Introduction to CLT. We are delighted that you are interested in building in CLT- the fast, off site method of construction.
Many congratulations. Timber is the only way to build fast, lightweight, high quality and carbon negative buildings.
And now it’s even better value for money.
Building in CLT is not like a conventional build.
The Benefits of Building in CLT
Building in CLT will significantly reduce the length of your programme. Reduce your finance costs and accelerate your income from the investment.
It will also simplify the build, increase the productivity of your team, mitigate most site risks and reduce waste.
It will be quieter and drier as a building method and so there should be fewer objections from the neighbours.
Being precision cut off site, the windows and doors can be ordered once the design is finalised.
The Product
CLT is a very strong material, in compression, in tension and in shear. This makes CLT a unique material with which to achieve significant spans and cantilevers or jetties.
It is lightweight being 20% of the weight of the same volume of concrete. Lighter weight means lighter foundations and can allow buildings to be built higher, or at all on marginal ground.
CLT buildings are airtight and offer the best basis for an A or A+ EPC, or Passiv Haus standards.
CLT is a warm to the touch and has significant insulating properties which means that it needs less added insulation than masonry or concrete.
Living With CLT
CLT is a warm, quiet material with low or zero VOC’s. It has been shown to have calming effects and when used in schools and colleges creates a great learning environment with better outcomes.
CLT buildings are very strong with little or no movement in them and no creaks.
Value For Money
Looked at in the round (ie initial cost and downstream benefits) building in CLT is comparable to other conventional methodologies (ie block and brick, steel frame etc).
A precision built quality, strong building is likely to have a higher resale value than a comparable conventionally built buildings. This a result of low operating costs and sustainability credentials.
And is likely to have a higher re-sale value and be in high demand.
The most attractive aspect of building in CLT is the speed and certainty with which it can be erected. A faster delivery means lower finance costs, lower project management costs and lower alternative accommodation costs.
Carbon Credentials
Building to net zero carbon standards, CLT is the only logical material with which to build.
Timber, or wood in its natural state, lives off sunshine and carbon dioxide, and emits oxygen.
Timber continues to biogenically store carbon after being felled. Carbon cannot escape to combine with oxygen to create CO2.
CLT is actually carbon negative in contrast to competitor materials such as concrete, cement and bricks which emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide in their manufacture.
CLT sequesters about 700kg of carbon dioxide per cubic metre, net, ie after the carbon emissions of manufacture and transport are factored in.
When we cost your project we will calculate the volume of CLT required and give you a net sequestered figure for CO2 after taking into account transport and manufacturing emissions.
We can also let you know how long it will take to re-grow the timber cut down for your project in our principal supplier’s forests on a summer day. You will be amazed how quickly your house will spring up again!