Although timber frame homes are considered a lightweight form of construction, don’t be fooled: these custom-made structures are incredibly strong and durable. For centuries, wood has been a natural choice of building material with good reason.
There are many benefits to choosing a timber frame home: their environmental excellence is a distinct advantage given the ongoing cost of living crisis, and with the need for fewer interior walls, timber frame buildings give you a nearly blank canvas for customisation.
Here are a few tips for making sure you get exactly what you want out of your timber frame build…
Getting your bespoke home design right
The biggest advantage of self-build is the freedom of design. This home will be built to suit you and your family’s lifestyle. Making sure the plot you have chosen is sympathetic to the size of house you choose to build to ensure your garden grounds and surrounding area are big enough to enjoy and suit your way of life. It’s a balance you must strike and with the right help from the professionals, this can be easily achieved.
Location, location, location!
There’s a reason this is a cliché…because it’s true. Location is probably the most important thing to consider when building your home.
What views will you love for a lifetime? What about the neighbours? Are they your kind of people? Do you feel safe there? Do you have the kind of infrastructure you would like nearby: schools, shops, restaurants, or proximity to work?
Whether you have a specific location in mind or not, we can help you find the perfect place for your dream home.
Make sure you trust the people building your home
It’s not always easy to know who you can trust, but when it comes to building your forever home, it’s essential you choose reputable experts. It can be a bit of a process, but a very worthwhile one.
Word of mouth or big and bold? It’s a minefield. As a family company who have been trusted to build family homes for decades and have extensive engineering experience, it can come down to who you would want to share your journey with.
To get the best results, determine the type of relationship you see yourself having with your builder. Do you like them as people? It is important. It’s a very personal journey and creating a good working relationship will ensure your build goes smoothly.
Planning permission for timber frame construction
A necessary but often frustrating component of any new build is getting planning permission. Navigating the planning application process can be a bit of a challenge depending on the design and location you choose.
One way to streamline this process is to choose a builder that can manage all aspects of the build from pre-planning straight through to completion certification.
There are many ways to build a timber frame house including stick build and different variations of kits. The design and materials thereafter may be dictated by your planning consent and the surrounding builds within your local area, however many factors will be your own decision. Our own standard build is made up of concrete block and render and can be changed to suit the client’s own choice and often includes timber and composite cladding.
Embrace natural light
We all like to spend more time in the sunny, bright spaces of our homes. Natural light coming through the window can lift your mood and bring the beauty and tranquillity of the outside world right into your home. This is especially relevant for us dwelling further north with long, dark winters. Make sure whatever design of home you choose includes a lot of strategically placed windows to take full advantage of the beautiful Scottish landscapes even in the longest, coldest months of the year.
At Ptarmigan Homes, building with timber is not just one of our specialities, it’s also a passion. With our extensive experience building timber projects of all sizes as a family-run business, we are far more than just home builders. We specialise in high-quality, turn-key solutions that take all the hassle of a build away while still providing the personal touch and care we are renown for throughout the Highlands. Whatever your needs, we will ensure you end up with a living space that reflects you and your own unique lifestyle with our tailored services.
At Ptarmigan Homes, we offer high-quality turnkey package solutions, through to timber kit supply, across the Highlands & Islands, Moray, Aberdeenshire and Argyll. A family-run business, we take care of every hassle and provide a personal touch to your home build experience. Find out more about what we offer and get in touch to see how we can make your dream home a reality today.