Prefabricated Timber Frame Construction
Advantages:
•Modern stylish look.
•High level of thermal efficiency.
•Generally safer on site as less time
working at height.
•Not held up by weather as built in
factory.
Disadvantages:
•Can be hard to extend, build on.
•Need space for crane
Description
Buildings are made predominantly from
timber, they are prefabricated in a
factory and then assembled quickly on
site.
Steel Frame
Advantages:
•Large open areas can be made due
to load bearing ability of steel
•Quick to erect once steel have
been pre fabricated.
Disadvantages:
•Can be costly
•High level of accuracy needed
Description
Steel is used more and more in
construction, and is far more common in
residential building. They are normally
combined with concrete floors or brick
walls. The steel is the main supporting
element of the strucure.
Portal Frames
Advantages:
•Large internal space
•Quick to build
•Easy to extend
•Good height to strength ratio
•Need lighter foundations than
brick and block.
•Materials can be recycled.
Disadvantages:
•Need to be treated for rust.
•Need fire protection coating.
•Expensive to bend
•Need maintenance such as re-painting
Description
These are generally larger buildings that
provide a large open space, the steel is
prefabricated in a factory then bolted
together on site. Steel is moved into place
with a crane.
Concrete Frames
Advantages:
•Good fire resistance
•Can be shaped into any shape
•Good compressive strength
•No finish required
•Can be clad
•Pre cast construction is faster.
Disadvantages:
•Require initial formwork support
•Need a crane
•Not strong on tension
•Need skilled workforce
Description
Concrete is very strong in compression,
so larger buildings can be built this way.
The addition of steel makes the concrete
stronger.
Concrete can be cast into moulds or
formwork on site, which requires about
5 days to cure. It can also be pre cast off
site then joined together on site.
Load Bearing and Non Load Bearing
Load bearing refers to a walls ability to support the roof or floors above it.
Non Load bearing refers to walls that separate rooms, also known as partition walls.
Timber frame construction can use wooden panels covered with a plywood sheet to
sheet to support the main structure of the building, this is then clad with brick on the
outside of the building to achieve weather proofing.
Single Storey Buildings
Description
Commercial premises are frequently made from a steel frame, this provides the anchor
points rails and cross rails (purlins) these support aluminium sheeting which normally has
ridges to give it extra stability.
These buildings need large amounts of insulation as the main materials used have very
poor insulation qualities.
The lower part of the building is normally made from block work.
Low Rise Buildings
Advantages:
•Easy to adapt internally
•Lots of glass allows natural light
Disadvantages:
Description
Commercial buildings up to three
storey's in height.
They make use of steel in order to get
large open spaces internally, these can
be easily adapted for different uses, or
remodeled when a new client moves in.
Housing
Description
Mainly built using brick and block, with slate or tiled roofing. Sometimes
refered to as traditional building. Can be delayed by bad weather and
speed of construction is limited by amount of courses that can be laid in
one day.
Detached – A house that is not connected to any other building
Semi Detached – two houses joined together, they share a party wall,
this reduces they build cost.
Terrace Housing – A line of 3 or more houses joined together, normally
cheaper to build as they share both side walls. You cannot access the
rear of the house without going through the house normally.
Historically fire can spread rapidly from house to house as there is no
natural break. Modern building regs prevent this.
Better U-Values due to shared walls, in older houses sound transfer
between properties can be a problem.
Roofs
Pitched roofs
Usually supported by roofing trusses
Clad in roofing paper and tiles or
battens
Flat Roofs
Short span can be supported by timber, long
spans need steel.
Advantages
•Natural shape helps shed water
•Gives loft space
Advantages:
•Easy to construct
•Can give extra outdoor area in urban
settings
Disadvantages
•Makes the building taller, can hinder
planning
Disadvantages
•Often leak
•No loft storage space
Flats
Advantages:
Provide affordable housing
Disadvantages:
Sound travel between apartments
Description
Multiple residential dwellings in one buildling,
normally with a communal entrance and
hallways.
They can be built using traditional methods or
concrete, especially when over 3 storey’s in
height.
Warehouses and Light Industrial Units
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Description
Retail
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Description
Offices
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Description