Self Build Timber Frame structure – Stages of Build

Preliminaries

• Ensure your Building Regulation application has been lodged.
• Arrange necessary site and structural insurances we guide you in the right direction of who to contact.

Health and Safety

• Provide proper toilet facilities – we recommend that you use facilities that are maintained weekly by the supplier (you don’t need to worry about this too!).
• Ensure that members of the public are kept off your site by providing temporary fencing.

Storage

• If you have no secure storage available, a lockable store for tools and equipment is worth considering

Entrance and Access

• Hardcore may be needed for easy access to your site / crane hard standing

Water and Electricity Supply

• Water is essential: where will you find yours on site?
• Heavy duty tools need electricity: you may need to arrange for a temporary supply or hire a generator (you may also need a transformer for 110 volts)

Space Planning

• Arrange delivery of materials to come in phases to avoid overcrowding the site
• Also consider space for a skip

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Always remember that an ‘estimate’ is not a quotation and you should obtain a written quotation since this is a fixed, binding figure and should define the scope of the works to be completed. With the large majority of trades, you should obtain quotations for ‘Labour and Materials’, unless you have a specific reason not to do so. An example of an exception to this is brickwork, which is almost always ‘Labour’ only Always check with each subcontractor exactly what is included and what is excluded from their package. You may need to provide materials for some subcontract trades. Ensure these are ordered in good time. Don’t forget to check they have the correct insurances in place!

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Setting Out

• It is essential that your foundations are correctly located on your plot in accordance with your planning approval.

Foundations

• It is our recommendation that the foundations are purpose designed for each individual dwelling.
• Survey the ground conditions to establish the best foundation method for your site

Structural Floor, Insulation and Floor Finishes

• Structural floor or SSL generally refers to the structural ground floor upon which the TIMBER FRAME structure will be constructed, and which will receive the final floor finish.
• Building Regulations require the use of insulation in the ground floor

Drainage

• It is advisable to consult your Ground worker about the timing of drainage installation

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Always choose and agree a price with a qualified, recommended scaffolder. Internal features may also require additional scaffolding, such as vaulted ceilings and galleried hallways. It is advisable to lay a hardcore strip around the outside of your house in order to provide a firm base for scaffold. A scaffolder is not obliged to erect a scaffold if he considers the ground to be unsuitable. This could cause unnecessary delays. No one should be allowed on the scaffolding until it is complete and a certificate issued (by the scaffolder).

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Erection Service

• It is essential that the groundwork is complete and checked for accuracy prior to delivery

Sole Plates

• It is essential that the timber sole plates are accurately laid. Any faults at this stage will be magnified as each storey is erected.

Timber Frame Panels

• These will make up the internal and external walls of your home.

Intermediate Floors

• These comprise of joists, deck and beams as applicable.

Roof Structure

• Typically roof trusses.

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First Fix Carpentry

With a timber frame structure loose timbers (noggins) that are typically required for services.  Any that are required should be fixed by your carpenter to support electrical sockets, plasterboard, kitchen units etc. Try to fix all window sill boards from underneath at this stage; they can quite easily be screwed, thereby avoiding any holes and filling on the top face.

1st Fix Plumbing and Electrical Services

The installation of all cabling and pipe work. It is essential that cutting / drilling of the timber frame structure be carried out in strict accord with the Frame Build UK Construction Details. MAKE SURE YOUR CONTRACTOR IS AWARE! Liaison with your electrician, plumber, kitchen and sanitary ware supplier is essential to ensure correct provision of timber supports. Ensure that electrical box supports are fitted in accordance with the building regulations.

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By choosing your Factory Insulated TIMBER FRAME home we will have dealt with almost all of the external insulation requirements.

Thermal / Acoustic Insulation

• It is the responsibility of the builder or project manager to provide insulation to all areas in accordance with the SAP and thermal calculations.
• No gaps should exist around insulation in walls, ceilings and roofs NOT A PROBLEM WITH FACTORY FITTED INSULATED TIMBER FRAMES.
• If insulation is broken or is poorly fitted between studs, ceiling joists or roof joists, permitting a gap at sides or ends, thermal and acoustic performance can be adversely affected – roofs NOT A PROBLEM WITH FACTORY FITTED INSULATED TIMBER FRAMES.
• To meet Building Regulations, walls around all bathrooms and WC’s, including soil stacks, should be fully insulated.

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“Drylining is a relatively dry process compared with traditional plastering”

Fixing

Plasterboard used on walls and ceilings is an internal finish which is a fundamental structural element offering an appropriate degree of fire and acoustic performance. Plasterboard must be fixed in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations, usually by screw fixing directly to the TIMBER FRAME panels and or directly to the timber internal walls. The joints should then be taped, filled and smoothed. Plasterboard for walls should be taper edged for a taped and jointed system, but for ceilings can be either taper edged or square edged dependent on the final decorative finish.

Storage

Storage of plasterboard must adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions. Care must be taken not to overload upper floors. It is not advisable to put any more than 12-14 sheets of 12.5mm plasterboard in any one stack.

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These are the different claddings that are available:

• Brick
• Stone
• Render
• Timber
• Zinc
• Tiles
• Rainscreen claddings

Roof Finishes

Tiles

Interlocking concrete tiles are large format and are generally the most cost effective. Plain tiles may be concrete or clay and they cover an average of sixty to the square meter, and so have a consequential increased labour cost. Plain tiles are often used for tile hanging.

Slate

May be stone, quarried slate or man-made. Man-made slates are available and are made from either fibre and cement or moulded with a mixture of slate dust and glass fibre resin.

Fixing

Frame Build UK houses can accommodate most types of roof covering. If you intend to use natural or man-made slate it is important that details are agreed prior to the structure construction. Tiled roofs will require nailing according to the exposure rating and the manufacturer’s recommendations. As soon as the tilers have finished, decorate the facia and fix the guttering prior to the scaffolding coming down.

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This all comes as part of your joinery package:

• Stairs
• Skirting /Architraves
• Doors (Internal and External) and door furniture
• Door linings and associated requirements

Second Fix

Works to be carried out include the following:

• Hanging of all external doors complete with locks and fittings.
• Hanging of all internal doors, skirtings, architraves and fittings
• Assembling the staircase, handrails and balustrading
• Installing loft hatch

Additional Tasks

There are other tasks that the carpenters are often called upon to carry out as extras to the above:

• Fitting of kitchen units and fitted bedroom or bathroom furniture
• Boxing in of soil pipes and waste runs
• Laying decorative timber floors

Carpenters/joiners will usually work on a labour only basis so all the materials and fixings will have to be supplied by you.

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These are to be completed to finish off your new home.

2nd Fix Electrics

• The installation of power points, lighting and switches in accordance with the appropriate regulations.
• Connection to the mains supply and testing.
• Before completion of the project a copy of an electrical installation certificate should be issued by your electrician.
• Remember that the Electricity Board will not connect unless all wiring is complete. If necessary, fit a bayonet point to those bare wires that are “just waiting for a fitting”.

2nd Fix Plumbing

The installation of the sanitary ware, radiators, boiler and rainwater goods etc. This will also include commissioning and the issuing of certificates for Building Control approval. In most cases your plumber will fix the rainwater goods, e.g. guttering and down pipes, as part of his second fix work. Don’t forget to give services (water, gas and electricity) plenty of notice of your requirements and timing for connection.

Decoration

This trade is usually labour only with the decorator providing most of their own tools including brushes, sandpaper and fillers. Most timber windows and door frames are supplied with a protective base coat, suitable for receiving either paint or stain decoration. It is essential to complete final decoration as soon as possible, and in accordance with the chosen manufacturer’s instructions.

Internal Joinery

• Stairs, internal doors, skirtings, architraves, door studs and linings can be finished in any proprietary stain or paint to suit your chosen colour scheme.
• Preparation is two thirds of a decorator’s job and it is worth spending time to do this properly
• It is important that work is carried out in a clean and dust free environment
• Allow plenty of time for the inside to dry out before decorating

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Hard and soft landscaping

Regulatory Requirements

The approach to a building from the boundary should be designed to allow access for the disabled. This is set out in the Building Regulations. Ramps will be required for the main point of access to the house. Normally steps are not allowed except on steeply sloping sites. Many local authorities refuse to issue a completion certificate until such time as a proper driveway is installed. They may also insist on pathways, including disabled access and bin stores being completed.

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