The Walker Timber Group has been at the forefront of timber engineering for many years, having been one of the first companies to supply timber frame to volume housebuilders as well as one off solutions for the self builder.
The Group has one of the largest in-house design offices in the UK and has built up an enviable client base of leading national, regional and local housebuilders & contractors.
Our engineering team, with a depth of knowledge and expertise acquired by being at the leading edge of product development for a number of years, has contributed significantly to the acceptance and growth of timber frame throughout the UK. Our role as one of the lead partners in the TF2000 multi-storey project (see below) is one example of how we have contributed to the promotion of timber frame as a valuable and sustainable form of construction sourced from a renewable material.
The Walker Timber Group has adopted a policy of ongoing research into timber frame techniques for over 40 years. Early involvement in enhanced thermal performance was investigated and trialled as long ago as the 1970’s. The lessons learnt in regard to heat loss, ventilation control and on-site detailing led to the development of our Comfort System.
 This involved the use of a reverse wall technique, employing a bitumenised fibre board on the external face of the outer wall, insulation, studs and a sheathing board on the inside face. A specialist breather membrane was factory applied. On site pressure air testing was made. The system also used triple glazed windows and incorporated mechanical ventilation control with heat recovery.
 We also researched a sandwich construction using timber and Dow Styrofoam, creating floor and roof panels with the same component make up.
More recent research projects include the work and subsequent patenting of The Walker Timber Floor.
We invested considerable resources in developing this floor which exceeds the requirements of Approved Document E (2003 England & Wales) which set new standards for sound insulation within and between habitable areas and includes new requirements for pre-completion testing of separating wall and floors in new-build houses, flats and between residential rooms in such buildings as hotels, hostels, nursing homes and student accommodation.
The Walker Timber Floor has Robust Detail status which eliminates the need and cost of pre-completion testing by the builder.
Through our work on the Technical Committee of the UK Timber Frame Association, we have also made important contributions to the timber frame industry responses on thermal and acoustic standard changes as found in Approved Documents L (Part J in Scotland) and E.
Research and development has been a key aspect of the company's success and has resulted in groundbreaking results in the area of acoustic performance in separating floors as well as enhanced wall insulation
Timber Frame 2000
We were a leading partner in the Timber Frame 2000 project, a collaboration between BRE, TRADA, the ODPM and industry where the first 6 storey timber frame block of flats was built and tested at the BRE's Cardington Research site in Bedfordshire..
TF2000 was a world first, focused on exploiting the UK's potential to become world leader in the provision of medium-rise timber frame buildings. Its aims were to encourage confidence in the market by demonstrating the benefits of timber frame construction against proven benchmarks and to promote its added value as a sustainable form of construction.
These aims were achieved by testing and investigating a full scale, six storey, timber frame building - the tallest building of its type in the world at that time - and by producing authoritative guidance documents.
Napier University, Edinburgh
The Walker Timber Group are proud to be sponsors of the Centre for Timber Engineering at Napier University, Edinburgh http://cte.napier.ac.uk The centre is a national focus for excellence in education and research in the constructional uses of timber. We aim to invest and contribute towards not only valuable research, but also in the people with the skills for innovation and growth within the industry. Walker Timber has facilitated the sponsorship and employment of students from the Centre of Timber Engineering.
The group chairman, Michael Walker OBE was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Napier University in recognition of his contribution to the Timber industry.
Design for Manufacture Competition
Another project which highlights perfectly our approach to product development and our ability to work closely with others was the £60k ODPM’s Design for Manufacture competition in which we were delighted to be part of a winning George Wimpey consortium.
Closed Panel Timber Frame
As the off-site manufacturing sector continues to develop we have embarked on an in-house design project to bring to market a Walker Timber closed panel system.
We are actively consulting with our customers and our aim is to develop a product that offers a cost-effective solution and which further reduces the need for on-site labour.
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