Welcome to my blog. My name is Darren. I own several rental properties in Western Australia. Once I had made the purchases, I discovered that several of the properties needed extensive work before I could rent them to tenants, so I had to hire construction contractors, plumbers, electricians, waste disposal experts and roofing experts to make sure the homes were in top condition. Once I had repaired the buildings, I contacted a letting agent who put them on the market for me. I learnt a lot from working with some many different businesses so I decided to start this blog to share everything I know.
A timber framed home is often considered a bit rustic, as the timber wall frames are often left open and exposed so that the wood offers a more natural look than a frame covered in drywall. However, there are many other reasons to consider a timber frame for a home beyond its appearance. If you're having a home built and are considering a timber frame, note a few questions you might have about this choice so you can determine if this is the right option for you.
Can you use recycled wood?
Timber wall frames can be very eco-friendly as you can use recycled or reclaimed wood for this project, but note that this wood should be pressed and dried so that it isn't holding any moisture inside. As wood ages, it collects moisture and this can allow it to become warped and bowed, or otherwise weakened. In turn, it may not hold up the weight of your home so well. Using recycled wood can be more expensive, as you need to ensure these additional steps are taken to keep it strong, but it can be worth that expense in order to keep wood out of landfills and avoid harvesting virgin wood.
Can timber frames be used for any home construction or jobsite?
Note that timber frames are usually pre-assembled and not cut to size on the jobsite, other than minor trimming that needs to be done. You would then usually need a crane to lift the frames into place, and this can require a certain access to your site. If you want to build your home in a rural or country area, you may face some limitations in using a timber frame, so be sure you understand this before you decide that a timber frame is for you.
Can you add timber framing to a home that's already built?
If you want to add a sunroom or other addition to your home using a timber frame, you can do this, but it may require some specialised engineering and design to get it done. The timber frame holds up the weight of the home and may be much larger than you realize, so that it may need certain construction methods to keep the stick built part of your home secure. You may need some changes to the interior finishing materials to ensure the home looks cohesive, and may need to change the shape of the timber frame so the roof of the addition matches the roof of the rest of your home.
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