Timber Frame Insulation Options

Timber frame insulation options your dream timber frame home it’s important to ensure that you prioritise the insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in. This isn’t just a matter of cost, it’s essential to your future comfort. The wrong insulation can lead to moisture problems in the future and increase your energy costs.

Rigid foam insulation is an excellent choice for timber frames. It can be supplied with a variety of facing materials and it has good acoustic properties. However, it does have the potential to cause condensation within the wall cavity if it is not treated correctly, which is why it must always be fitted over a vapour control layer.

Exploring Timber Frame Insulation Options: From Basics to Advanced

In the past, some builders have used a system called wrap and strap to insulate timber frame walls. This is a system that uses a sheet of OSB to act as a breather membrane, which is then covered by a PIR or glass/mineral wool rigid foam. This is fixed to the studs at the corners and edges of the frame with large headed galvanised clout nails.

A much better option is a system called Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). These panels consist of a layer of oriented strand board, which is fixed to the outer face of the timber frame studs, and then a layer of insulation that can vary in thickness depending on your build requirements. They can be a fantastic solution for hybrid timber frame structures, or for buildings that are part timber frame and part conventional.