Working with self builders
Cullen Timber Design is a long-established company, with over twenty years’ experience of designing all types of timber frame. Our friendly team are uniquely placed to offer impartial advice and guidance and engage with you as an individual self-builder, to help you realise your vision and not just sell you a product.
Supporting your vision
We are happy to look at any size and type of project from small extensions to large and challenging family homes. We will undertake the design of frames that the large manufacturers may chose not to become involved with, for example, small or complex extensions, or a build on a remote or awkward site.
Our full-time design team’s capabilities are interchangeable, ensuring that their expertise is always available for our clients. We have a particular familiarity with the principles required for Passivhaus and energy efficient buildings.
We will offer value engineering strategies to help you reduce overall build costs and get the best value, particularly reducing steel components.
We can help you to determine which structural engineer might be best placed to support your build. We have experience of working with a range of engineers who have specific expertise, for example Passivhaus capabilities, green oak expertise or working with complex glulam and steel structures.
We can offer you advice regarding your choice of independent component fabricators, to help you choose which manufacturer would be a best fit for your project and help you to engage with frame erectors familiar with stick built and panelised systems.
Sharing our knowledge and contacts
Working collaboratively
We work in a holistic way to include all elements of the building frame including timber, sheathing, structural steel, decorative and non-structural timber.
We are happy to work alongside other suppliers, for example metal web joist and gang nail roof truss designers and suppliers.
Cullen Timber Design has enabled self-builders to realise their vision to create their own homes without engaging the services of a large timber frame company, who may not be able to meet their individual requirements. Because we are a small independent organisation, we are in a position to build a relationship with self-builders to ensure their end home is what they want, not just what a large company wants to sell them.
Many self-builders are opting to have their home built to the standards required for Passiv Haus accreditation or similar. Our experience has given us a reputation for knowledge and expertise within this specialised field. We understand all the precise requirements for minimising thermal bridging and managing air tightness.
Self-builders will come to us because their project is either complex, awkward or on a small or inaccessible site. In these circumstances a ‘stick-built’ solution is possibly the only option, and we have considerable experience in responding to this challenge.
If your self-build timber frame project demands a softwood solution, Cullen Timber Design can use our experience in this area to help you. Softwood builds offer an economic and time efficient way of creating versatile buildings and structures, particularly single or two storey extensions to existing timber or masonry buildings.
Softwood timber frame is particularly suited to adding a second storey to what might currently be a single storey masonry building. The aesthetic achieved using softwood can match the current look of a building or offer an interesting contrast to enhance your home.
For self-builders who enjoy the aesthetics of this material and require an oak solution, Cullen Timber Design are in an unrivalled position to offer not only sound, independent advice but also provide connections with several oak frame component manufacturers who can create their building. Whether you are looking to build a garage, cart shed or garden room, we have the experience, know how and skills to help you as a self-builder.
We understand how green oak works as a building material as well as the charm and beauty it affords. We also recognise that to deliver your build in a cost-effective manner, a combination of green oak and softwood can work very effectively to produce outstanding results.