We work with conservation architects, individuals, organisations and key conservation bodies (such as English Heritage, Historic Scotland and the National Trust) to preserve important oak timber frames in historic buildings.

Carpenter Oak & Woodland is one of very few companies with the expertise to handle the restoration, conservation and repair of important oak timer-framed buildings.

Protecting England and Scotland’s unique heritage in oak timber-framed buildings is a key part of our services.

Conservation

With the conservation of timber frames, the focus is on preserving as much of the original oak timber frame as possible. For oak timber frames which have suffered significant degradation and damage, this can be a challenge indeed – requiring innovation and ingenuity to provide the best solution. For example, during the restoration of Dolbelydr for the Landmark Trust, some beams were almost totally lost to decay, with no structural strength whatsoever. However, by carefully removing the inside of the beam, we were able to fit a new beam perfectly into the remaining shell, sealed with resin – leaving a beam which, when in place, was structurally sound and which visually displayed the original timber from all angles.

Our award-winning restoration work on the roof at Stirling Castle in Scotland

Restoration

Oak restoration work involves faithfully replacing something which is no longer there, to match the original as perfectly as possible. Some good examples would be our work restoring the roof at Windsor Castle, after the fire in 1992, and the roof at Stirling Castle – which had not existed for many years. Restoration work is typically based on plans, if they exist, or photographs/documents or whatever historical evidence is available.

A combination of approaches

Many projects require a combination of conservation, restoration and repair – using the best approach for a particular part of the oak timber frame, usually with the priority of keeping principal features as authentic and original as possible. The approach chosen may also be governed by the building’s status – whether grade one/two listed or a building of national historic importance.

We undertake work on site or, if planning restrictions allow, may dismantle the oak frame and undertake the work at one of our locations in England or Scotland – or, sometimes, a combination of both approaches.

All sizes of project

We’ve won awards and acclaim for high-profile projects, such as the restoration of the ceilings at Windsor Castle and Stirling Castle and worked on unusual and challenging projects, such as the restoration of Shackleton’s huts in Antarctica. We also restore many more humble buildings – including houses and barns.