NaCSBA member Advanced Housing Systems has come up with what they think might be a first for the self build sector, with a pick-your-own timber service, from Will Benzies’ mature Douglas fir forest in Devon – all local to the company.
Advanced Housing Systems states that buyers can wonder through the forest to chose those perfect trees for their own build, which forester Benzies will then fell and process to create the raw materials for a greenwood post and beam frame, creating a home with a very personal touch. The frame is infilled with Advanced Housing’s panels, which can be integrated with its range of our systems, including its THEPASSIVHAUS PHI certified models.
Advanced launched its THEPASSIVHAUS system in 2021, bringing a passivhaus certified total envelope system to the market. On review, the Passivhaus Institute at Darmstadt system stated that it found it to be ‘the most comprehensive system’ it had assessed to date.
Self builders won’t be the guinea pig for this new service, as Advanced Housing Systems has chosen its own timbers to build its own new facility using this process, which it believes brings together the embodied carbon and the operational carbon figures, which, when combined with passivhaus technology, will create a super green build.
The company works to create Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) systems for both self builders and commercial developments alike, offering a customisable envelope for both the sub- and superstructure. To make life easier, the system can be delivered with joinery and electrical systems in place, that are ready to skim plaster internally and clad externally, saving work time on site.
What is a green wood frame?
Green wood is effectively fresh wood that has not been kiln dried. This type of timber is cut from the forest and used for construction immediately, with no need for seasoning, and is a traditional approach to construction that has been used throughout time. Often, pegs and holes join the frame together, and as the frame dries out naturally these joints tighten and become super strong. Oak is the wood typically associated with building with greenwood, but many woods such as Douglas Fir or cedar can be used – but this often depends on what is available locally.
