We love what we do and we pride ourselves on the quality of our work. As a small rural business specialising in the
crafting of green oak framed structures, and the occasional bespoke carving or sculpture, providing such a bespoke
service means we work best when we focus on our craft.
We liaise and work regularly with a wide range of other specialist trades and professions, working together to complete all
kinds of projects. Over the years, we have learned that sticking to what we know best and allowing other specialists to do what
they do best produces the best results. It is useful to establish these clearly defined roles at the outset of every project.
Here is a summary of what we do... and what we don't do.
Traditionally Crafted Green Oak Frames
What We Do...
The art and science of structural oak frame carpentry is the very heart of our craft. There are a number
of related highly skilled fields within the orbit of that specialism which we provide additional to our carpentry.
Oak Frame Design
This is the first stage of any project. Many small and medium sized frames, such as porches, garden rooms
and summer houses, can be designed by us "in-house". Designing a substantial or complex frame will sometimes
be treated as a separate commission from the frame fabrication and construction. Large frames may need a design
with structural calculations provided by a third party specialist engineer, with whom we will liaise.
You can read more about the process of designing and commissioning a green oak frame on our Design page.
We fabricate the oak frame in its entirety in our workshop, from delivery of the raw timber
from the sawmill to loading it for delivery to site, using traditional jointing methods.
You can read more about the process of crafting a green oak frame in the workshop on our Carpentry page.
Delivery to site is always included in our service, unless requested otherwise. Larger frames will often
be delivered and unloaded at site from a lorry equipped with a crane or hiab by our regular haulage contractor.
Oak Frame Erecting
Whilst we can supply an oak frame "ex-works" for a client to erect, we prefer to install it ourselves
since it normally requires a detailed familiarity with the specific frame and its construction requirements.
You can read more about oak frame delivery and construction on our Construction page.
Whilst we are based at the edge of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, we undertake oak frame commissions
throughout the whole of the UK. Our excellent transport links enable us to operate widely, from the very north of
Scotland to the very south of England, as well as Ireland and further afield in Europe. Distance is no barrier.
What We Don't Do...
There are many other processes involved in completing a project which lie outside our specialist field and which
are best carried out by their respective specialists, who may operate more locally. Whilst it might be tempting to
list them all, below are those most directly connected with our service and with whom we might liaise most closely.
Architectural & Structural Engineering
As touched upon above, larger frames may require the services of a structural engineer to provide design calculations
necessary to prove a structure will stand. Whilst this might appear intuitive, given the sturdiness of the timbers we use,
such calculations are often required by Building Control. Similarly, plans submitted for Planning Consent may sometimes be
processed more readily when drafted by an architect with a familiarity with local Planners.
More about the process of designing a green oak frame can be found on our Design & Commissioning page.
Accurate groundworks and masonry are essential in preparation for oak frame construction. It is best undertaken by a contractor
who is able to work locally and with their own specialist training and familiarity with local suppliers. We are accustomed to liaising
closely with a wide range of building contractors at both design and construction stages of projects. Good communication of this sort
is essential to enable us to arrive on site and erect a frame on a base or walls built precisely to agreed measurements and levels.
Roofing, Fascias & Guttering
Similarly to building works, roofing, tiling, guttering and associated specialisms are outwith our remit. As with other trades,
we are geared to working closely with specialists at project design, construction and finishing stages. It is often the case that
the quality of finishing can either enhance or detract from the appearance of our oak frame so, without interfering, we like to
maintain an appropriate level of communication to project completion.
Oak Frame Cleaning
Even a small project can require an amount of cleaning up afterwards, be it roofing, plastering or other nearby works, meaning
it is best performed once such subsequent works are complete and the oak frame as sheltered from the elements as possible. Cleaning
an oak frame is a very specialist skill, best performed by an experienced and properly equipped contactor who may also clean masonry.
Whilst we can advise on the most suitable method of frame cleaning, as well as offering recommendations for contractors, it is not a
service we are able to provide ourselves.
You can read more about oak frame cleaning on our Finishing page.
Doors and window casements are normally made using large machinery, such as bench saws, planer-thicknessers and spindle moulders, to produce
finished pieces in bulk quickly and economically. Because the timbers we work are large - too large to feed through such machinery - and less
regular in shape, our tools need to be small enough to be handled around them and tend to be very different in nature. Thus, providing glazing
and doors is a role much better undertaken by an appropriate specialist with whom we would liaise closely.
You can read more about oak frame glazing on our Glazing page.
Almost every project will culminate with its final fixings and fittings, comprising the work of decorators, electricians, flooring
contractors and suchlike, or may even be completed as part of a client's "self-build" programme. As with the various works above,
these fall outside our area of specialism.
Bespoke Wood Carving & Sculpture
The extent or limit of our role in the creation of a bespoke work of art is less easy to encapsulate, since each work is a highly
individual undertaking and is assessed on its own particular needs and merits. As a general guide, we prefer to restrict ourselves
to the creative work itself without becoming overly engaged in its surroundings.
For example, whilst we may carve a Coat of Arms on a panel, we would not undertake the making of the piece of furniture within
which it would be fitted. An exception to this might be a carved name, date, insignia or similar on part of an oak framed structure
undertaken as part of or in addition to its commission.
We are committed to treading lightly on our Earth. We buy our timbers from sustainably managed and certified woodlands,
through reputable suppliers, enhancing their continued management and conservation of habitat and associated wildlife.
Have a look through our gallery to see some of the green oak framed building projects
we've completed over the years. From simple porches to cozy garden rooms to multi-storey
structures, we guarantee there's something that will catch your eye!
Starting upon the project of your dreams may seem daunting at first, but we're
here with a guide through the stages of the design and commission process.
A wide range of calculators, converters, charts, on-line tools and other sites detailing
and discussing the various aspects of planning, building and managing your projects.
Once the carpentry work in the workshop is complete, the oak frame is transported to site and installed. Here, we
give a summary of the on-site oak frame construction process and outline further information on subsequent tasks.
A selection of our carved works, which are highly sought after. Each is a unique work
of art, whether a small commemorative carving or a large structural sculpture.
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