Extension - Timber frame vs Brick

stuart45

If I was doing a small, single storey extension to a traditional brick built house, I'd use a brick/block construction.
One of the advantages of timber frame construction is that the walls and roof can go on quick and be watertight. With a small extension this isn't so important.
As the panels for the walls are factory made, the timing for construction is important. If the foundations take longer than anticipated, the panels can be laying around on site for weeks, or if they arrive too late it affects all the other trades.
It could be done the American way, using the stick method instead.

mrbios

greensalad said:

What are the cost differences of timber frame vs brick? I'm curious about this too because we have an extension plan in our future (to replace leaky conservatory) and were considering whether timber frame would be cheaper. Upstairs dormer extension is already timber framed with brown felt tiles, but we were considering an extension clad in weatherboard cladding and then getting the dormer updated to match (as most other houses in the close with dormer extensions have weatherboard cladding rather than felt tiles and I think they look much nicer). I assumed this would probably be cheaper than blockwork. 

I've just had a quote back today, I'd asked them to quote purely for the ground to roof "water tight" build, no finishing with the exception of a waste connection for a toilet which involves some garden digup... builder has quoted (These prices are inc vat) £30k for the timber frame option, or £37k for brick and block.

I think on that basis I'm going to go with the former as that's a huge saving. I'm also slightly time conscious as we're expecting in April, and currently don't have enough bedrooms... downside to having 3 kids each 6 years apart, as i can't room them together very easily lol 

In answer to some of the questions:
We're a corner plot that's quite well set back from the road, it wouldn't be all that visible, so i guess I'm worrying over nothing really. I think i just need to look at a list of the external finishing options and choose the one that i like. I think I'm just worried about it look like a giant shed lol

Bendy_House

What external finish does the quoted timber option come in?

Classic Tyvek?

Bendy_House

Mr B, any chance of a photo showing the side where the ext will go? I bet folk will have some interesting opinions on a suitable finish

mrbios

Bendy_House said:

Mr B, any chance of a photo showing the side where the ext will go? I bet folk will have some interesting opinions on a suitable finish

Sorry bit of a delay getting back, it's been an interesting week of developments... As it now turns out, i think we're scrapping the single storey extension idea and we're now going to go two storey AND extend out into the garden about 4-5 meters. Turning the ground floor of the extension into a "granny annex" for my parents to live in (they're currently in a 3rd floor flat and starting to struggle with the stairs...and desperately wanting a garden back) utilising their savings and some equity to do the construction. Then breaking through the top floor of the house to add two more bedrooms and an additional toilet to our space, one bedroom will be a spare room for toys/storage i guess.

Quite a drastic change from where i was with this a week ago, and with all that in mind, due to the scale of it i think we're going to revert back to brick and block for the whole thing. Not that i minded timber, it was cheaper and more sustainable. I might look at the option of timber + faced with brick though perhaps.... will see what builders say, as of the 4 i've seen I now need them all to come back and quote again

Bendy_House

Wow, quite a change MrB!

Good that you are open to construction options. My gut says, tho', that if you want a matching brick finish, then build it in brick!

Have you looked into the 'legalities' of your proposal? A potential minefield.

Planning, for instance, will be less straight-forward as soon as you mention 'annex'. (In my personal experience). Also how will your parents' assets be protected in their new home?  What will happen when then need proper care that might not be possible at 'home'? How will they be able to release the equity of their home? How can they prevent you from evicting them...!

It's a lovely idea, and I hope it works out for you all, but it needs proper advice and guidance.