1. Prefabricated Timber Frame Construction
Advantages:
Modern stylish look.
High level of thermal efficiency.
Generally safer on site as less time working at height.
Not held up by weather as built in factory.
Description
Buildings are made predominantly from timber, they are prefabricated in a factory and then assembled quickly on site.
Disadvantages:
Can be hard to extend, build on.
Need space for crane

2. Steel Frame Advantages:
Large open areas can be made due to load bearing ability of steel
Quick to erect once steel have been pre fabricated.
Description
Steel is used more and more in construction, and is far more common in residential building. They are normally combined with concrete floors or brick walls. The steel is the main supporting element of the strucure.
Disadvantages:
Can be costly
High level of accuracy needed

3. Portal Frames Advantages: Large internal space Quick to build
Easy to extend
Good height to strength ratio
Need lighter foundations than brick and block.
Materials can be recycled.
Description
These are generally larger buildings that provide a large open space, the steel is prefabricated in a factory then bolted together on site. Steel is moved into place with a crane.
Disadvantages:
Need to be treated for rust.
Need fire protection coating.
Expensive to bend
Need maintenance such as re-painting

4. Concrete Frames Advantages: Good fire resistance
Can be shaped into any shape
Good compressive strength
No finish required
Can be clad
Pre cast construction is faster.
Description
Concrete is very strong in compression, so larger buildings can be built this way. The addition of steel makes the concrete stronger.
Concrete can be cast into moulds or formwork on site, which requires about 5 days to cure. It can also be pre cast off site then joined together on site.
Disadvantages:
Require initial formwork support
Need a crane
Not strong on tension
Need skilled workforce

5. Load Bearing and Non Load Bearing
Load bearing refers to a walls ability to support the roof or floors above it.
Non Load bearing refers to walls that separate rooms, also known as partition walls.
Timber frame construction can use wooden panels covered with a plywood sheet to sheet to support the main structure of the building, this is then clad with brick on the outside of the building to achieve weather proofing.

6. Single Storey Buildings
Description
Commercial premises are frequently made from a steel frame, this provides the anchor points rails and cross rails (purlins) these support aluminium sheeting which normally has ridges to give it extra stability.
These buildings need large amounts of insulation as the main materials used have very poor insulation qualities.
The lower part of the building is normally made from block work.

7. Low Rise Buildings Description
Commercial buildings up to three storey's in height.
They make use of steel in order to get large open spaces internally, these can be easily adapted for different uses, or remodeled when a new client moves in.
Advantages:
Easy to adapt internally
Lots of glass allows natural light
Disadvantages:

8. Housing
Description
Mainly built using brick and block, with slate or tiled roofing. Sometimes refered to as traditional building. Can be delayed by bad weather and speed of construction is limited by amount of courses that can be laid in one day.
Detached – A house that is not connected to any other building
Semi Detached – two houses joined together, they share a party wall, this reduces they build cost.
Terrace Housing – A line of 3 or more houses joined together, normally cheaper to build as they share both side walls. You cannot access the rear of the house without going through the house normally. Historically fire can spread rapidly from house to house as there is no natural break. Modern building regs prevent this.
Better U-Values due to shared walls, in older houses sound transfer between properties can be a problem.

9. Roofs Pitched roofs Usually supported by roofing trusses
Clad in roofing paper and tiles or battens
Advantages
Natural shape helps shed water
Gives loft space
Disadvantages
Makes the building taller, can hinder planning
Flat Roofs
Short span can be supported by timber, long spans need steel.
Advantages:
Easy to construct
Can give extra outdoor area in urban settings
Disadvantages
Often leak
No loft storage space

10. Flats
Description
Multiple residential dwellings in one buildling, normally with a communal entrance and hallways.
They can be built using traditional methods or concrete, especially when over 3 storey’s in height.
Advantages:
Provide affordable housing
Disadvantages:
Sound travel between apartments

11. Warehouses and Light Industrial Units
Advantages:
Description
Disadvantages:

12. Retail
Advantages:
Description
Disadvantages:

13. Offices
Advantages:
Description
Disadvantages: