Press Release

Timber frame predictions for 2009

03 December 2008

What does 2009 hold for the housebuilding industry and for the timber frame sector, one of the UK's most glittering manufacturing success stories of recent years?

Geoff Arnold, the incoming chairman of the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA), says:

"Despite the depressed housing market, we are continuing to see relatively strong demand for timber frame across all market sectors. We expect that the continue next year. Obviously it will be sometime before we return to previous demand levels; however, what is already clear is that the Code for Sustainable Homes is still on everyone's mind, and timber frame will be the build technology of choice to deliver energy efficient homes both cost effectively and quickly.

"In 2009, the key for all developers will be market responsiveness. As funding becomes available on a given scheme, whether in the public or private sector, what will be critical is a developer's ability to respond and build out the site. Timber frame has proven time and time again that where build speed, performance and energy efficiency are required, it can offer significant advantages over other methods of build.

"We therefore see the percentage of timber frame homes increasing to well over 25 per cent in 2009 even possibly achieving 30 per cent. Furthermore, these figures could be pushed higher as the Code for Sustainable Homes requirements become better understood by developers. It is far easier to attain higher levels of Code using timber frame than other build methods. Consumers then benefit from a very comfortable home with small fuel bills."

According to the latest published statistics, the UK's timber frame industry achieved just over 22 per cent market share of all new housing in 2007, an increase of almost 2 per cent at a time when other methods of construction fell. In contrast to the overall decline in UK housing starts in 2007 (4.9 per cent lower than 2006), timber frame home building grew by 1.5 per cent in 2007 – non-timber frame building methods fell by 6.5 per cent.

Timber frame manufacturers' output has doubled since 2000, with more than 53,600 timber frame homes and commercial units built in 2007. The sector is a significant UK employer and example of manufacturing excellence, now worth more than £600 million a year. Although there has been some consolidation over the past 12 months, a key feature of the timber frame industry is the large diversity of firms with different expertise that are able to supply against the many demands placed upon them by the housing and other markets.

The UKTFA offers these top 10 tips to future-focused housebuilders and social housing developers with an eye on the bottom line in 2009:

1. If you can't build homes right now, build business efficiency instead. That way, you're ready to get a market advantage when the upturn starts. Look again at the way offsite construction can help you achieve the full benefits of supply chain integration, safer sites and reduced costs throughout the whole business.

2. If you do fancy trying offsite fabrication, go for a tried and tested method of construction that's low risk. But don't try and shoe-horn timber frame construction into a masonry build programme, for example, or you won't get the full financial benefits. Your timber frame supplier can offer loads of free advice; they have many years of experience.

3. Explore with your suppliers and sub-contractors how they could deliver even more value and cost-savings by working smarter and in closer partnership with you. Get them talking to each other. For example, there are ways of shaving thousands of pounds off the cost of timber frame construction by adopting more efficient and productive sequencing of follow-on trades.

4. Think 'just in time' production techniques, which have saved the motor industry millions. For example, timber frame allows you to build a house when you sell a house – get the foundations and ground floor sorted and you're ready to start as soon as that reservation is made. No more locked-up stock standing empty, waiting for buyers and vulnerable to damage.

5. Keep focused on the long term. Zero carbon, zero defects and zero waste are going to be the mantras for many years to come. Use this time to prepare.

6. Don't be seduced by dodgy 'special offers' or get led into technical cul-de-sacs that will cost you more later, just for the sake of saving a few bob now. Timber frame delivers greatest long-term value for those housebuilders who can embrace everything it offers.

7. Keep 5-10 per cent spare capacity in your technical team, and use that capacity to really pin down how you're going to deliver environmental sustainability in your future house types. If you just want to concentrate on achieving levels 3 and 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, check out a range of timber frame solutions. All of them can easily cope with CSH demands much more cost-effectively – and they are genuinely low carbon, low polluting products so you won’t be accused of greenwash.

8. Use any spare capacity in your construction staff to train and develop the people you really want to keep. Think of innovative training solutions that don't require your people to go off site. Ask your timber frame supplier to offer onsite briefings and training sessions on topics like timber frame erection, fire safety during construction and trade talks.

9. Cash may be king, but watch out for quality too. Despite the downturn, the Office of Fair Trading is still watching and housebuilding will stay in the spotlight for some time. Your site managers may be spread out and trying to supervise many projects all at once, and the pressure will be on them to finish homes as cheaply as possible to release some cash. But too many shortcuts lead to defects – and they lead to claims and complaints, and more expensive after-sales hassles later on.

10. Demand a quality assured product – nothing less than Q-Mark or Q-Mark Plus if you're using a timber frame supplier. If you are building in timber frame, take comfort from the fact that defects are less and snagging costs are usually reduced by a third compared to masonry homes because of the tighter quality control of factory-produced components.