CASE STUDY: Beating the bills in the north of Scotland

Lee and Iain Jaffrey were looking for an energy-efficient dwelling that would not only reduce their carbon footprint, but also help lower their household bills. A timber frame kit home by Scotframe was the perfect solution.

The family had chosen a plot on the outskirts of the village of Insch, 28 miles north-west of Aberdeen, and intended to create a light-filled home that would take in the rolling views. The new house, which stands at six metres high, features an open-plan ground floor with floor-to-ceiling glazing.

Gregor and Kate Davidson of Ellon-based Cairnrowan Custom Homes were hired to deliver the project. Extensive work had to go into clearing the site, as the plot is on sloping ground and located on an old quarry with difficult access.

“The entire erection process was complicated by the restrictions of the site,” says Gregor. “Because of the height of the house, there were major scaffolding implications, too.” Despite these issues, the scheme was completed in a remarkable 14 weeks from kit arrival to moving in date.

The walls and roof cassettes of the cottage kit feature Scotframe’s Val-u-therm Plus panels, which provide excellent airtightness and insulation levels to deliver the thermal performance Lee and Iain were after.