Timber frame DIY Kit

Bill2

Hi,

I'm building shortly and i'm wondering if anybody has ever heard of someone building a timber frame house themselves instead of buying a kit from a TF Manufacturer. My carpenter reckons he could knock together a kit and on site and erect it in about 4 weeks. All i need is an engineer to do the drawings etc for me and we're away.. Is he mad or is this something that has been done before..??

yop

It is been done at the moment at a house beside me, 100% stick build so it is not fiction so to speak!

kadman

If you get it designed properly, It should be a straightforeward process, depending on a few variables.

1..Has your chippy ever stickbuilt a timberframe before.

2..Have you an engineer that will supply you with a structural breakdown of the necessary design requirements , i.ie. steel requirements, timber size and spec, ss or gs ect.

3..Have you a designer that will design the floor, wall panel drawings, and soleplate layout PROPERLY for you, in accordance with your engineers spec.

4.. You cannot use most tf designers that are contracted to existing employers. Most contracts carry a clause that prohibits their designers from doing tf plans as nixers. And will probably have a clause preventing designers from setting out on their own for a period of 2 years.
After all you dont want a tf company coming to you , if you used their contract dsigners, looking for design dosh.

5.. And last but not least, have you a tf surveyor that will look at your finished, erected kit, and tell you whether it is a good tf build, or an expensive dog box.

In short it can be done, if you know how. And one or two pro's here do know how. So as I have said before proper professional input is a necessary criteria if you are considering going this route.

kadman

Pataman

By the time you pay the carpenter, engineer and supply the timber, I wonder which would be cheaper. Also would the bank approve such a house. Are you required to have Homebond or Premier to guarantee it? They may have reservations also.

kadman

Do not assume that the word Homebond ensures a perfect build, it does n't.


kadman

rooferPete

Gawrsh Kadman,

I wonder what would give that idea about Homebond ? I mean they is run by the biggest building companies in the country.

I don't know if the little phrase "Conflict of Interest" popped into your mind but I can assure you the Irish Construction Industry and all who take part in it are above reproach

.

Pataman

I know. Homebond is only an insurance bond, inspected sometimes only in a cursory manner, however the point I am making is that the bank sometimes require it.

rooferPete

Hi Pataman,

No dis-respect intended to you regarding what can be a very point with most lenders, there is a new player in the market acceptable to most lenders I think they are called Premier Bond.

I understand they have a better format of supervision, however as usual the customer will pay more by way of certification.

Many of the homes that are being sold with the "Homebond Guarantee" leave a lot to be desired in both the way they are built (structure) and the way they are finished.

Sad to say another case of "Buyer Beware".

.

Pataman

None taken. I am building at the moment and we are using Premier. I was using homebond purely as an example.

kadman

rooferPete wrote:

Gawrsh Kadman,

I wonder what would give that idea about Homebond ? I mean they is run by the biggest building companies in the country.

I don't know if the little phrase "Conflict of Interest" popped into your mind but I can assure you the Irish Construction Industry and all who take part in it are above reproach

.

Gadzooks Rooferpete, methinks thou dost jest. I doth just warn the lowly peasants about the so called inference that the word homebond be synonomous with good mud hut building techniques.

So I say unto you peasants , ....beware the word Homebond, for there be many meanings to good building ways.

You know me Rooferpete, and you know where I'm coming from. Its the scenario similar to " Guild of Master Craftsmen ". Any cowboy can join it....it dont make him no master though.

kadman..M.I.O.C.

kadman

rooferPete wrote:

Gawrsh Kadman,

I don't know if the little phrase "Conflict of Interest" popped into your mind but I can assure you the Irish Construction Industry and all who take part in it are above reproach

.

ROFLMAO,

Thanks Rooferpete, and I bet you couldn't keep a straight face while you were typing that , one fingered

kadman...M.I.O.C.

rooferPete

Hi Kadman,

One Fingered ? and falling off my chair

Kind Regards,

Peter Crawley, M.I.o.R.

tapest

Ah shucks
Just when I thought RooferPete and the Kadman were going one on one. ..that would be something....the fight of decade...and then ...nothing. spoilsports. Such an anti-climax
t

Eve1

Homebond is such a pain in the ass. We are building a house but originally we were buying a house that had homebond. We pulled out for various reasons and found our site. The valuer made a mistake and didn't bother using a different form and put down that the site had homebond(?). We now have a a homebond clause in our self build and have spent the last 3 months trying to get out of it.
Eve

kadman

tapest wrote:

Ah shucks
Just when I thought RooferPete and the Kadman were going one on one. ..that would be something....the fight of decade...and then ...nothing. spoilsports. Such an anti-climax
t

Hi Tapest,
Your blood lust is a small bit worrying, some counseling may help

No doubt meself and the master, may cross swords at some stage. Indeed our first meeting here was a testing of the waters. :rolleyes:

But at the moment, mutual respect with fellow knowledgable pro's, keeps my sword sheathed.

Should I be required to use it though, I can guarantee my years of woodwork experience will ensure a sharp blade.

Z..

swssshhhh..
The mark of kadman

kadman

Sorry for going OT.

rooferPete

Hi Eve,

Try the age old reason for not wanting Homebond, competition being the life of trade and you want to use another insurer or form of insurance.

Homebond have no more "right" to your business than I do to fit every roof.

Hi tapest,

Sorry old sport, I'm strictly a handbags at twenty paces type that Kadman well Y'all can see why nobody messes with the Descendant of Zorro

.

dras

Hi Bill2,

I had a quote for a stick built and it was more expensive than a tf from a small tf company. Then you have to add the extra engineers costs to this (as someone else noted) since the carpenter can't do that himself. I have also found that many engineers do not want to be involved with stick built houses. I reckon that there are small tf companies out there that would generally be cheaper. You don't want to skimp on fundamentals though.

dras