The Flow
Of Your
Project

We’re always on hand to advise, so please feel free to take advantage of our extensive industry knowledge and specialist experience with oak frames and general building.

It is important for structural engineers and designers to understand oak, and not all do. Our structural engineers have vast experience working with oak, allowing us to take on complex projects that others may be apprehensive about.

In most cases we prefer to use only timber, but in some circumstances the use of structural steel is necessary and we are able to identify that. Our design team will often hide this within the frame to create awe-inspiring structures which appear as if they should not be possible.

Not Just oak! A wide variety of building materials can be used to complement your oak frame, including:

• Masonry walls constructed from stone, brick or block and render
• Roof lights made from powder-coated aluminium glazing with high spec glass to ensure UV protection for your furniture
• Structural Insulation Panels (SIPS), insulation and plasterboard infill panel systems.

We also offer numerous roofing materials, the most popular being cedar shingle and blue slate, however “greys” reclaimed stone slates are commonly used here in Yorkshire. Pantiles, rosemary, concrete, artificial stone and of course glass are also used from time to time.

The balance and how much of each material is used in each project is influenced by the setting in which the building sits.

We pride ourselves on having a good eye for this process and will work with clients to ensure the structure is visually balanced, achieving outstanding aesthetics as well as customer satisfaction.

Absolutely, skilled craftsmen build all our frames by hand using centuries-old traditional methods. We also take advantage of modern technology and our frames are constructed using a combination of the two. All our craftsmen are experts in their field and this really shows in the results.

The term Green oak refers to the timber being freshly sawn – not the colour! Being fresh sawn, Green oak generally holds a high moisture content which is usually between 60% – 80%.

Most people think that the shrinkage and movement of the timber will cause problems with other elements of the building such as the glazing, doors and the overall structural integrity of the frame. However, all of these factors are accounted for at design stage and therefore cause no detriment to any of the above. In fact, our oak frames not only meet current building regulations but exceed them, especially when using modern building techniques such as encapsulation.

Green oak has been used by timber framers for centuries and there are very good reasons for this:

• Green oak is an easier timber to work with.
• For oak to achieve “seasoned” or “air-dried” status it must be stored for a number of years. Even then, “air-dried” oak can still be subject to movement and shrinkage.
• Green oak frames can literally stand for hundreds of years because as the frames dry out they actually becomes stronger and gain character.

The short answer to this question is, no. Green oak can be left completely bare with no ongoing maintenance. Green oak is naturally resistant to insect attacks and decay.

As oak frames season, they will move, shrink (generally between 8-10%), bow, split and distort. The charm of an oak frame is that it is a living thing and will evolve in situ. It will actually get stronger as it dries.

Green oak holds a high moisture content (60-80%) whereas air-dried oak (Green oak that has been stored between three and six years) usually has a moisture content between 20-30%. This makes the timber more stable so it will move, shrink and distort less than a Green oak frame. But it is usually more expensive.

Internal oak elements will mellow in colour and eventually turn a beautiful light honey colour without the use of any finishes. Externally, if untreated, oak weathers down to a silver grey colour. Both form the natural beauty and character of an oak frame.

Shakes and splits are what give oak its desirable character. Shakes are small fissures that appear on the surface of the timber whereas splits are larger and appear as the oak starts to dry out. All our timber is of the highest quality and is always taken from the “heart” of the tree. Because splits never pass through the “heart” of the tree this means they will not affect the integrity of the oak frame.

You do not need to apply any finishes to oak frames, the oak will be absolutely fine in its natural state. Finishes are generally applied more to external elements for aesthetics. You can choose to apply a finish to the whole frame, both internally or externally. We can apply a base coat in our workshop prior to installation. Further coasts would need to be applied on completion of the build.

Of course. Many clients come to us with an architect’s drawings already in place. If you do not have your own architect, then don’t worry. We have our own in-house design team with more than 25 years’ experience in designing, manufacturing and installing oak frames. We are proud that a lot of enquiries come to us through word of mouth from existing customers, which speaks volumes.

Every project is different and several factors can determine whether planning permission is required. It is always best to check the government planning portal for advice as these are the guidelines everybody in the construction industry must follow. Please click the link here to find out more.