All Six Up & Windows In

Plots 3,4,5,6 Timber Frames Nearly Finnished.

This week starts with a well needed couple of days to clear the site, skips are coming and going and the site is starting to look organised ready for the next phase.  Last week was very busy with sometimes as many as 15 men on site all working.  After Monday and Tuesday clearing it will all start again.  Wednesday the 26^th November will see the arrival of the windows and bi fold doors.  We also take delivery of the roof windows and tiles.  We have chosen to use the latest technology on the roofs utilising a dry ridge system throughout which avoids the need for mortar and reduces future maintenance issues.   

Technical Detail for this week’s work:

Dry system used throughout the roof

Centre pivot roof windows

Composite front door with bi folding rear door

Grade A windows through out

Also this week the scaffolding for the last 2 houses will be erected ready for a very busy week next week where we see the start of the stone work going on and also the 5^th and 6^th houses going up.  By the 5^th December we will have all 6 houses up, 4 of them water tight and stonework going on.  With the 5^th and 6^th being water tight within a week.

Timber Frames Going Up

Monday the 17^th saw the arrival of the timber frames along with a team of expert installation guys supplied by TTFC.  Once the crane was positioned the guys started erecting the houses working very quickly to roof height.  By the end of the first day the ground floor was in place.  By the end of Tuesday the first 2 houses were up with internal walls going in.  The ground floors of the middle two houses were going up and the team split themselves across the two houses and were a joy to watch as the expertly carried out their individual jobs to a very high standard.  By the end of the week all four houses were up with roofs felted and battened ready for the roof windows and tiles.

Timber frames are the most common method nowadays for both residential houses and larger commercial properties including hotels.  The excellent thermal value achieved and the fact that it is all factory made ensure the product turn out exactly as it should and give a very efficient house once complete.  The timber frame has factory fitted insulation in the frame and comes with an upgraded reflective outer membrane.  This acts as damp proof membrane and help keep the heat in the house.  As the frame is factory made, the sizes are perfect and completely made to measure.  Windows and doors opening are all cut along with all internal walls and partitioning walls.  The fire safety used goes above and beyond building control requirements.  You’ll see on the pictures the red cavity walls fire and smoke protectors.  These are only really needed in the partition wall, but with the TTFC they provide cavity barriers on all corners and at every bridge through the cavity.  For example, where a steel lintel bridges a cavity, a smoke barrier is installed to stop smoke escaping into the house. 

With the additional thermal value, the extra fire safety and the made to measure fit.  It is no wonder timber frames are running away with the construction industry at the moment.  I know here at Fine Build Homes we will only every use timber frames on all developments going forward.

Technical Detailing used so far:

200mm Reinforced concrete slab with Kingspan insulation and a screed that runs continuous through each house.

150mm external walls with factory fitted air tight insulation giving great thermal values (u-value of 0.19)

Upgrade reflective breathable membrane on outside of frame.

White Mill Ground Work 15/11/2014

Ground work nearly complete with scaffolding going up in preparation for the timber frames. You can see the great views over the valley and park land. This is the view they will have looking out the back. Aerial Photography courtesy of AboveSix.com

Looking from the back of the development