You are right to be concerned about buying a timber frame new home, especially one that will be constructed during the winter months in "rainy Scotland."
TRADA and the NHBC state that during construction, the timber components must not become saturated and the moisture content of the timber must not exceed 20%. In practice most timber components will get wet at some point during construction. As far as timber frame is concerned, the worst place is at the sole plate (on the ground floor. This can often sit in water for days sometimes weeks. It is vital that the wall is not insulated, vapour barrier and boarded until the moisture content is below 20%.
Ask the site manager if he has a moisture metre. I highly suspect he won't!
So how will he know when the timber is dried out enough to be boarded?
Timber frame is in my opinion inherently problematic. It benefits housebuilders not homebuyers.
On a personal level, I wouldn't have a timber frame home if it was given to me.
There will be shrinkage issues, the wetter the timber gets the worse the shrinkage. There is also a very high probability of mould and damp, some of which may be hidden.
You may like to read these pages:
General overview of Timber FrameThings to consider when buying a timber frame new home Quality issues with timber frame new homes Fire and timber frame new homes If all this wasn't bad enough, your new home is in Scotland which has severe exposure to extreme weather conditions.
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