New timber frame home demonstrates affordable, environmentally sustainable design

  • Timber frame homes are quicker to build, with less waste than brick construction
  • The home is environmentally sustainable, affordable and achieves a 7-star NatHERS energy rating 
  • In an industry dominated by brick construction, a new demonstration home in Kiara is highlighting the myriad benefits of timber frame construction.

    Designed by the Department of Communities and built by Dale Alcock, the home is environmentally sustainable, affordable and achieves a 7-star NatHERS energy rating – exceeding the 6-star industry standard.

    Located at 4 Sugargum Rise in the department’s Sugargum Estate land development, the timber frame home demonstrates a range of benefits over brick construction. The timber frame walls and roof trusses were prefabricated in-factory and the walls were erected in two days, rather than over a number of weeks. This approach also means greater quality control, with the frames and workers protected from the elements.

    Timber frame walls are also narrower than brick which means the internal floor space can be maximised and the homes are more adaptable, making it is easier to remove walls to create a larger bedroom or dining area.

    The home at 4 Sugargum Rise features a range of environmentally sustainable additions, including a 6.6 kW solar panel system paired with a 6.5 kW lithium battery which will result in little need for the home to access power from the grid.

    The first opportunity for the public and building industry representatives to view the home at 4 Sugargum Rise, Kiara is at 11am this Saturday, December 5.

    This home will be listed at $480,000, with a set-date sale planned for mid-December.

    As stated by Housing Minister Peter Tinley:

    “It is great to see the Department of Communities and Dale Alcock joining forces to build a timber frame demonstration home that is not only affordable, but environmentally sustainable.

    “Timber is a renewable resource and a natural carbon store, making it an ideal environmentally friendly building material. It is more resilient and has the added bonus of producing less waste than brick construction, which means less material ending up in landfill.

    “It is terrific that we are looking at different and innovative ways to build houses which gives Western Australians more choice when it comes to owning their own homes.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.