Building in timber – especially oak – is extremely environmentally friendly, with less of an impact than most other building materials – the energy used to extract, process, fabricate and build using timbers compares extremely favourably with other methods.

Oak timber-framed buildings benefit from some of our most traditional and proven building materials.

To create an oak timber-framed building of durability and beauty requires timber of great strength and character. We work primarily in green oak, but we also work in larch, chestnut and Douglas fir – the majority of which is sourced from right here in the UK – from both England and Scotland.

Ecologically friendly oak-frame building

Our stance on responsible building and conservation means that we plant up to ten trees for each one used, through recognised independent bodies. The timbers we select are around forty to fifty years old, meaning that they are old enough to be mature and strong and are beyond the point when they have made their largest environmental contribution – there’s little ecological advantage to using older timbers. All of our timber comes from sustainable sources.

We only use timbers from sustainable sources

Building to last

We’re often asked how long an oak timber-framed building will last. The honest answer is that we don’t know. There are many oak timber frames which have survived in excellent condition for several hundred years; indeed, oak timber frames only really deteriorate if they are allowed to get damp – and remain so. There’s no reason why a craftsperson-built oak timber frame shouldn’t be around for hundreds of years - making timber an excellent long-term choice.

Incorporating other materials

Carpenter Oak & Woodland is highly experienced at incorporating other materials into an oak timber frame – whether traditional, like stone and brick, or more modern, like glass and steel. Timber works well in both traditional and modern designs and with materials both old and new.