A COMPANY known for helping put rooves over peoples’ heads is anticipating a financial boost as a nod to Scandinavia helps its order book.

Fencehouse Truss Company says demand for its roof trusses and timber frames should push annual turnover 30 per cent higher.

The business supplies housebuilders such as Persimmon, which has developments in Shildon, County Durham, and Northallerton, North Yorkshire, and Esh Group, which is based in Bowburn, near Durham City, and known for its Trivselhus venture focused on energy efficient homes.

Founded during the economic downturn in 2008 by friends Steven Harris and Steve Brown, Fencehouse, based in Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, has benefited, in part, from a fast-growing timber frame housing line.

A year ago, the duo bought equipment known as a butterfly table to retain all work on timber frame homes on-site, and Mr Harris says the decision has paid rich dividends, with English housebuilders finally latching on to methods used by their Scandinavian counterparts.

Highlighting a UK-wide housing shortage, and growing pressure on construction firms to reduce their environmental impact, Mr Harris says timber frame homes are becoming increasingly popular since they can be erected quickly and are more energy efficient.

He said: “Timber frame houses are a really high growth area for us.

“Off-site construction is increasingly in demand because it’s faster and because there are huge labour shortages on-site.

“Timber frame homes are more efficient, cleaner to build and more sustainable.

“England is a bit behind the curve on this compared to Scandinavia and Scotland, where almost three quarters of new builds are timber frame homes.

“In England, we still seem hell bent on building houses as we did in the past, but this is changing, and we hope to be at the forefront as it continues to do so.”

Despite launching during the economic downturn, Fencehouse quickly established itself in the market and now has a 30-strong workforce and customers across the country.

As well as supplying housing developments, the business also makes products for commercial properties, with recent projects on Travelodge hotels in Manchester and Birmingham just two examples of its prowess.

Sunderland City Council’s business investment team has supported the company throughout its development.

Councillor Harry Trueman, deputy leader of Sunderland City Council, praised its progress.

He said: “Launching a company in a recession and subsequently growing it over ten years is difficult in any sector.

“To do this in the notoriously tough construction industry is a hugely impressive achievement.”