If you're thinking of having a new home built, you might want to consider a timber frame rather than a standard stick-built home. A timber-framed home includes large beams that are typically left exposed, whereas a stick-built home is made with traditional studs and joists that are covered over with drywall. When you're ready to start shopping around home designs, note a few questions you might have about a timber frames so you can determine if they are the right choice for your new home.

Is a timber-framed home colder than other homes?

If a home feels draughty and uncomfortable, this is usually because of poor insulation or old windows that have gaps around the frame, and not because of the framing material itself. Having an open floor plan also should not mean that your home will be draughty and cold, as proper insulation should keep all areas of a home comfortable, with or without interior walls.

Note that a timber-framed home is constructed with a thick insulating quilt that may provide more insulation than standard fibreglass; the frame will also include a vapour barrier and plasterboard for the interior walls. All of these will help to keep the home insulated from outside weather, so the interior will then be comfortable year-round.

Will a timber frame be more likely to rot?

You may assume that an exposed timber frame would collect more moisture from the home and be more likely to develop mould and other damage. However, an open floor plan allows moisture from your family's showers and cooking to dissipate more easily, before it settles onto the home's frame. Also, the density of timber beams is what gives them their strength, and this density will also keep out moisture; the beams may actually be less likely to hold mould or to rot than standard studs and joists.

Is it eco-friendly?

You may think that oversized timber beams are somehow less eco-friendly than other materials for a home, but note that stick-built homes use lots of wood! Timber frames actually mean less wood is wasted during construction, as the frames are typically made in a factory setting and then transported to a jobsite. This is unlike standard studs, which are cut and fitted onsite. This cutting and fitting can mean lots of leftover wood pieces and shavings, wasting that wood. This can make the timber beams a very eco-friendly choice.