Timber iQ December 2018 - January 2019 // Issue: 41 | Page 30

FEATURES
Timber modular structures are on the rise in South Africa.
“For example, building with a proper insulated modular
timber frame means the R-value is far higher than brick and
mortar. It is also widely believed that a timber home will be
subject to rot and more exposed to fire but modern building
regulations and the option of fire retardant properties of
insulations on the market and dry lining means that fire is
simply not an issue.
“There are also options to pre-treat against any potential
problems. Also rot-producing fungi will only attack wood
that boasts a moisture content consistently over +/-20%,
therefore building with kiln-dried timber is a necessity in
the industry.”
The design plays an important role in achieving optimum
effectiveness of the natural characteristics that timber
offers, highlights Lüdi. “The design capabilities of timber
with modular structures are endless. Careful planning is
necessary with timber frame since the modules are
produced off site – they have to fit precisely on site,
everything from the floor elements to the roof finish.
“The latest requirements by town planning with regards
to fenestration schedules is also something to keep in mind
as most new builds have new regulations with regards to the
glazing required and so forth. Obviously double-glazed
windows and sliding doors add a high R-value to the
structure, but can be quite costly at this point in time.
Hopefully this will change.”
28 DECEMBER 2018 / JANUARY 2019 //
TRENDS TAKING SHAPE
Tiny home living has been highly popular with our northern
hemisphere neighbours mostly due to their restricted
spaces available and obviously the trend to ‘simplify life’
also plays a role, Lüdi points out. “Whereas in South Africa
we tend to have more space for living so the call for this tiny
living market is not yet in our hemisphere.
“There is, however, a trend to add value to existing
properties by adding onto the existing conventional homes,
which is ideal if the space allows for it and if there is
accessibility to the footprint. We have done several projects
where modular timber frame design was specified for roof
top building – penthouse apartments and building onto
existing structures like garages – to maximise space and to
add value to the building. This becomes more expensive as
this involves more on site work with the existing roof,
however, it becomes well worth it in the long run.”
With the planet-conscious movement on sustainable and
eco-friendly living and building on the rise, we see a huge
influx in demand on this type of building; and an increase on
acknowledgment from town planning and municipalities to
readily and eagerly accept this kind of building for approvals
is imminent, despite that there is still quite a lot of red tape
with regards to this, says Lüdi. “As this building method
becomes more commonplace and demand increases, hopefully
we will see a more competitive pricing structure as a result.”
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