Andy Parker

Andy joined Carpenter Oak & Woodland in 2005, to help the company provide a greater focus on customer service, marketing and sales. Andy’s background is varied indeed – helping him to bring a wide range of skills to the team. An avid lover of carpentry, Andy has also spent time in furniture restoration and conservation – something he still enjoys as a hobby.

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Previous posts

• Directory of Oak Frame Architects
• Whisky brings warmth to timber framed homes
• Timber Supply for Oak Frame Houses
• Timber frame for supermarkets
• The quandary of externally exposed oak frames

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By Andy Parker

There seems to be some unrest in the market about warranties for new oak framed homes with some well established insurers starting to get the jitters! To be clear this is nothing to do with buildings insurance but, typically, 10 year building warranties. Companies such as NHBC are getting nervous about oak frames but they’re muddying the waters because they’re not being clear about what it is that bothers them. If you can get under the skin of it the real problem seems to be infill panels that try to emulate those used in period buildings.

With infill panels the oak frame punctures the wind and weather tight envelope dozens and dozens of times. Perhaps hundreds (typically four edges around every panel) of water tight seals have to be made and stay intact against oak that will move and shrink. Whilst some manufacturers claim to have a solution to this the insurance industry now seems to think otherwise.

So if you want infill panels in an oak frame and want a building warranty either use a builder who is accredited by the insurance company you want to use or get an architect who will do your working drawings, oversee the project and sign it off for you.