Timber Frames – What Size Do You Need for Your Home?
You often hear people talking about what their home is going to look like on the outside. Have you considered what yours is going to look like on the inside… behind the gyprock? I’m talking about the timber frames.
Timber Frames
The types of frames that is used in your new home is definitely something listed in your Tender or Contract. Where your frames are Timber, you have to consider what frame thickness is being used:
- Frames that are 70mm thick
- Frames that are 90mm thick
Both are safe and compliant options for timber frames but there are some things that you should consider.
Cavity Sliding Doors
Firstly, consider where there are sliding doors. Even though cavity sliding doors come in both 70mm and 90mm widths (made to fit the types of frames in your home ), the 70mm cavity might not be the best long term option. The 70mm cavity unit doesn’t allow much space for the door to slide in and out – the cavity available for the door can be a tight fit. Over time, with the swelling and movement of the building can cause the sliding door to begin derailing or jamming. If you have included several sliding doors in your new home, it may be worthwhile reviewing the frame thickness.
Floor to ceiling tiles in the Bathrooms
Secondly, consider the wet areas. Where your new home is designed so that one wall divides two different wet areas, it is important to consider the strength of frames behind the wall. Where there are instances of back to back wet areas it may be more suitable to have 90mm frames. Frames that are 90mm in width provide more strength, especially where there are full height tiles on the walls. Over time, it is possible that the frames beneath the walls will begin to sag.
Hallways
Last of all, consider any hallways. Long, continuous runs of wall (e.g. a hallway) have a tendency to warp and bow after the house has settled. Weaker frames will produce a more pronounced warp (should warping occur). This may not have an immediate affect but over time, if the walls begin to warp, it will be noticeable in the cornices of the home.
Conclusion
There is no immediate difference between 70mm thick and 90mm thick frames. However, some elements of your home design will benefit from using stronger frames.
There is no huge cost difference to upgrade to 90mm frames. In my opinion, peace of mind that your home is protected by strong frames definitely justifies the slight extra cost involved.
To watch my video on frames, click here.
