Building structure

Queenwombat

Trying to sort out home insurance for a property we are buying. The external walls are approximately 60% timber frame with rendered cement board. The first floor of which is cladded in zinc. The other 50% is stone. With no cladding. Do I need a broker to get the best deal? On price comparison sites the nearest options seem to be “timber frame with plasterboard” or timber frame with brick”. The cost of the former is double the latter. Tia.

DullGreyGuy

Insurers typically want to know what the structure is made of rather than the dressing, so what is under the zinc on the first floor?

It can be worth speaking to a broker but few decent home insurance brokers exist these days if you aren't in the "mid net worth" or above category. If you look for non-standard construction home insurance and speak to some of those that turn up and let them decide if you fit in their standard or non-standard option. 

Could speak to NFU, they are used to dealing with multi-construction properties. 

Also put it through with the best interpretation on the aggregators and speak to the best options before buying from them and confirm they're happy with the construction type. With multi-method properties they typically want to know the largest proportion and can accept a later extension is something else etc.