Solid timber homes live up to reputation
Fraemohs Homes has always claimed its solid timber homes are earthquake-resistant. Now everyone knows they are. Fraemohs has been designing and building solid timber homes since 1968.
Fraemohs homes are built using a unique, high-quality solid timber building system, where interlocking wall boards provide exceptional strength together with the warm, natural textures and colours of timber grain. Fraemohs general manager Keith Love says feedback from satisfied customers has flooded in to Fraemohs since Christchurch’s earthquakes, with owners telling stories of feeling safe and secure in their homes with its walls locked together, and suffering no damage at all as neighbouring houses were badly structurally damaged.
As well as earthquake resistance, the rebuild of Christchurch will see an increasing demand for energy-efficient housing using sustainable building materials.
Love says solid timber is a renewable resource. “A Fraemohs home locks up harmful carbon dioxide so is very good for the planet, he says. “Studies have shown that solid timber homes are energy-efficient, warm and healthy to live in.” Fraemohs is now offering its customers more choice, with the addition of new Fraemohs StrongWall alongside Fraemohs Solid Timber.
Both building systems are strong, earthquake resistant, warm and energy-efficient. “Fraemohs StrongWall is another building system that, like Fraemohs Solid Timber, offers many superior attributes to conventional building systems,” Love says. “Most of all, Fraemohs StrongWall offers our customers more choice and supports our philosophy of supporting sustainable building.”
Fraemohs StrongWall is a double-insulated, reinforced concrete exterior wall system producing a strong, earthquake-resistant structure with great noise insulation. It is made with Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) that stay in place as permanent building insulation for cast-in-place reinforced concrete walls. The ICFs are interlocking modular units that are stacked together on site and filled with steel reinforced concrete.
The steel is placed as the forms are stacked and then concrete is pumped and vibrated into place. Electrical conduits and plumbing are easily accommodated. StrongWall construction can be finished with all conventional materials including plaster, brick, and timber exteriors. Interior walls can be conventional timber frame or gib board. Love says Fraemohs StrongWall has been in use in New Zealand and overseas for many years.
“In New Zealand, StrongWall is used under several different names including Insulform, and has generally been used for high quality, architecturally designed homes,” he says. “Millbrook Resort near Queenstown was built using this system, and we think more people should know about this great building system and have the opportunity to use it to build warm, quiet, energy-efficient homes.” Love says the level of enquiries at Fraemohs has increased considerably since the earthquakes, as most people are aware of the strength of solid timber homes.
But with the solid timber market making up about 2% of homes, Love says the addition of the StrongWall system gives customers more design and building options with the same strength as solid timber. “With the introduction of Fraemohs StrongWall alongside Fraemohs renowned Solid Timber, there is now not only more choice, but also the opportunity for both building systems to be combined for a stunning effect,” Love says.
Fraemohs Homes has been selected to build a new showhome at Pegasus Town, which will clearly demonstrate the appeal of both Solid Timber and StrongWall construction systems, and Fraemohs’ innovative design options. “Our showhome at Pegasus Town will help to show people that we’re a mainstream builder,” Love says.
“It’s a nice, three-bedroom family home with a double garage and a sloping timber ceiling in the living area. It will be constructed of a nice combination of StrongWall and Solid Timber, to show both styles and how they can be combined.” The new showhome will be completed early next year.
