Timber Framed Houses and Extensions

Green Oak House Extension

A green oak sling brace house extension shown during construction.

Home/Garden Office and workshop

Shown above and below is a green oak timber frame used in the restoration and conversion of a stone barn into a garden office/workshop. The bare oak self supporting timber frame is shown below.

Green Oak timber framed bungalow extension. Pictured above and on the right is a green oak timber framed extension to a bungalow in Devon. The picture above shows the green oak structural frame and, on the right, the extension is shown with the green oak frame surrounded by softwood studwork on which insulation and external finish will be fixed. This constrution method allows for the building to have an internally visible load bearing green oak timber frame giving character and for the timber frame to be surrounded by a highly energy efficient 'envelope' of insulation. The method also allows for easy fixing of doors and windows and does not require the more complex glazing system needed if glazing is applied direct to the green oak timber frame. We made and installed the green oak structural frame, and all other building works on this project were carried out by Neil Townsend, a builder based at Broadhempston, Nr Newton Abbot, Devon, who can be contacted on 01647 252592.

Green Oak Barn extension

Shown above is a green oak timber framed extension front view as a skeleton frame and a finished view of the side aspect. The green oak frame was raised and glazed by ourselves. All other building works are by Jonathan Case Builders of Tavistock.

Current Projects:

The photos above and below show current projects: above is an open to the eaves full height extension which encorporates a hipped roof at the house end to allow for the continued use of the existing bedroom windows. The frame is finished and we will return to fix common rafters once the chimney has been built on the far end and we will glaze the frame when the roof covering is in place.

Work in progress: Below is a green oak timber framed open to the eaves self contained annexe extension to a Dartmoor longhouse, pictured during construction.

Green Oak Porches:

Below is the green oak porch side entrance to the house extension shown above

Shown above is a green oak open porch with a double glazed atrium / walkway giving access to the adjoining garage

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

Wood fuel Boiler room/ self contained annexe- Aboveand on the left is a garage/annexe with an integral boiler room for a wood fueled heating system and wood store. This timber frame was made from locally grown green oak with the roof structure comprising collared trusses with wind bracing and purlins made from local Douglas Fir.

Green Oak Trusses

Green Oak trusses can add character to buildings and can be made in many different styles. Shown above is a house extension with King Post trusses made from English Green Oak with curved struts. (Kitchen units by Pete White at www.TamarValleyWoodworks.co.uk) We will make up an individual truss or a full roof as required.

Green Oak conservatories and garden rooms

Double Glazed Green Oak Conservatory/garden room constructed from locally grown green oak and glazed by us using Planitherm high performance toughened low u double glazed units.

This double glazed green oak conservatory / garden room is beautifully light and airy from its three glazed sides but has a fully insulated roof allowing for year round use.

Shown above is the current project annexe/entension to a Devon longhouse, nearing completion November 2011

This green oak garden room is shown framed and glazed and waiting for the roof covering

A glazed green oak extension housing a swimming pool.

Green Oak Garden Structures

Trago Mills, Newton Abbot: This green oak pergola roof was made using curved sections of oak to mirror the curves of the colonades and walls.

This is a garden structure/pergola made to individual specification in locally grown green oak.

A traditionally constructed jointed and pegged timber framed gazebo made in English green Oak, with a seasoned burr oak seat, mullioned hand rail and Cedar roof shingles. Shown on display at The Royal Cornwall Show.

The picture above shows the roof strucure of a green oak hipped roof gazebo with pendant.

Timber Frame Conservation and Restoration

Above is an old decaying timber church cross and the new hand- crafted replica cross which Andy made in seasoned oak.

Above, Andy is shown with hook scarf repaired sections made using air dried locally grown oak

Restoration work carried out to the decayed timber sections of the lych gate at Buckland Monachorum Church in Devon. Above: The restored Lych gate with replica gates made in seasoned air dried oak.

Timber Framed Garages and Barns

The picture on the left shows a 2 bay timber framed hip roof garage under construction. The main structure of this timber frame is made from green oak and the rafters are Douglas Fir.

A green oak gable end garage/barn is shown above with green oak cladding.

3D CAD 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 can be used to instruct a structural engineer. These drawings can also be used to show our customers a 3D image of their building project.

Traditional Timber Framing: Materials and Methods. (How we do it!)

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

Sawmilling: Locally grown English Oak being cut on our sawmill in Devon

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 which we grade and saw 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 will also supply sawn timber, oak, douglas fir, larch or chestnut, cut to order.

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

An octagonal central pillar for a spiral staircase is shown being hand shaped and, below, in shown in place in its 'tower' awaiting roof covering.

A self supporting green oak timber frame can be fixed to an existing building to provide a characterful extension.

Andy hand carving replica stiles for church gate restoration

When making our timber frames, we remain as true as possible to traditional jointed and pegged timber framing methods. The oak 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.

The photo above shows a naturally curved oak beam used in a porch and below, a jowell post is being finished.

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The photo below shows Nigel using an adze to hand shape rafters.

Our telehandler with a 2 man work platform and a crane jib is an invaluable aid to raising timber frames locally. Here, an oak truss is shown being craned into position.

This photo shows a green oak timber store being clad with oak battens

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. As the quality of the timber used and the finish of the frame to be glazed are both critical in ensuring a successful glazing system, we will not glaze timber frames made by others. In the photo on the right, Nigel is shown finishing the external double glazing panels on one of our green oak frames. The glazing system we use is the tried and tested Scandinavian drained and ventilated system. This system glazes directly onto the outer surface of the frame allowing for flexibility if there is movement in the oak as the seal is kept intact. The best quality stainless steel fixings are used and the air dried oak cover boards are machined by ourselves from the highest quality joinery grade timber.

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The Tamar Joinery Company

01822 840848

Nigel is shown finishing the placement of dry oak cover boards onto the glazing units.