I live in the UK. Is it feasible to take an old timber frame from a demolished building and rebuild from scratch elsewhere using the frame together with modern materials? Or will such an idea conflict with current building regulations? John Marriott

I know timber framing is still legal in the UK, My sister lives there and is having a new oak timber frame constructed to extend her 16th century timber frame house in Kent. Of course council approval is needed for just about everything in the UK, so you should definitely check with your local council first. You also need to be up on all the building codes for the area where you plan to build, as they all appear to be very extensive in the UK. I know she had to modify her plans because of new insulation requirements.

Traditionally timber frames were meant to be moved - cut, fitted and assembled in the forest, then disassembled and moved to the building site. The original beams in my sisters house have all the carpenters markings as to what went where for the reassembly. If your old frame is in good shape, and has been disassembled properly (rather than bulldozed and broken up) I can't see any reason it can't be disassembled, moved and reassembled again.

-Rosalinda

Thanks so much, Rosalinda, for your encouraging and useful advice. I will contact my local authority straight away. John