When it comes to building houses, staying on budget isn’t always easy. Additional labour costs, unpredictable weather, or unforeseen costs always seem to come out of the woodwork. These unexpected setbacks can derail even the best-laid budget plans.
According to UK Construction Online, 69% of construction projects exceed their budgets. This leaves fewer than one in three projects coming within 10% of their original plan. So how can house builders ensure they’re building high-quality homes without going over budget? One answer is to use more timber frame buildings.
It’s no surprise that the use of timber frame is rapidly increasing in construction. Timber frames can help you build homes faster, cheaper, and with less wastage.
Here are just some reasons why using timber frames can save you money.
//Building with timber frame can be cheaper
There’s a common misconception in the construction industry. Many people believe that timber frame can be an expensive way to build. Reports show that this hasn’t been the case.
Building a timber frame house can cost around 5% less than using masonry. This may not sound like a massive saving at first. But, if you’re working on a larger building site, this can be a substantial amount.
//Timber frame construction methods take less time
One of the primary savings from using timber frames is they cut down build time. Timber can be pre-cut and assembled much quicker than traditional building materials. According to the National House Building Council, timber frames can save up to three months in construction time.
This saves you money in labour and site prelim costs and increases the speed of your return on capital expenditure. In fact, you can save up to £420 per plot per week. You can also spend less on cranage, foundation and scaffolding costs.
//Reduces risk of going over budget
When you choose timber frame for your construction project, it becomes easier to project costs and stay within your allocated budget. Factories control costs through quality control and eliminating weather delays, meaning they can provide house builders with a fixed price.
This means you won’t come across any hidden costs. So, you can build your frames without your clients needing to dip into their contingency fund.
//Reduces material waste
Once you’ve completed the build, you’ll find you’ve created less wastage. Timber frame buildings provide up to 40% less waste than other construction methods.
WRAP found that the value of waste disposed of is much higher than the cost of disposal. Timber is also a naturally renewable material, meaning it’s recyclable. Not only will you save costs on waste disposal, but you can also repurpose any debris.
//Reduces snagging costs
Because they’re assembled in a dry environment, timber frames have fewer defects. Timber frame builds go through quality control during production. For example, at Pinewood Structures, we put our frames through rigorous checks. We’re also backed by ISO 9001 2015 Certification and conform with the Structural Timber Association’s Quality Standards, achieving STA Assure Gold.
The controlled environment timber frames are made in saves builders snagging costs, allowing them to focus their efforts on new projects.
//Want to start incorporating timber frame into your projects?
Submit an enquiry today or call us now on 01767 651218 to discuss your timber frame requirements.
