Construction

Timber frame 

The frame is made from glue-laminated timber and is individually designed and manufactured for each project. The method of construction is based on traditional joinery principles supplemented by modern fixings. The timber is treated with a colourless base coat. This is followed by a coat of water-based paint. A choice of colours are available and natural / environmentally-friendly finishes are specified as standard. 

All non-visible timber in the roof truss is made from structural softwood and sized as necessary. 

The pitched roof has a standard 35° pitch – although other pitches are possible. 

The roof overhang on the gables and eaves is 1.25m as standard – larger or smaller overhangs are also possible. 

Roof construction

Underlay is fixed to the top of the rafters to protect against any moisture penetration. Cross-battens ensure good ventilation behind the roof tiles. Insulation to a high standard is provided, to provide an efficient modern house which is economical to run. A variety of roof tiles and colours can be provided. Aerials, vents etc. can all be included. 

A feature of the design is the timber gutters which are lined with zinc and project approx. 70cm at each gable end.

Chimneys and flues as well as maintenance ladders can also be provided where necessary.

Windows and fixed glazing

The total area of glazing is assumed to be 25% of the floor area, which gives a typical house its bright, open character. 

Window frames are made from sustainable hardwood as standard with a thickness of 68mm. Pine can be used where the timber frame of the house is left as a natural finish.  Window cills are made from aluminium which can be powder coated in matching colours. 

Full height, double-glazed sliding doors, or 'tilt and turn' items can be supplied.

Front Doors

External doors are made from sustainable hardwood as standard, or pine can be used where the timber frame of the house is left as a natural finish. The door can be made with a framed glass construction or as a solid leaf with a choice of veneers. The door leaf is specified with continuous edge seals. A choice of ironmongery / door handles is available and each door is provided with a secure 5 - lever mortise lock as standard. As for the windows, sidepanels to doors are double-glazed as standard.

External Walls

There are several possibilities for wall construction, and there are a range of materials and finish available to suit every location. 

The standard options are:

-          timber fame with insulation and render
-          timber frame with insulation and fibre-cement self finished board (providing a render appearance)
-          timber frame with insulation and fibre-cement weatherboarding

Planning and Building a KD Haus

Your budget will obviously determine the size of house you can build, and approximate prices per square foot ( and square metre ) are provided for your guidance. When determining the costs for the construction of a house, there are many variables which depend entirely upon the particular site conditions. However, once you have found a site, and determined that the Local Authority will let you build a house on it, the planning stage can properly begin.

On the KD Haus UK website are typical floor plans for two storey houses from around 100 sqm upwards. Note: one square metre is the equivalent of 10.76 square feet. These plans are intended only as a guide to what is possible, since we recognise that every site requires a different set of solutions, and every client has individual requirements.

KD will work with the client to produce a design solution which respects these site conditions, admires the views, and solves their practical needs. Once a proposal has been finalised to the client’s satisfaction, the plans can be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for approval. KD Haus UK will do this on your behalf, together with a Building Regulations application. KD Haus UK will also manage the project during the entire construction process.

An important consideration for every home builder is the length of time the project takes to construct. From our experience, one may assume a total construction period of 24 weeks to the moment when the house is ready to move in.

Once the approvals are granted a start can be made on site. The ground works and service connections are the first items to be completed. Meanwhile the frame is being manufactured in the KD Haus workshops in Germany.

When the foundations are complete, the erection of the frame itself takes just one week. The roof finishes, insulation and rooflights, together with the gutters are all completed in the following week. The value of using a kit of timber parts, in this way, is that the speed of erection allows the construction process to be shortened.

Once the frame is complete, the windows and door openings are carefully measured for manufacture in Germany. Fixing these windows takes less than a week, and at this point the house is wind and weather tight, ready to be fitted out internally to your requirements.

Once the house is complete and you have moved in, our technical staff return after six months, to check that everything is running smoothly.

Heating

A variety of heating systems can be accommodated, though our standard package assumes the installation of underfloor heating to all rooms. This provides extra comfort in bathrooms where the tiled floor is always warm to the touch.

The heating system is driven by a Heat Pump, which can deliver significant cost savings over conventional systems as it uses the waste heat extracted from the interior of the house, and provides for all hot water and space heating. Heat Pumps are more efficient than oil-fired boilers and especially useful where there is no mains gas supply.