Timber framed houses

[kade12]

Hello Nigel,what would we do without your valuable advice.We have just got the permit to rebuild our house(ruin)in the standard poured concrete method.The first builder (with 16 years experiance of building on the island)comes along and tells us that we would be better for a number of reasons of having it built timber framed.And which i find hard to believe that we would not have to seek alterations to the building permit which has been approved,but to just go ahead.Can you advise please Nigel.....Terry Liversidge

[Nigel Howarth]

Hi Terry

Yes - you will have to submit another building permit application if you plan to build a timber frame (and I think you may also have to submit another planning application first - but I'm not sure).

And make sure the builder knows what building a timber frame property is all about otherwise you could have mega damp problems to contend with!

Cheers,

[kade12]

Hello Nigel,according to our Cypriot architect & structural engineer we do NOT have to re-apply to have our property built timber framed.They say simply that how can we re-apply when to get permission(or is it a permit)in the first place, it was approved by the authorities not knowing what the property was going to be built of.
I hope i have explained this correctly and hope you can comment on this,,,,thanks again,,Terry Liversidge

[Nigel Howarth]

Hi Terry,

If you take a look through your architectural drawings (mine run to 37 A2 sheets) you'll find a number of static drawings prepared by the structural engineer showing the reinforcing structure of the building. These show the location of the supporting columns together with details of the reinforcing bars used in their construction. These are submitted with the building permit application.

So I can't see how the authorities wouldn't know how the property is going to to built - it's shown in the drawings.

(And you should have been given the opportunity to review these plans and make any alterations before they were submitted to the authorities).

Cheers,

Nigel

[kade12]

Sorry to bother you again Nigel but i probably did not make things clear on my last posting.When our cypriot architect submitted the very first plans into the authorities for approval it did not show on the plans what the property was going to be built of,timber.concrete,steel or a mixture of anything.The plans just showed the design like the number of bedrooms and bathromms etc.The authorities came round to the site and said yes thats fine,go ahead,not knowing what it was going to be built of.
Our architect now says that her own structural engineer will make sure that during the construction that he will supervise and make sure everything is done according to building regulations however what we decide to build it out of. And the next time we see the authorities is when it is completed to check it has been built to the original design submitted and to give a completion certificate
Thanks again for you help,,Terry Liversidge

[Nigel Howarth]

No problem Terry - I can see what's happened.

Your architect has applied for a Town Planning Permit and this has been granted. (The drawings he will have submitted are the plans, elevations and sections - no mention what materials will be used in the construction).

Now he has a Planning Permit he will need to apply for a Building Permit before construction work can (legally) get under way. The drawings he needs to submit will show the structural stability of the building, the provision of utilties, health & safety, the fire adequacy of the building, sewage and drainage etc. And these drawings will show that it's a timber-frame construction.

You can read more about the planning process on my website at http://www.cyprus-property-buyers.com/law/planning.htm

Regards,

[kade12]

Thanks Nigel,you have made it quite clear and i now fully understand,,,Terry Liversidge