Eco Projects How To Buy An Old Timber Frame

Date Published:

29/05/2008

Guide to Buying a Used Timber Frame

Thankfully it is a characteristic of our times that people will go to extraordinary lengths to preserve their heritage. This extends to the protection of old buildings, many of which are fundamentally underpinned by centuries-old oak frames. As you will see, this attitude to preservation means that a home with a sense of history is an accessible dream for every self builder.

A Wonderful Example

It is also a sign of our times that air travel is a regular feature in our lives. As a consequence, when Manchester airport needed a new runway some ancient buildings were at risk. Fortunately they were saved, having been painstakingly taken down piece by piece, relocated and then reconstructed as they were at the original site.

Karen and Simon Saunton own one such building. According to them, the main attraction was that the building's soul remains true to the medieval techniques that built it. And then there's the character. The couple could have bought a UK-standard mock Tudor home on any number of housing developments in the area, but opted instead for a building without that airbrushed quality.

The stains, imperfections, bumps and bruises built up over hundreds of years of domestic use are a real quality in Karen and Simon's eyes, and they're not alone.

If you're on the lookout for an old timber framed house you might be surprised by how easy it is to find one. While not exactly in abundance, if you look in the right places they are out there just waiting to be snapped up.