Timber frame home insurance (2024)

FAQs

What is the life expectancy of a timber frame house? ›

With proper construction and maintenance, timber frames can easily surpass 100 years. Many examples worldwide have exceeded 400+ years. What is the shortest lifespan of a timber frame? Lack of maintenance can shorten the lifespan to 25 years or less.

Price Difference

The main drawback to timber frame structures is the cost. Since each piece of timber needs to be precut exactly to fit, the cost of a timber frame package is more than twice the cost of the framing package of a stud framed structure.

Tap test: Tapping the interior plastered wall surface in a number of places should produce a hollow sound. You are tapping on plasterboard mounted to timber studs so this will sound different to the solid sensation of tapping on a cavity wall.

Building a healthy wood frame structure is problematic because they are susceptible to moisture in the wall systems. Moisture can cause mold, which may cause allergic and asthmatic reactions in some people. Wood-frame buildings may also contain chemicals, adhesives, and volatile organic compounds (VOC).

As long as it is kept protected and/or dry, wooden construction can last centuries. I lived in a restored farmhouse in Essex that had 300 year old timbers in its construction that were still ini perfect condition.

Some Principal Hazards and Risks

Cuts and splinters are also important. Collapse of incorrectly stacked material or inadequately supported components. Falls from height during installation. Health hazards caused by wood preservatives, adhesives, resins, treated timber and wood dust.

Timber frame constructions make use of timber studs inside the external structural walls to bear the load of the rest of the building, and transmit this load to the foundations of the building.

According to the NAHB, timber frame homes typically have a higher fire tolerance, can absorb the impact and flex of strong seismic conditions and can stand up to hurricane- and tornado-force winds better than other construction types.

A timber frame requires less wood than a conventional frame, but the pieces will be much larger and have a higher cost. There are many wood species options to choose from when timber framing. Some of the more common wood species used are Douglas fir, Hemlock, Oak, Pine, and Cedar.

Is timber frame energy efficient? In short, timber frame is one of the most energy efficient methods of construction available today. Modern Building Regulations require all new houses to achieve a proscribed minimum level of energy efficiency and these days the regulations really are quite stringent.

What is the best wood frame for a house? ›

The ideal types of wood for timber framing include bald cypress, Port Orford cedar, western red cedar, and eastern white pine. Bald cypress is a popular choice for wetter climates due to its moderate resistance to decay.

Building a timber frame home from start to home completion takes the same amount of time as a conventionally built custom house of the same size. For a simple 2500 square foot home this means anywhere from 6-9 months of actual construction from excavation to Certificate of Occupancy.

One drawback using timber is that it requires a lot of maintenance. As with most things over a length of time if not treated properly, timber can suffer and rot can set in. Timber frames will rot if they have not been built properly or they are exposed to moisture on a regular basis.

A timber frame uses a frame structure of large posts & beams that are joined with pegs or other types of decorative joinery instead of the 2X4-stud “stick frames” that are typically used in tract homes.

Timber frame homes are strong.

According to the NAHB, timber frame homes typically have a higher fire tolerance, can absorb the impact and flex of strong seismic conditions and can stand up to hurricane- and tornado-force winds better than other construction types.

Most timbers will last over 50 years if they are indoors and protected from insect attacks and moisture.

The most critical thing we recommend is to make sure you conduct regular check-ups, visually inspecting the wood for any changes. One thing you should watch out for is exposed and faded timbers. As soon as you notice the first sign of fading, it means it's time to reapply stain.

(Long-Term Biogenic Carbon Storage, n.d.). This topic also highlights the importance of designing mass timber buildings with lifespans that exceed the typical 60–100 year average building lifespan.