Timber frame building: materials specification

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This Wood Information Sheet (WIS) outlines the materials normally specified for conventional timber frame buildings. Some variations will occur according to the structural design and detailing requirements of specific projects. Many of the components are also used in innovative forms of construction such as engineered stud and twin stud walls, cross-laminated timber and structural insulated panel forms.

Many components, such as cladding materials and joinery, are not specific to timber frame and are therefore not covered in detail here.

Timber frame houses built under housing warranty schemes should also satisfy the scheme detailed requirements, which may not be covered in this Sheet.



Contents:

  • Timber frame construction
  • Framing
  • Timber trussed rafters
  • Sheathing
  • Floor decks
  • Thermal insulation
  • Vapour control layer
  • Breather membranes
  • Cavity barriers and fire stops
  • Cladding
  • Wall tiles
  • Lintels for masonry cladding
  • Wall linings and ceilings


This Wood Information Sheet was revised in September 2016. Content was added on non-combustible sheathing boards and guidance on wall linings was updated to align with new fire safety guidance.

This Wood Information Sheet was reviewed in February 2017 and minor corrections were made to the references section.

Suggested Reading

Breather membranes for timber frame wallsnavigation-arrow

All timber frame walls are designed to 'breathe'. The term 'breathe' refers to the ability of a wall to allow water vapour to diffuse through the structure. This is an important consideration to the long term durability of the timber structure.

A breather membrane restricts the passage of...

07/11/2016 |  Wood Information Sheet  

Cladding for timber frame buildingsnavigation-arrow

The main functions of cladding on a timber frame building are to provide weather resistance and create the external appearance required by the client.

Materials for cladding can be subdivided into two main categories: those which are self supporting (built from their own foundation and tied back to the...

05/05/2014 |  Wood Information Sheet  

List of Wood Information Sheetsnavigation-arrow

This document contains a fully comprehensive list of all the most up to date Wood Information Sheets (WIS) published by TRADA. Available to members for free or non-members for £12.00, these Wood Information Sheets provide technical guidance related to almost every timber topic under the sun.

 

Categories:

  • Timber -...

17/07/2017 |  Wood Information Sheet