eco friendly timber framed bungalow

[Mattbaigent]

Evening all,

I have searched the site a read what I have found but wanted to ask myself to make the answers more tailored for our situations.

my partner and I have been on the hunt for a home out in the sticks for some time now and we have found 2 that we like, one requires a lot of building work and another that is timber. apparently Cedar but obviously I can't tell what's behind the walls.

the timber one is lovely but we have a few concerns...

the property is a 1980 bungalow, 3 were built and there were called the cedars. I believe it is a concrete slab with timber framing. there is timber cladding on the external walls and plasterboard on the internals and it has timber roof tiles. the property had been extended in 2008 and had a Ground source heat pump fitted in 2010 and Solar in 2011 still with a very good tariff. the property has been on the market for a very long time and we have been told by the agents selling that they have not had any offers on the property which increases our concerns as we would be buying a property that would be near impossible to sell.

Questions:
- Why do people not want timber framed houses? everyone seems against them but not many people actually know about them.
- What is the longevity of a timber framed house? is there a way that we can keep an eye on the timber frame?
- Extensions... how easy is it to extend out or up? I assume higher costs are involved due to finding specialists?
- Is there a way we can future proof the house so that people will want to buy it should we ever want to sell it?
- What were the regulations back in the 80s around timber buildings? vague question but did they have to meet certain standards that a still suitable today or would we need to retrofit things eg, moisture membranes.
- how long are solar panels and a ground source heat pumps lifespan? they're both around 15 years. GSHP has been well maintained apparently, not sure about the solar.

I believe the current owner is able to give us all information on the developer which we are going to ask for. he has full information and pictures of the extension and ground source heat pump installation.

I'm trying to find people online that a specialists that may be able to help and also pages on Facebook where people may be able to help but I can't find a huge amount.


the other property is very nearby but it is a traditional brick and incredibly run down, the layout is bizarre and requires everything to be updated (oil boiler, kitchen, bathroom, oil tank, roof etc etc) it will also require extending and re designing and also re routing drainage work beneath the house so while it is cheaper, we will probably end up paying the same, if not more, and won't have a house until another year and half if not more.

any advice at all is highly welcome.

thank you,

Matt

 

[Diver Fred]

Wood framed property. My first comment is look at the EPC, that should tell you lots about the build.
Also check the EICR for who completed that and how recent.
Then talk to your house insurance company.

Personally a wood framed house wouldn't concern me grately but I'd be wanting to do my own investigations on the construction. The most obvious sign to look for us the cedar painted if isn't then is the timber blackened around the fixings. If it's painted then sand down a board close the bottom of the wall to check where the fixings are.

 

[Mattbaigent]

Wood framed property. My first comment is look at the EPC, that should tell you lots about the build.
Also check the EICR for who completed that and how recent.
Then talk to your house insurance company.

Personally a wood framed house wouldn't concern me grately but I'd be wanting to do my own investigations on the construction. The most obvious sign to look for us the cedar painted if isn't then is the timber blackened around the fixings. If it's painted then sand down a board close the bottom of the wall to check where the fixings are.

the EPC is a D with a potential of an A. apparently the current owner believes it was not a true reflection of their property.

hopefully the estate agents will be able to provide the EICR along with the other details.

its not painted nor is it treated I think. what would blackening around the fixings mean?

 

[Diver Fred]

its not painted nor is it treated I think. what would blackening around the fixings mean?

The the fixings are corroding - further, intrusive inspection is required.

 

[stevie888]

I'd take an EPC of D as possibly a bit low but the notion that you could get to an A rating realistically strikes me as la-la land.

You should probably talk to the offspring: it's them that will be selling it to put you in a home!

 

[noseall]

Why do people not want timber framed houses? everyone seems against them but not many people actually know about them.

Beetle infestation?

Earlier designs - poorly insulated, poorly detailed leading to condensation related rot?

 

[bernardgreen]

Timber frame or timber panels ?
This is true timber frame construction

 

[jj4091]

the property has been on the market for a very long time and we have been told by the agents selling that they have not had any offers on the property which increases our concerns as we would be buying a property that would be near impossible to sell.

Could it be that others have already done investigations into whether it would be worthwhile and decided to walk away. I would, just from your description and the fact that you already appear to have doubts

 

[Old Salt]

If they cant sell how long would you have to wait to be able to sell in the future.
I bought a standard construction bungalow that needed modernising. 40 K later it is exactly what we wanted.

 

[^woody^]

There is nothing wrong with a timber framed house, just differences compared to traditional, and some of those differences may or may not be significant to the occupants.

Generally, timber frame is less adaptable to changes/alteration/improvement and more susceptible to damage from lack of repair and maintenance or carelessness.

The frame behaves differently to temperature and humidity changes so internally, rooms can heat up but cool down quicker and be harder to keep at a constant comfortable environment as there is no thermal or cooling effect from the structure.

A timber frame from the 80's will likely have poorer levels of insulation than today, and won't be upgradeable easily. PV and HP will be early generation and not as efficient as todays units and the HP may be bordering on end of life if its no longer in production and parts are scarce. PV has a notional 25-year life, but a very recent study has indicated that the life can be lot longer than initially thought, with less degradation of output too.

You need specialist professional advice, not opinion, to understand the differences and how they impact you and the related costs and risk.