Three ways to build, all in timber
Each method has its strengths. The right one depends on your design, site, budget, timescale, how much flexibility you want, and whether you're aiming for an eco, near-passive or fully passive house.
On-site stick build
The structure is built on site by our joiners. It's our most popular option for passive and near-passive houses, and often the cheapest.
- Most design and build flexibility
- Thick walls that kit makers won't produce
- Lets us eliminate cold bridging
- Uses less timber, no crane needed
- Works on inaccessible sites
- Change things as the house goes up
Suits: eco, near-passive and fully passive homes.
Timber kit
Most houses in Scotland are timber kit, and it's a viable option for an eco house. It goes up faster than stick build.
- Quicker erection on site
- Familiar, widely used system
A traditional kit doesn't offer the flexibility, detailing or timber depths needed to build a passive house effectively.
Suits: eco homes. Less suited to near-passive and passive.
Off-site prefabrication
Walls, roof, insulation, windows and doors are all built and fitted in a factory, then delivered (typically 2–4 lorries) and craned into position in about 5 days.
- Factory quality control, no weather
- Cuts overall build time by 2–3 months
- Precise to the millimetre
Every decision has to be made early, and no changes are possible once the design is signed off. It's often the most expensive route.
Suits: eco, near-passive and fully passive homes.
Foundations: three ways to start
What goes underneath matters as much as the walls. Here are the foundation options we use, from traditional to fully insulated.
Strip foundations with timber joisted floor
The ground is dug out to around 600–700 mm and concrete poured, commonly 600 mm wide by 200 mm deep. Blockwork is built up to 150 mm above finished ground level. A solum (typically 50 mm of concrete) is poured, then the timber joisted floor is built off the blockwork with insulation between the joists.
Strip foundations with insulated concrete slab
Strip foundations and blockwork as above. The area is then backfilled with Type 1 hardcore, extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation is laid, and concrete poured over it, typically 150–200 mm deep.
Fully insulated concrete raft
Becoming the preferred method for eco and passive houses. The ground is stripped to subsoil and the whole footprint levelled with free-draining gravel. Insulation is laid loose and infilled with concrete. The result is fully insulated with no risk of cold bridging.
Timber, from sustainable sources
Whether it's stick build, timber kit or prefab, the base material is timber, and all of ours comes from sustainable sources.
- Natural and non-toxic
- Renewable
- Recyclable and biodegradable
- A carbon sink, storing CO₂ for the life of the house
Why we use wood fibre
Prevents overheating
Wood fibre has thermal mass. It soaks up heat from the summer sun and releases it slowly, which helps prevent summertime overheating in a way lightweight insulations can't.
Thermal performance
Excellent insulation values, without trading off breathability or overheating control, which protects the building fabric.
Breathability
An average household produces over 11 litres of moisture a day. Like a breathable jacket, a wood-fibre wall keeps the rain out but lets that moisture escape instead of trapping it in the structure.
Planning a low-energy home?
Talk to us early. The sooner we're involved, the better we can control cost.