Would you buy a timber framed house?

[KitschinSynch]

Hey all, just wondered how you would feel about buying a house like this?

www.ianwhite.info/walter_segal_buildings.html

I am rather keen, but could do with some opinions if you don't mind.
Thanks :)

[post]

We live in one! Not a segal, but pretty much the same. It's lovely. What do you want to know? We didn't build it, but we bought it off the people who did.

[DoctorTwo]

As buildings made from wood are usually more thermally efficient, especially modern buildings, yes, I would buy one. Actually, I'd rather build it myself, with 200mm pulped paper insulation all round and triple glazing.

[BoiledPiss]

Following for info as we are planning something like this :)

[MoistFlange]

Possibly - depends how the structural timber is protected from the rain - if it was then yes!! If water could get into the ends of sawn timber then no.

[VenusDeWillendorf]

That website hurts my eyes. Ugliest thing I've seen since early web 1.0
Sorry!

Have lived in wooden houses in the USA, built in late 1800s.
Don't see a problem with it, all had masonry basements. It's standard there, and in Scandinavia.

[KitschinSynch]

Well, there is a segal house for sale near us and I wondered what the pros and cons are of buying and living in a wooden house. Dh is from NZ where most of the houses are wooden, so we are used to the idea of them, just not sure if there are any pitfalls we should be aware of. Will banks give a mortgage on them? Thanks in advance :)

[MsRinky]

I live in a New Zealand Lockwood wooden house, but in the UK - it was built for an exhibition in the 80s. My old mortgage lender (RBS) didn't want to mortgage it, but Santander were happy to. Previous owners were mortgaged with Halifax.

[KitschinSynch]

I wonder about house insurance, maintenance costs, would we get lots of spiders? I've only ever lived in brick built Victorian houses so would be interested to know the differences...

[HecatePropylaea]

Bloody hell that's a shit site, isn't it?

I think the houses look lovely though.

I've never lived in one but we did have a holiday in something that looked like wooden built (don't know if it actually was or just made to look so) a couple of times and they were really warm and nice. I wouldn't have a problem at all living in one.

[post]

Insurance, contents insurance, has been a pain; no idea why, but sorted now. We have building insurance, but we have an unusual freehold/ leasehold situation so I can't tell you much about the cost/detail. I don't think it's been hard. No problem with mortgages, but I guess the condition would have to be good, like any other house. If it's been really neglected the wood could conceivably be rotten. We paint the whole building every 10 years.

We have triple glazing and also a heat exchange system, and underfloor heating. I know people who regret not getting the heat exchange system as they suffer from condensation. Ours was also well built; I think they can suffer from lack of attention to detail with regard to proper watertightness etc, but ours is solid, gorgeous, warm, and delightfully slightly creaky in high winds (but totally supposed to be).


No more spiders than anywhere else, but we are in the countryside.

I'd always lived in old brick houses too, and it's been a revelation. You shut the windows and no wind/ cold comes in, even in winter!

The wood is wonderful. It feels like a living thing.

[MsRinky]

Ours creaks quite a lot, especially with changes in temperature. We are used to it, but I always have to warn first time visitors that the noises are normal and don't mean the house is falling down!

[KitschinSynch]

I have been posting from my phone today so not been able to go into much detail. Firstly thanks for your replies everyone (boiledpiss and moistflange you're names are truly nightmarish, but your input has been appreciated). I would link to the house in question, but then one of you might buy it and take my Precious away from me It is on the market for a very reasonable price for our area, but I'm not sure if that is because wooden houses are traditionally cheaper of if there is something wrong with it. The sale prices of other similar houses in the same development are really out of date, so not easy to tell. I wonder how the building societies surveyor will be able to value it. Also it comes with planning permission for an extension. Not sure if extending a wooden bungalow would be expensive or not. So many questions.
As for the website - yes it is pretty basic - I thought the webmaster might be pleased of the extra traffic!

[MsRinky]

Not so sure about mortgage on this type of house now. Have looked at a couple via my favourite house porn site (The Modern House) and see they have a disclaimer on the details:

Please note that you may encounter significant difficulty obtaining a mortgage for timber framed properties and/ or those built using the Segal Method. We would advise you approach your lender for further advice before viewing the property.

My house is solid timber, and as I say, no problem with getting standard mortgage and insurance from high street lender, although not all lenders would lend/insure. Probably best to check it out before you're too in love...

[KitschinSynch]

Thanks MsRinky I've asked our mortgage broker to make enquiries.

post who is your mortgage lender? We were hoping to go with Santander, and would only need to borrow half of the asking price. The heat exchange system sounds interesting, I know my SIL has one in NZ. This house has radiators but does have a C epc rating which is better than our Victorian terrace!

Hecate there is something of the beachhut about the house but I love it for that, feels fancy-free and relaxed. I sometimes think the Victorian houses feel a bit grand for me.

[PlasticPinkFlamingo]

Yes. There's some lovely Segal houses near me, including one that's up for sale (perhaps the one you're interested in?).

[KitschinSynch]

Maybe PlasticPinkFlamingo... I couldn't say.

[PlasticPinkFlamingo]

Don't worry we're not in the market for a new house.

[KitschinSynch]

It's making me rather irrational PPF I keep sneaking off to look at the pictures on my phone...

[KitschinSynch]

Santander have said no - they don't consider the house mortgageable. [:(]

[EthicalPickle]

They are a pain if you want to hang shelves

We bought a timber framed house in Canada. It didn't creak though.

My favourite type of house is block/brick walls and concrete floors. Lovely, solid and quiet. They are a bugger if you want to change things around though.

[MsRinky]

Oh boo. Sorry.

[PlasticPinkFlamingo]

Oh no that's a shame. Is it the one that is near some allotments in SE London?

[KitschinSynch]

I'm going to try some mortgage brokers now... I wonder how all the other people who live in them managed to buy them!

[Sprucegoose]

Was interested to see this thread as I think I came across that house on one of my regular property porn sessions. SE London, great value for the area, also advertised on trendy site featuring modern houses .... I would definitely live in it! In fact, I am tempted to book a viewing just to snoop around.. Hope you get some good news re mortgages.

[QuintessentiallyQS]

Timberframed houses need more maintenance. Just as you need to repoint a brick house, a timber house need wood treatment, every 3-4 years.... When we built in Norway, we picked out our house from this supplier and my architect friend jigged it around.

Not sure what the issue is with hanging things on the walls, Scandinavians have hung pictures and shelves for generations......