Traditional Green Oak Timber Framing

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Green Oak Timber Framing

We specialise in the design, construction and erection of traditionally jointed and pegged bespoke timber framed buildings and green oak structures, using English timber which we saw on our own sawmill.

Our timber frames are all made in our workshop and framing yard near Tavistock in Devon using locally grown English Oak, Douglas Fir or Larch. Each of our frames is individually designed and absolutely unique. We use the natural shape of the wood and cut along the grain of the timber to make characterful curved braces and arched tie beams. We can make different styles of timber frame, from very contemporary frames with straight cut timber, to traditional medieval style green oak 'cruck' frames where the two paired halves of a curved oak tree are used. Our timber framers use traditional carpentry techniques and we take pride in producing beautiful, durable, energy efficient buildings using locally sourced renewable materials.

Design Service: We work with an architectural designer and we can either work with your own architect or we can provide a full design and drawing service for your timber framed buiding project be it an entire house or a conservatory.

Glazing Green Oak: Green oak requires the application of specialist glazing techniques and we can offer a glazing service for our timber frames. Please see below for more details of glazing green oak timber frames.

The small gazebo shown on the right is built by the traditional scribe framing method of marking and cutting timber. This method allows for the accurate jointing of hand hewn or crooked timbers. Our timber frames can therefore be made using either straight cut timbers or rustic looking bent or 'wainy' edged timbers.

The photo above shows a timber framed oak gazebo, with an integral seasoned Oak seat.

We are members of The Bespoke Woodworkers Group. Please visit the group's website: www. bespokewoodworkers.co.uk

Traditional Green Oak Heavy Structural Timber Framing

Our lead timber framer is Nigel Harrison.

"I have been involved in many unusual carpentry projects over the years, and I became interested in building green oak timber framed structures when my imagination was caught by the strength, beauty, and extraordinary durability of English Oak timber framed buildings. I am passionate about preserving traditional carpentry techniques and using them to construct new, durable, energy efficient buildings, using local sustainably produced, renewable materials".

Traditional Timber Framing: Materials and Methods.

This photo shows the detail of the Lap joint between tie beam and wall plate

When making our timber frames, we remain as true as possible to the centuries old skill of traditional jointed and pegged timber framing. Dry oak pegs are used during final assembly for 'draw boring'. This method is partly used to compensate for the shrinkage when using freshly cut Oak, but the method also works with the natural shrinkage of green oak to create a very strong joint. The pegs can be cut flush but many of our customers prefer some to be left raised as a feature as shown in the view from inside a section of a glazed garden room, shown below.

We are committed to supporting our forestry industry which in turn will encourage local managed production of timber as a source of both renewable fuel and sustainable carbon neutral building material. We have our own sawmill and we buy good quality local timber in the round and saw it ourselves. This allows us to control timber quality and ensure a supply of naturally curved timber for use in curved braces and tie beams. We can also cut oak to size and stop chamfer as required for oak lintels or fireplace mantels..

When we are too busy to get near the saw we also buy timber from 'Anton Coaker English Timber'.www.anton-coaker.co.uk

Above, a tie beam is being cut from a piece of naturally curved Oak.

The photo below shows a naturally curved oak beam used in a porch.

Above and below are sections of green oak frames laid out in the workshop with temporary iron hook pins during construction.

The photo above shows an adze being used to hand shape rafters.

The photo above shows a green oak glazed atrium and entrance porch under construction

This photo shows a green oak wood shed being clad with oak battens

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A green oak swimming pool end frame shown under construction above and below shown glazed with argon filled toughened K glass.

An octagonal oak post used as the central pillar on a circular staircase is shown above being hand shaped and below it is shown awaiting roof covering.

The roof and octagonal post are craned into place

Frame Drawing, Design and Planning

We will construct timber frames from your own architects design or we can provide a full design and CAD drawing service for your timber framed building project. We work with an architectural designer who will prepare drawings for planning approval and building regulations purposes.

In addition, we have specialist timber framing software which allows us to create our own 3D CAD detailed workshop frame drawings (as shown above and below) for our carpenters to work from and which we use when it is necessary to instruct a structural engineer. These drawings can also be used to show our customers a 3D image of their building project.

Green Oak Trusses

Green Oak trusses can add character to buildings and can be made in many different styles.

Shown below is a house extension with King Post trusses made from English Green Oak with curved struts.

The photo below shows a section of some English green oak trusses to be used in the restoration of a Dartmoor barn.

The photo above shows a glazed green oak garden room/conservatory awaiting roof covering.

This picture shows a 2 bay timber framed garage under construction. This is a 'hybrid' frame with wall plates posts and braces made from green oak and the roof structure made from Douglas Fir. The garage is shown below finished with green oak cladding.

The pictures below show firstly the roof strucure of a hipped roof oak gazebo with pendant and the finished gazebo below.

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A green oak lych gate is shown below.

Glazing Green Oak Timber Frames

Glazing green oak requires specialist techniques to overcome problems which could be caused by movement of the timber. The demands of building controls as well as a basic need for good energy efficiency means that efficient glazing is an essential part of modern timber framing. We offer a glazing service for our own oak timber frames. In the photo on the right, Nigel is shown finishing the external glazing panels on one of our green oak frames

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