Traditional Oak Frame Timber Specification
Choosing the right timber for your wood framed house can be a complicated decision. With our knowledge of how different timber frame wood types respond to the way they are used we can advise on sourcing accurately for your structural, cosmetic and budget requirements. We are happy to use green or seasoned Oak, Douglas fir, Ash, Larch, Yew, Sweet Chestnut and glue laminated beams.
Choosing unseasoned (green) wood means that once your traditional oak frame is constructed the natural drying process that takes place within the timber frame wood type results in both movement and shrinkage. Predicting shrinkage within your traditional oak frame is of paramount importance throughout the designing and building construction processes. The end product of what we build should not be seen as the beautifully tight-jointed traditional green-oak frame that has just been erected, but a mature frame after the green timbers have had the chance to dry and shrink. Shrinkage is roughly 10% and the drying process adds enormous individual character and strength to the traditional oak frame structure. Should you not wish for this look then we advise you use soft or seasoned timber frame wood types. Oiling the timber frame and sealing the end grain can slow the drying process and reduce the frames movement to a degree.
Timbers can be manufactured in a variety of finishes including planed, rough sawn or hand-adzed textures.
All our woods are accredited by the Forestry Stewardship Council Scheme and are sustainably sourced where possible.
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