Timber-frame house insurance

Timber-framed homes have a number of advantages:

• Quick to build – the timber frame is manufactured off-site, so can be erected quickly.

• Eco-friendly – materials are often sustainably sourced and readily available. Timber is a renewable material and produces far less CO2 than brick or concrete. It absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it, helping to offset the greenhouse effect. It has a smaller carbon footprint.

• Energy-efficient – timber is a natural insulator, so your home will heat more quickly and you’ll use less energy.

• More predictable build costs – pre-built homes can offer more price certainty because factory costs tend to fluctuate less than building on-site.

Timber-framed flats are rare but do exist. Some historical timber-framed buildings are divided into flats and growing numbers of purpose-built, low-rise flats are being constructed with timber frames too.

Some architect-designed, high-rise flats are timber-framed and nicknamed ‘plyscrapers’. Taller blocks of timber flats could become more commonplace as the demand for sustainable materials grows.

If you’re buying property, be sure to check what materials it’s built from. This should be made clear in your home survey. You’ll also need to state your home’s construction materials when you buy buildings insurance.

In general, buildings insurance for timber-framed homes covers damage to the physical structure, fixtures and fittings. However, what exactly your insurance policy covers can vary, depending on your provider.

Some policies cover insect damage and rot, for instance, while others won’t. That’s why it’s always vital to read the policy small print carefully.

It’s important to tell your provider as much as possible about your home when you apply for timber frame buildings insurance, so you can get the right cover. You’ll need to tell them:

• That your home is timber-framed – some insurance providers won’t cover non-standard houses.

• How your property was built – timber-framed homes can be self-built, eco-home designs or listed buildings of wattle and daub. When getting a quote with us, we’ll also ask whether your timber-framed building has plaster panels.

• Whether your property has foundations – let your insurance provider know if your timber-framed home was built without a foundation. This could increase your premium, as timber-framed homes without foundations can be more vulnerable to subsidence.

To get an up-to-date rebuild cost for homes built with non-standard construction materials, you likely need to contact a professional chartered surveyor.

You may not get an accurate picture from online rebuild value calculators. These may not always take into account the fact that, to rebuild your property, materials could be harder to source and specialist craftspeople might be required.

Yes, you can get landlord insurance for timber-framed homes. But you might have fewer options to choose from than with standard homes.

Yes, you can get insurance for your self-build timber-frame house. You can find insurance to cover you during construction and once the home is complete.

It may be worth talking to insurance providers before you start construction. They can recommend ways to make the construction more durable and reduce risks to the property.

If your log cabin is your permanent residence, you can compare home insurance at Compare the Market. If it isn’t a permanent residence, you’ll need specialist insurance.

Let your insurance provider know if your cabin was treated with fire-retardant protection when it was built. You’ll need to make sure your cabin has decent security locks on doors and windows, too.

If you rent out your log cabin as a holiday home, it’s worth considering public liability insurance in addition. This could cover you if a guest injures themselves on your property and makes a compensation claim. You might also want to consider cover for loss of rental if a fire or flood makes the cabin unusable.

Thatched roofs also need specialist insurance as they’re considered a greater fire risk. You might be asked to take certain fire precautions and keep the roof maintained.

Thatched-roof properties are more expensive to rebuild than conventional houses because they require specialist materials and labour. This is likely to mean insurance for a thatched roof house costs more.

Our data shows that it costs around £285 to insure your home if the roof is made from something other then tiles, concrete or slate.²