Timber frame versus Block

Teabag, we did not need to state what type of house we were constructing.
The same as Zutz we also insulated with rockwool and put light osb on walls which could be deemed as "generators", namely the dining room, sitting room, utility.
We also put fibre glass in the celiling spaces on ground floor.
Also put down 25mm of insulation on the OSB on 1st floor, then screed.
We have no issues with noise.

There was an 8 week waiting time for the kit.
I would think that price wise the TF and block would be the same.

Also with a TF you need a smaller heatpump as they are better at holding heat.

Big benefit with timber frame is time. Cost is roughly the same. However in very little time you can have house weather tight allowing trades to start inside.

hi folks, i started a thread a while ago about best block construction? got many suggestions,currently live in a timber frame hse and find attaching things to the wall not so straight forward at times.since our planning is being held up have had plenty of time to think about which type of house to build,swaying towards the poroton block and maybe paroc insulation to future proof against regs. in years ahead ,however have been told by an x poster to this site about building 9inch cavity block using paroc to get u value of around .20 think the 240mm poroton/150mm paroc is around .15 u-value,to me you get the solid block construction ,hollow core floor/paroc block and beam floor,great u value,cut out thermal bridge and loop,thermal mass of the block.i am not connected in any way to the building trade but i think timber frame is great(as long as its constructed properly)but i also think the above way is also.my only fear of exterior insulation is if someone tips the wall with a car!!althoug i soaked some paroc in water and was very impressed it absorbed very little, its worth looking into before you decide

Did you consider a SIP panel house. I am about 3 months off finishing one. The walls are very solid with all external walls solid to hang anything off them Also some of the supporting internal walls have the SIP panels leaving only about 3 rooms with studded walls that still have the SIP panels on at least two sides of the rooms.
U value of 0.2 and quick to construct. Practically air tight. Gone with single leaf block external to protect the house.

ollie30 said:

= i soaked some paroc in water and was very impressed it absorbed very little, its worth looking into before you decide

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Where did you get the paroc to play with? They don't supply through anyone in the ROI?

i did ask a trusted person who is well up in one of the largest tf house companys in ireland and he said yes the sip is very good but if you decide to change electrical points it can be tricky as it is pre fabricated in a sealed unit,and i prob would tend to alter knowing me!!i looked at a house in co. meath built with poroton/paroc,met the owners and they where kind enough to give me a sample of the paroc.they said they got a polish builder who imported all from poland and was doing the building also.seemed like a great method to me does anyone know of any down sides to it,except for the price ,fbt seemed pricey

ollie30 said:

i did ask a trusted person who is well up in one of the largest tf house companys in ireland and he said yes the sip is very good but if you decide to change electrical points it can be tricky as it is pre fabricated in a sealed unit,and i prob would tend to alter knowing me!!

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There is only 1 SIP system with an NSAI certificate (Kingspan TEK) and the electrical points are most definitely NOT prefabricated in a sealed unit.
Changing electrical points is no more trouble than in a block house or timberframe for that matter because the SIP walls are usually dry lined creating a service cavity.

i looked at a house in co. meath built with poroton/paroc,met the owners and they where kind enough to give me a sample of the paroc.they said they got a polish builder who imported all from poland and was doing the building also.seemed like a great method to me does anyone know of any down sides to it,except for the price ,fbt seemed pricey

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The 1 advantage that FBT have is that the blocks they import ( from TROST I believe ) are the ones with an NSAI certificate. The cert does not apply to Poroton across the board. You could end up with issues finding an architect willing to sign off on the house if you imported the Wienerberger ones for example. Also, the external insulating with PAROC is not covered by the certificate. The downside is that even house insurance companies could choose to load you or worse refuse to pay on a claim when they discover that you built with a non certified system. In fact, even getting a mortgage could prove tricky because the method of build is taken into account and again you'd be doing something not approved for use in this country. You can quote all the European certifications that you want. If they don't have a section specifically with guidelines for building in Ireland then they won't be accepted.

thanks sas,never thought about none certified products but then thats why we go onto the forum to ask and learn,cheers again.

Afternoon all.
Sorry for resurrecting such an old thread, but I'm wondering if the same TF vs CB arguments exist today?

My builder has told us that there's no problem building an A rated concrete home these days using 6" (?) insulation, solar panels, recirculating air, etc.
Is this true?
If it is, surely concrete is the way to go these days, what with the slowdown in the economy? Obviously, any (out of work) builder would be able to build a concrete home, thus a lower price, as opposed to timberframe still being a fairly specialised construction?