Cyprus-Forum.com

[michalis5354]

There are alternatives to concrete and If such alternatives offer better value for money I dont see why not to be used!

[michalis5354]

Steel (and wood) farme properties are the way forward in Cyprus; in 20 years no-one will be building the old concrete and steel boxes we have now. Steel and wood frame properties can be built in half the time, at 2/3 of the cost and are much more flexible should you want to change your room layout subsequently. Plus, through the use of SIPS, provide decent insulation, reducing heat in the summer and cold in the winter.

lana

True.

[Jez]

Hi Chaps,

All really interesting point raised above! My wife and I are just about to build our "dream home" here in cyprus and as I'm kind of in the industry, I've been taking quite an active interest in the techniques employed here. The recent move towards steel frame building systems is, from a design point of view, a real breath of fresh air. Not only from an asthetic point of view but from enviromental and cost points also.

Astheticaly, the potential delivered by incorporating steel and timber in a project can be unparalleled.




Economicaly, steel and timber (S+T) V's concrete (C), to me at least looks alittle one sided.

1. S+T construction time reduced compared to C = reduced labour time = less pounds spent over the life of the building

2. With S+T, the quality of the materials is more controlable when compared to C (anyone spotted a crumbling, scarred, concrete building here if cyprus?) so therefore, if properly selected and installed at the design and build stages, will give fewer head aches later in life. = less pounds spent over the life of the building

3. The flexability, with modification in mind, of a S+T structure outstrips a C structure with ease. The removal/modification of an internal wall within a C structure not only requires specialist equipment but will also require specialits Knowledge. The alternative in a S+T structure can be accomplished with a regular hammer and saw and a bit of DIY knowledge. = less pounds spent over the life of the building

4. Its HOT here in the summer, resulting in alot of A/C use = £££££££. A lack of a cheap heating fuel (natural piped gas) also means high bills throughout the winter months for heating = £££££££. The insulation values of concrete are a joke. The material is slow to react to its environment, but when it does it takes an age to reverse the process. In other words, it HOLDS heat in the summer, meaning hot buildings inside and out 24/7. But in the winter, when the sun is far less intense, the material keeps out what little natural heat is avaliable. When compared to modern, hollow fibre, laminated, insulation materials, concrete sucks. The knock on effect of these insulation issues on A/C (electricity) and heating (bottled gas - kerosine) bills will, over the life of the building, be an hugh reduction.

When I weigh up the reduction in costs over the whole life of the buiding, and the asthetic potential these alternative technologies offer, I can't really see a future for the, now established, concrete structure. I know we'll be doing everything possible to embrace this potential and as a consequence be producing not only a dynamic home but also a responsible piece of architecture.

Peace out

J

[Sotos]

Thanks for the good info everybody. Jez, i think your point number 3 can be a disadvantage for S+T also. Thin wood walls would mean that my home theater system will be heard in the bedrooms in the other side of the house. By the way, I think I've seen a home similar to your second picture at "Grand Designs" in Discovery channel.

[cyprusgrump]

Sotos, you could put your theatre in the basement like I have (a completely sound and light-proof reinforced concrete structure) and then build your house in wood or steel on top.

The additional advantage of the basement is that you get a really good, solid foundation for your house – ours is about 4m under the original soil level.

[andri_cy]

Thanks for the good info everybody. Jez, i think your point number 3 can be a disadvantage for S+T also. Thin wood walls would mean that my home theater system will be heard in the bedrooms in the other side of the house. By the way, I think I've seen a home similar to your second picture at "Grand Designs" in Discovery channel.

Not really. If you use insulation between the drywall and the wood that you are mounting it on it shouldnt be a problem. My house is wood frame and my living room is really close to my bedroom. Thanks to the fiberglass insulation we use, you cant hear a thing.

[Sotos]

Sotos, you could put your theatre in the basement like I have

Until now I was planning to have one room that would work as both a family living room and a home theater. I planing to connect all sorts of things on it like a PC and an x-box.

Not really. If you use insulation between the drywall and the wood that you are mounting it on it shouldnt be a problem. My house is wood frame and my living room is really close to my bedroom. Thanks to the fiberglass insulation we use, you cant hear a thing.

What about termites?

[andri_cy]

you can have people come and spray every year and you should be fine.

[Oneness]

I would have thought that wood and steel frame houses would have superior earthquake resistance to heavy, brittle concrete and cement structures.

Im sure that there are ugly wood and steel frame houses just as there are ugly concrete ones. But there are also splendid examples of each - there are good and bad quality examples of each.

[deedee]

Sotos,
re your houe building type question. Suggest you visit www.tek.kingspan.com and read the info here.
You will see that SIP's frame buildings are far superior to any other type of building technique used on Cyprus. They are treated against termites, far exceed the current UK fire and thermal insulation regs and are not more expensive to ensure. The resistance to quakes is far superior to concrete or steel as there is more movement in the structure.
When you have studied the website feel free to me on 99089375 and I can help you with any other questions you may have.