Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Much Does It Cost?
This is definitely the most frequently asked question, and it is often the first, but it is also one of the hardest to answer. The final cost of a house is obviously a function of it’s size however identical houses can have dramatically different square foot rates depending largely on three key variables, the site conditions, it’s location and the choice of finishes. For example sloping sites are more expensive to build on than level ones, labour rates can vary considerably throughout the country, and a roof fixed with new Cornish Delabole slate may look very nice but it will cost at least seven times more than if concrete tiles were used. That said, what we can indicate is that Avalon Timber Frame Homes’ customers who use our full specification usually spend between £900 - £1100 / sq m on their finished homes.
2. How Long Does It Take?
Again the size and complexity of the design will have a bearing, but if we take a fairly typical house of about 2,300 square feet, the following timetable of events takes place. Planning permission having been gained the design has to go to our structural engineer. When we have received his calculations the design is broken up into its’ different parts which are then individually drawn. These drawings are then used by our staff in the factory to fabricate the frame. The engineering, drawing and manufacturing processes take about six weeks. It is during this period that the ground works can be undertaken. Once our frame arrives on site, a gang of four will erect the entire frame structure and make it weather tight i.e fix external joinery and felt and batten the roof, in about three to four weeks.
3. Can You Supply And Erect My Timber Frame Despite Being Hundreds Of Miles From Devon?
Yes! We build homes throughout the U.K, in Southern Ireland, in the Channel Islands and on the Continent.
4. With What Can You Clad The Timber Frame?
The simple answer is anything, so the external appearance will reflect your preference, and will be in harmony with the plot and the design of the building.
5. How Environmentally Friendly Are Your Buildings?
For many of our clients, the desire to live in a thermally efficient home is one of the prime motivations behind choosing a timber framed home. With timber frame high insulation levels can be easily achieved and at a cost that is highly competitive compared to other means of construction. The Avalon System 184, the U rating for that (system with a 50mm cavity and brick clad is 0.23 W/m2). Obviously the more insulated the home the less energy will be needed to run it, thus saving you money on an on going basis. Also, savings may be possible in the choice of heating system that needs to be installed.
When using timber frame the house builder is making use of a renewable resource. The timber Avalon Timber Frame Homes uses in the manufacture of its’ timber frames comes from managed forests in Scandinavia, where up to five times more trees are planted than are cut down. Also, compared with other building materials such as steel or concrete, timber uses less energy in its’ production. So not only is less energy needed in the finished home, but less energy [ and pollution ] is created in the build process.
We are increasingly being asked to provide extra environmentally friendly elements within our buildings. Using shredded newspaper or sheep’s wool as insulation materials can easily be incorporated within our timber frames, while we can also make use of non-toxic preservatives on the timber. Unfortunately these elements do cost more than more ‘traditional’ materials.
Avalon Timber Frame Homes buildings are also ideally suited to the fitting of solar panels, or the incorporating of a windmill to generate the whole house’s energy needs. We would be delighted to discuss your particular requirements, the package is designed to be flexible, to be able to incorporate exactly the features the client wants.
6. Which Company Supplies Your External Joinery?
Swedish triple glazing is included within the Avalon Timber Frame Homes standard quotation, supplied either by Tanums Fonster or Elit Fonster. We have used their windows and doors for a number of years because we have found the quality and reliability to be excellent. The joinery comes fully factory finished in a choice of paints or stains, with aluminium cladding or frame as an additional option.
7. Why Do You Use Fermacell As Your Walling Board?
We use fermacell on all our external and internal wall panels simply because it is a better product than plasterboard. Being denser it has superior thermal and acoustic qualities, it also gives the structure extra strength due to it’s racking resistance capabilities. The strength of the board means that kitchen units, toilets etc. can be fixed to the walls in any position without reference to where the panel studs are located. Using fermacell also eliminates the need for service noggins being installed on site.
8. Where Can We View Some Of Your Homes?
We do not have any show homes, instead we have ‘real’ homes recently completed or still under construction, where the owners’ would be delighted to show around their homes. In this way you get to talk to our clients and can ask them the questions you really want to ask! We would be delighted to arrange such a visit, so just give us a ring.
9. When Do We Pay For The Timber Frame Package?
We always try to be flexible, so that if the client has a mortgage lender who will only release monies at certain stages, we will try to tie in our invoices to the lender’s schedule. Whatever the exact details there will typically be five different payments; an initial deposit, a sum on the production of the structural drawings, a third payment when the frame arrives on site, followed by one when the frame has been erected, and finally a payment when the loose materials have been delivered.
10. Can You Provide A Quote Based On Our Own Architect’s Drawings?
Yes, although we have our own architect, we would be delighted to provide you with a quote based on your own design. Currently about 35% of the projects we are involved with are from designs other than our own.
11. How Long Will The Building Last?
There is no reason to think that a timber frame home will not last as long as one built in any other material. The existence of thousands of timber buildings dating from the middle ages is testament to the durability of timber as a means of structural support. Nowadays of course we use wood preservatives to protect the timber against decay caused either by moisture or insect ‘attack’. Indeed we can protect against a specific beetle etc. that may be prevalent in your specific area. All the timber used carries a guarantee.
12. How Easy Is It To Project Manage The Build?
The Avalon Timber Frame Homes closed panel system has been specifically designed with the client who wishes to manage the project themselves in mind. Being a closed panel there is considerably less work that needs to be organized and carried out on site. We also offer our clients a very inclusive timber frame package. We are able to supply nearly all the materials that will be needed to complete your home, delivered to the site as and when they are required. Again this means that there is less for the client to organize. We are always there to offer advice and to answer any questions, so the client never feels that they have been left to sort things out for themselves. The relationships we develop with our clients mean that we are there to help until the home has been finished
