Timber has been used for centuries to build some of the earliest human habitats and later, public buildings. But over time, concrete, steel, and masonry became favoured building materials because they were mass-produced with little regard for the damage it was doing to the environment.
Environmental
Timber frame construction helps tackle climate change
The carbon savings from building a timber frame house compared to a masonry-built house are significant.
A typical 100 square metre two-storey detached timber frame house will contain 5-6 cubic metres more wood than the equivalent masonry house. So, every timber frame house that we build saves about 4 tonnes of carbon dioxide (about the same amount produced by driving 14,000 miles).
If all new houses built in the UK since 1945 had been built with timber frame they would have saved more than 300 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Timber frame houses reduce energy use and energy bills
In addition to the environmental benefits of building with timber frame are the long-term energy savings that it brings.
Our open and closed panel systems will achieve U-values between 0.19 and down to 0.16 W/m2/K with our higher performance insulation and insulating breather membranes which contribute toward Part L compliance and help to reduce carbon emissions and significantly lower running costs and bills.
Environmental benefits from using timber frame
- Timber is an organic, non-toxic and naturally renewable building material
- While global deforestation remains an issue, it is not caused by the European construction industry which mainly uses softwood
- Over 90% of all wood consumed in Europe is sourced from European forests
- UK timber frame uses 99% European softwood
- The total carbon sequestered in Europe’s forests is over 9.5 million tonnes
- The more wood we use, the more forests grow because European forests plant two trees for every one harvested
- Every year our forests grow by over 3,500 square miles – the size of Cyprus
- Mature trees absorb far less carbon dioxide and produce less oxygen than younger trees. Older trees are therefore harvested for construction.
Recent projects
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
We would love to hear about your project. Whether you have full architectural plans, outline sketches or you would simply like to find out more about timber frame and our range of services, please get in touch by completing the form below or by calling us on 01403 782 600.
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