In the picturesque town of Ayr, Frank, and Hilda Griffin, aged 62 and 64 respectively, embarked on their self-build journey.
Having inherited a family home, Frank - who has a background in electrical engineering and project management - along with Hilda, a retired nurse, wanted to create a forever home on the land where their mother’s (or mothers-in-law’s) house had once stood.
They initially explored renovating the existing property and transforming it into a two-storey home but decided that clearing the land and re-building from scratch would capitalise on the excellent location.
The couple had a clear vision in mind and a desire for a sustainable and modern living space.
Frank said: “Our existing home was a traditional build – brick and block, fairly poorly insulated so we were keen to explore the greener methods of construction available.
Hilda added: “It was a friend who recommended Kirkwood Timber Frame so we reached out to see what they could do. We cannot fault the team – especially Debbi Keatings – and the process really has been seamless.”
Frank agreed: “The communication has been excellent, and the addition of the customer hub meant that we were kept informed at every step of the process. When we had any queries they were resolved with ease.”
Kirkwood Timber Frame's Customer Hub, accessed online, serves as a centralised resource where customers can access information about products, services, and their ongoing projects. The hub provides project tracking, customer support, and resources for understanding the timber frame construction processes.
The Customer Hub enables self-builders to stay on top of every detail with a personalised project dashboard. The Home tab provides a real-time snapshot of the customer’s build, including estimated kit delivery date, current project stage, and a clear tracker for upcoming milestones and payments.
For a complete history of the self-build journey, the Updates section archives every message, photo, and video sent by our team in chronological order. Customers can also manage essential paperwork through the Documents portal and keep their build teams organised via the Contacts tab, which houses key project personnel and allows the self-builders to add their own external contacts for seamless, all-in-one access.
Kirkwood Timber frame provided and constructed the kit for Frank and Hilda’s chalet bungalow which has a total floor area of 250sqm. The house has a large open plan living/dining/kitchen area, utility room, front lounge, four bedrooms (two en-suite), a separate bathroom and a ground-floor cloakroom.
Debbi Keatings, Self-Build Development Manager at Kirkwood Timber Frame, added: “It has been a privilege to work with Frank and Hilda to help them create their dream home. The process began with a comprehensive consultation where their ideas and preferences were carefully considered. This enabled our team, in partnership with their chosen architect, to ensure their vision was translated into a practical design.”
Hilda added: “One of the standout features of working with Kirkwood Timber Frame was the speed of construction. I was on holiday when the structure was erected. Frank was sending me regular updates, and I couldn’t believe how quickly it took shape!”
Frank said: “The speed of build not only saved time but reduced costs in relation to the labour needed, allowing us to allocate resources and budget to other aspects of the home.”
The timber frame element of Frank and Hilda’s bungalow from initial discussions to on-site completion took less than nine months.
“We are so happy and settled in our new home and grateful to Debbi and the wider team for helping us throughout the process.” Said Hilda.
For more information about Kirkwood Timber Frame’s Self Build services and products, please visit: https://www.kirkwoodtimberframe.co.uk/services/self-build
