TIMBER FRAMED HOUSING

The structure of a timber frame house

A masonry building and a timber frame will both have timber flooring and timber roof, and often the internal walls too. A timber frame building also uses structural quality timber to provide an engineered framework of internal and external walls to provide a long lasting, durable building with a life expectancy matching a masonry building.

The illustration (right) indicates a timber frame structure:

(1) : Inner lining of plasterboard
(2) : Structural timber frame
(3) : Stainless steel wall tie
(4) : Vapour check
(5) : Thick insulating quilt - CFC free
(6) : Sheathing board
(7) : Waterproof breather membrane
(8) : Brick or block outer cladding
(9) : Clear wall cavity

Information on Timber Framed House
The most common type of foundation is the continuous concrete strip formed centrally under load-bearing walls. The depth and foundation level of all foundations is dependent on the nature of the natural ground.

Rising walls
The sole plate, when used, can be fixed to the rising wall by means of stainless steel fixing clips located at 1200mm centres. The function of the sole plate is to:

Provide an accurate positioned base on which the timber frame and suspended ground floor are fixed.
Provide an accurate setting out template for the wall panels.
Provide a nailing plate for the timber panels or ground floor joists.
Secure and protect the DPC.

Sole plates should be pressure treated with preservatives

The cavity void in timber frame construction must be ventilated. This can be achieved by providing proprietary ventilators at 1500mm horizontal centres below DPC level in the external masonry leaf. These ventilators must be kept free of debris.

In certain cases the timber frame may need to be anchored into the external masonry leaf, by means of stainless steel straps fixed to full height studs. The bend at the bottom of the strap bridges the cavity and is embedded into a horizontal bed joint, generally in the course below DPC level. Straps are generally located at 1800mm centres, either side of openings and as close to external corners as possible.

Floor types
Timber-frame dwellings can be built with all the common types of ground floor. The selection of appropriate floor type will depend on a number of factors including:

End user requirements.