TIMBER FRAME v BRICK BLOCK Masonry- House Extension walls - Architect Builder’s 5 expert tips

For building your house extension you need to choose between timber frame cavity wall and brick block cavity wall. I go through my tips and tricks including full costs, materials and labour. The pros and cons and I’ll tell you what I always choose and why. Quick teaser….. Cladding options, air tightness, moisture control, space for services, speed off construction.

Throughout the vid I mention some additional videos to consider and I’ve listed what those are below.

Reasons why ventilation in voids and cavities is so important, and how to avoid making the typical mistakes and avoid condensation in home builds
Win the Vapour Barrier War for your Attic extension, Lofts, House Extension and Renovations

For my detailed article, see my post here

My bottom up fully detailed self build multi trades house extension costing template
How to COST and BUDGET a house extension - Pricing document download EXPLAINED
How much did I pay to build this HOUSE EXTENSION? Full price, cost breakdown

How to choose sizes for timber frame walls, floors and ceilings
Timber sizes for your home build, you don’t need a structural engineer

U values explained
How I designed this House Extension - start to finish, all the stages

How I created the cad drawings and pulled the materials list from it
GARDEN ROOM Sketchup tutorial build in 12 minutes with Sizes, downloads, order materials from model
ATTIC CONVERSION - HOW I DREW IT - from initial sketch to 3D model to 2D construction drawings

Links to files for you to download and use, note these are for information only and not to be used for builds without seeking independent professional advice:

1) Comparison and pricing spreadsheet from the video

2) SketchUp comparison file from the video

00:55 timber frame wall cost and material breakdown
04:05 masonry brick block cavity wall material breakdown
05:15 using SketchUp to get cost comparison
06:14 taking materials from SketchUp and importing into price spreadsheets
06:27 getting prices for materials
06:49 labour costs
07:38 cost per square metre for both wall types
08:03 my top 5 tips and what wall type that I recommend

[Mr-T]

What about sips instead of timber frame? Would love to see this cost comparison. 😊 Great video to see this trade off though.

[Mghanabro]

What an excellent video from a dedicated experienced one love it

[kevinjohnson]

Dude that was bloody brilliant !!! This is the second video of yours I have watced and I have to say, 10 out of 10 for both !!!

[TonyCarnell]

Really useful information there, thanks for sharing 👍

[mike_jay]

Hi, did the cost breakdown for brick and block quote £10 for a plasterer, yet a few hundred for the timber frame plasterer ?

[BenGray]

A huge help, I'd come to my own conclusions on similar lines, but confirmation bias drew me to find your video. Really excellent, looking forward to watching more of your content.

[kevocos]

Great walk through comparison.
Interesting to see that you fix insulation external side of the osb sheathing. Is there any particular reason you prefer that arrangement as I have typically seen insulation only installed between the studwork with battens then nailed internal side of the stud to provide the cavity.
Keep up the good work fella!

[splesticer]

Can a timber frame rear extension still work for terrace houses where you’d be building right up to the boundary, with no access on the neighbouring side? Could you build the outer leaf in block or facing brick first then build the inner frame? Thanks for the videos - super insightful for self builders 🙏

[tomoose]

My other question is about supporting the weight of the roof. Do you need vertical steel columns to take the roof load or is the timber frame strong enough for this on a 2 story extension?

[edrawle]

Great videos, why do you use 140mm block for the inner leaf rather than 100mm? Thanks!

[hussamali]

Do we need a damp proof course in foundation for timber builds ??

[jp_makes]

Thanks for the excellent video, very informative. How do brick ties get installed on the timber frame option? I would have thought the brickwork would still need to be tied back to the structure? Thanks

[diegofrancocoto]

Great content. Have been looking for something like this and it's more informative, thorough and graphic than expected.
How about weight comparisons? Seems relevant for extensions over existing constructions.
Cheers!

[andyballard]

Thank you for the very thorough Video, the only thing I would have liked to see discussed and factored into the costs is the relative groundwork for both methods. I'm assuming the foundations required for Timber frame are shallower and required less material and time /labour to implement.

[omstygomsty]

Hello there, In the case of constructing a single story extension (wooden frame with a brick outer leaf -Total width = 350mm) over a floating RSJ steel beam support beneath. How is the outer leaf brick supported if the RSJ is only 203mm wide to support the wooden frame and roof? Is it that a steel flange approx 150mm needs to be typically welded onto the RSJ to increase its width? Or it is that wider RSJ is required? Do you have an example of such in your videos? Thank you for your great content.

[cillo]

On your build up on the timber frame, you have 50mm insulation on the external side of the stud. I haven't seen any of the timber frame companies in Ireland do this; I can see the logic - but should the vapor barrier be moved from the OSB to the outside of the insulation? I am not keen on having PIR degassing into the house. I am okay with it on the external part of the stud, but inside, what are the best options, mineral wool? I don't have the space for cellulose.

[tomoose]

Thanks so much for the video. This is really interesting. My architect has specced masonry walls. 100mm cavity, with 90mm kingspan k106 to meet the latest u values of 0.18. this only leaves a 10mm void. You also say for a timber frame you can build the timber frame structure and get the roof on and windows in without having the outer brick skin done. This suggests the windows are fitted within the inner leaf rather than outer leaf as with standard masonry construction? Great video as always.

[rossbutler]

If you were to build a timber frame to have a rendered finished, how would you create a vented cavity? Would counter batten suffice?

[Aman.n]

Looking to build an outbuilding around 9m x 8m, with vaulted ceilings. Planning with architect is underway and in early stages so im doing loads of my own research in the mean time. Wondering if timber frame would be suited for the size of outbuilding i'm going for? loving your videos, great knowledge, subbed! thanks

[YodhrinsForge]

I can see the benefits of timber frame, especially since as a DIYer I'm far more confident working with wood than with block, but in the context of the project I'm planning - 1950's brick cavity semi already full-fulled with blown in EPS gluemix by previous owner, which I'll be adding EWI to in an attempt to push the condensation point out of the fabric - I suspect I'd be better off replicating rest of the structure with the extension(though with blocks to save a bit of cash). Any thoughts?