Timber iQ December 2019 - January 2020 // Issue: 47 | Page 11

NEWS
Insulation and noise reduction properties of a timber house add to the comfort of a timber home.
preventing both the consumer and the trade from harnessing
its manifold benefits in the construction arena, there are
positive signs that the general public and the trade are
showing increasing confidence in the material,” says Amanda
Obbes, general manager of the Institute for Timber
Construction South Africa (ITC-SA).
The couple explains that most people believe that using
timber to build is a cheap way of building and is of low quality
– which is not true. “Living in a CLT house doesn’t restrict you
in any way. And the high-quality standard we received from
HWZ International’s products actually improves the overall
quality of the house,” they add. HWZ International South
Africa, together with other local and international
stakeholders, work towards promoting wood construction
and green building in South Africa.
ADVANTAGES AND IMPORTANT
CONSIDERATIONS
Timber buildings are often aesthetically pleasing with their
mind-blowing designs. In addition to looking beautiful, timber
buildings also have other advantages. Melanie and Hannu
mention that the insulation and noise reduction properties of a
timber house add to the comfort of a timber home. The
benefit of the insulation value keeps the temperature inside
the house constant in both summer and in winter. With noise
reduction, once all the double-glazed windows are closed, the
nasty southeaster blowing in Cape Town remain outside.
Although House Pinotage is located in a coastal area, the
couple say that a CLT house is suitable for the Western Cape
area and many other areas in South Africa. They add that it is
important that more research is done on the eastern coast to
verify that kiln drying protects the timber against termites or
to find a treatment solution which will protect the house and
be eco-friendly at the same time. “But in general, every
project location is unique and the use of specific materials
(not only timber) should be evaluated properly according to
the special features of the location and the composition of
the wall as well as all materials should be selected according
to the location.” It is therefore important that people deciding
to build a timber structure must use contractors who are
aware of, and will adhere to, the standards set for timber
construction in South Africa. “Members of the general public
www.timberiq.co.za
and the trade are encouraged to call on the ITC-SA and
South Africa Qualifications Authority (SAQA) for information,
advice and support in their quest for a better built
environment,” adds Obbes.
In terms of the determining factors when deciding on a
timber home, the Garnys mention that emotions play an
important role. “There are many advantages like construction
speed, pleasant indoor climate, low carbon footprint and
many other ecological aspects, but in the end, you should
mainly like it and appreciate the beauty of visible quality
timber in the interior,” they explain. With timber, there are also
building technologies that have improved the timber
construction industry.
One of the technologies is the Novatop system, which was
used to build House Pinotage. Novatop is a complete building
system with components made of large-scale cross-
laminated solid wood (CLT – Cross laminated timber).
Individual components are characterised by high strength and
stability in the compressive stress and tension and
exceptional static strength, it can be applied to walls, ceilings
and roofs, and the result is a really safe all-wood construction.
All Novatop components are variable as far as width, length,
thickness and height, and atypical shapes can be
manufactured as well.
WOOD CONFERENCE 2020
House Pinotage is a perfect example of what can be achieved
through timber construction. Other case studies similar to
House Pinotage will be discussed at the upcoming Wood
Conference taking place in 26 February 2020 at the Cape
Town International Convention Centre (CICC).
The first-ever Wood Conference was hosted nine years ago in
2010. February 2020 will see the event being hosted for the
10th year since its inception. The conference brings together
people from different disciplines where speakers give
presentations focusing on sustainable, green and energy-
efficient building using wood. For the Garnys, the past four
years in the timber home has been nothing less than
rewarding. They don’t see themselves living in a house that is
not constructed from timber. “If I had to move, I would
definitely build another CLT house again,” they conclude.
// DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020
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