.
If you’re considering building a wooden frame extension, talk to our team today – we can offer you our opinion and ultimately help you decide the best approach for your unique construction project.
