The Irish Timber Frame Manufacturers Association is predicting that timber-frame houses will account for half of all new homes built in Ireland within three years.
The association says the timber-frame sector currently holds a 30% share of the market, compared to 5% 10 years ago.
It says rising energy costs will help drive the popularity of timber-frame construction in the coming years, with the cost of heating a timber-frame house currently up to 30% lower than a stone dwelling.