Construction Types

Construction Types There are many different types of construction that you may use, however, the most popular are Traditional (Brick & Block) Construction and Timber Frame. This has been the case for a while now, however, there are new methods of building that are starting to become more popular and we will be explaining these below; Brick & Block As mentioned above, brick and block is one of, if not the most popular method of construction as approximately 70% of self-builds use it overall, although the timber frame construction is more popular in Scotland, according to the build store.It consists of a brick outer skin and a block (usually air Crete) inner skin, with the cavity between these being filled with as much insulation as possible. Both walls are supported together with ties and everything will sit on foundations. Usually, internal load bearing walls are also made of blocks, however there can be variations to this system.The advantages of brick and block are as follows;

• Excellent thermal massing
• Potentially lower heating bills
• Great sound and thermal insulation

The disadvantages of brick & block are as follows;

• Slower progress of site compared to pre-fab materials or timber

Timber Frame Many people like the feeling of character and charm, which is exactly what a timber framed dwelling can do. In timber frame construction, the internal structure is a wooden frame which has been designed to support the structure of the house. This frame is then clad by a facing material such as brick or stone, to provide an attractive finish. If you use a well recommended timber frame company then you will not be disappointed with the finish. The advantages of timber frame construction are;  

• A timber frame structure can be clad in any external material usually timber panels, bricks or stone which in essence becomes a more flexible design choice
• A timber frame can be pre-cut, modulated and built to precision and therefore the build time is much quicker than for a brick build. A typical timber framed house can be watertight in 5-7 days.
• The elements in a timber frame weighs less which typically means that it can be used on any site and is easy to transport

  The disadvantages of a timber frame construction are; 

• When purchasing the timber, you will have to do it at least 3 months prior to delivery, this can also come with a large deposit
• Finding the right team to sort out the labour of the timber frame can be hard; therefore, we would suggest you use the company that manufacturers and delivers the timber as then they should be able to construct with ease
• The design work needs to be detailed out at a very early stage

 Steel Framed ConstructionUsually, often, large commercial premises will be constructed with steel and especially in the USA and South Africa. The steelwork is lightweight, easy to erect and weathertight. Exterior panels are attached to the steel frame and then finished. Most of the materials are made to measure prior to delivery on site and thus the building can be made water tight very quickly. The advantages of steel construction are;

• The structure can be super-quick to erect, as a lot of work can be pre-fabricated at the factory
• They are flexible, which makes them very good at resisting dynamic (changing) forces such as wind or earthquake forces
• They can be flexible in the design, and can be made to take any kind of shape, and clad with any type of material

 The disadvantages of steel construction are;

• They will lose strength at hot temperatures and are susceptible to fire without the necessary protection
• They are prone to corrosion in humid environments without the necessary protection

 Structural Insulated Panels(SIPs) as they are known to provide a cost effective, environmentally friendly and labour saving alternative to traditional timber framing and masonry construction methods. A typical panel consists of two sheets of oriented strand board (OSB) which sandwich a thick layer of high quality form insulation.The advantages of SIPs are;

• SIPs can provide high levels of air-tightness and insulation. All SIP constructed homes are automatically qualified as a low-energy home
• SIPs help to reduce on-site construction times and requirements; you will need days to erect a house. Not months or weeks.
• SIPs are usually considered an eco-friendly choice; not only because they provide huge energy savings but also because of their recycled content and because their green options for their cores and boards

 The disadvantages of SIPs are;

• SIPs can be damaged by moisture and should be carefully protected.
• Some builders may not have to knowledge of how to construct a dwelling using SIP, therefore it can be quite hard to find a contractor
• Not widely spread, therefore this method is generally more expensive

   Insulating Concrete FormworkInsulating concrete formwork or permanently insulated formwork (PIF) is an insulated in-situ concrete system of building that is quick to construct, providing a practical method of construction. ICF is based on hollow lightweight block components that lock together without intermediate bedding materials, such as mortar, to provide a formwork system into which concrete is poured. The block is formed of sheets of insulation materials normally expanded polystyrene tied together with plastic or steel ties, or an integral web of the same insulation. The advantages of using ICF is;

• ICF walls have the advantage of concrete wall construction; ICF’s can withstand the most extreme winds and forces. Also, are water-resistant and with a long lifespan.
• ICF forms are extremely lightweight, making wall construction an easy task for builders that are familiar with the technology. Most manufacturers provide bracing and alignment systems to ease the construction
• Thermal massing is superb, allowing the structure to absorb heat during the day and slowly release it overnight.

 The disadvantages of using ICF is;

• ICF wall construction can be 3 to 8% more expensive than other construction methods.

The insulation value of standard ICF’s range from R-15 or less to R-26 which is great for a moderate climate but not for cold climates.