Wickfords - The Future Today
At Wickfords we strive to construct perfection in the form of a house. By using timber for the main framework and foundation in combination with other recyclable materials for insulation, flooring, wall covering and roofing, we aim to build a house that does not have a huge impact on the environment and at the same time offers luxurious living.
All our building materials, fixing and fittings are of the highest quality and as most of the work is done by our own teams we can offer a guarantee of 5 years on all our work. The aluminium or uPVC doors and windows as well as kitchen cupboards and build-in wardrobes are manufactured by our subsidiaries or supplied by vetted suppliers thus enabling us to install everything on time.
🏗️ Build Smarter, Build Stronger: The Premium Advantage of Timber Frame Construction
When done properly by a master carpenter, a timber frame structure is not a temporary shortcut—it is a premium, high-performance building method that outperforms standard brick-and-mortar in almost every category. Whether you are looking to build a modern eco-home, an extra farm cottage, a luxury lodge, or a secure workshop, timber frame construction offers incredible structural, financial, and lifestyle benefits.Here is why timber is the forward-thinking choice for your next building project
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🚀 Why Choose Timber Frame? The Core Benefits
- Built in Half the Time: Because the structural framing is engineered and cut with precision, the structural skeleton goes up rapidly. You can move into your home, start renting out your cottage, or use your workshop months ahead of a brick-and-mortar timeline.
- Outstanding Natural Insulation: Timber has incredible natural thermal properties. Combined with modern, high-quality insulation materials inside the walls, timber frame buildings stay cool during blistering Free State summers and warm during freezing winter nights. This dramatically cuts your monthly heating and cooling bills.
- Flawless, Straight Walls: Unlike standard plastering which is prone to human error, cracking, and wavy finishes, precision carpentry ensures perfectly straight, plumb walls. Your doors, windows, and built-in cupboards will fit flawlessly every single time.
- Design Freedom & Flexibility: Timber is incredibly versatile. It allows for beautiful open-plan architectural designs, soaring exposed-beam ceilings, and easier extensions or layout modifications in the future.
- Lighter Foundations, Less Site Damage: Timber frames are significantly lighter than heavy brick walls. This means less concrete is required for foundations, reducing your upfront material costs and leaving your natural site landscape undamaged by heavy excavation.
🛡️ Myth vs. Reality: Done Properly Means Built for Generations
Many people hesitate to build with timber due to old misconceptions. When you build with a qualified professional, those worries disappear.
- Myth: Timber frames are a fire hazard.
Reality: We use heavy-grade, treated timber and fire-rated internal cladding. Thick timber beams actually char on the outside during a fire, forming a protective layer that maintains structural integrity longer than unprotected steel beams.
- Myth: Insects and rot will ruin the structure. Reality: Every piece of timber we use is structurally graded and strictly treated against termites, wood-borer, and fungal rot in accordance with South African building regulations (SABS/SANS standards). It is completely impervious to local pests.
- Myth: Timber houses do not last. Reality: In Europe and North America, timber houses stand perfectly for hundreds of years. When engineered correctly with proper moisture barriers, flashing, and sealing, your timber home will easily last for generations.
📐 The Master Carpenter Difference: Why Clients Trust Us
A timber frame building is only as good as the precision of the person building it. Because we treat carpentry as a precise trade rather than a rough assembly job, we deliver an unmatched level of quality:
- Zero Compromise on Materials: We use correct, graded structural timber and matching, premium fasteners. Every joint is engineered for absolute structural stability.
- Advanced Moisture Protection: We install high-spec vapor barriers and weatherproofing membranes. This prevents dampness from ever entering your walls, protecting your indoor air quality and your structure.
- Seamless Trade Integration: Because our business specializes in certified electrical, gas, and plumbing systems, we route all services perfectly through the timber framework during construction. No messy wall-chasing, no leaks, and absolute compliance from day one.
