Would you buy a new build timber framed house?

Kace2022

Wanted to seek people's opinions of new builds made of timber frame.   Terraced housing that is.

Aside from the reduced fire resistance compared to brick, are there any other alarm bells based off people's experience with them (on new builds specifically?

Cheers

koalakoala

I’ve had one and loved it. But it was detached, so not sure how soundproofed a terrace would be

theartfullodger

If the price is right. (Only real test on buying or selling)

Look at all those medieval timber frame buildings that are still around.

andy444

If it was detached then no issue at all.

But if it adjoins another property then you may have an issue of poor sound proofing. 

Norman_Castle

Be interesting to know how a brick built compares to a timber framed property. Surely building regulations would expect the same standards from both.

Norman_Castle

theartfullodger said:

Look at all those medieval timber frame buildings that are still around.

They're massively outnumbered by the ones that have gone and those that remain are normally Oak.

I like old houses but it is odd we can spend many thousands propping up, re roofing, insulating, re wiring, re configuring 100+ year old buildings when lifestyles and building materials have moved on so much.

SallyDucati

I live in one!  Heating bills are much less than my previous 50s brick built 2 bed flat.  Don’t hear any noise from nextdoor (semi) and have not heard anyone on the estate complain about it.

With the building regulations of today I’m sure it will stand the rest of time,  the render will probably need repainting at some point but not for years.

My sister lived in a brick built new build - sound insulation was nowhere near as good.

[Deleted User]

Terrace is a bit of a disappointment, but wood framed is great.

FreeBear

Kace2022 said: Aside from the reduced fire resistance compared to brick

I've had a few off-cuts of constructional timber that I tried to burn in the stove. It was difficult to light and very slow burning - This stuff is treated with all sorts of chemicals.. I wouldn't be worried about the place burning down (that's what insurance is for).

In a conventional brick building, you'll still have timber floors, and quite a bit of timber in the roof. Stud walls will also have timber framing, so plenty to burn in the (unlikely) event of a fire.

scottishblondie

Yes, I did buy one in 2012.  A 3 storey mid terrace townhouse, timber framed with a brick skin.  The soundproofing was excellent, I could only hear the odd noise.  Timer framed has been pretty normal in Scotland since the 60s or 70s.

MalMonroe

Well, my friends in Australia built a house out of hay bales, so I guess a wood construction in the UK would be safe enough. Their house is still standing 25 years later and is also still withstanding very high temperatures, droughts, torrential rain and electric storms. It's a massive property in five acres surrounded by trees and a lot of grassland which you'd think would be a major fire risk but isn't.

So what I'm trying to say is yes, I would.

I don't think that there will be 'reduced fire resistance' because I doubt that building regulations will allow that to be the case in any new build these days. Why should your safety be any less important than that of people living in brick built properties? It won't be. In fact, if you check with the builder/developer, they will probably be more than happy to tell you all about the regulations and also how they build their properties.