About

We are a rural business specialising in the design and manufacture of competitively priced traditional and contemporary green oak timber framed buildings. We use a wide variety of joints and techniques that have been developed over many centuries by generations of craftsmen to create structures which will stand the test of time.

Works range from assisted self-build projects to complete domestic and commercial frames - for example: a solid oak porch, conservatory, garden room, extension, roof, floor, garage, barn, stable, outbuilding or other structure.

We also accept commissions for bespoke hand crafted pieces ranging from small commemorative hard-wood or slate gifts, or internal features of the home carved in situ, to large landscape and municipal sculptures.

In addition to providing quality and value, you can be sure our materials are either reclaimed or sourced from sustainable supplies - local, whenever possible.

Based at the border of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, we offer a skilled, affordable, friendly and flexible service throughout the UK.

Green oak framed construction is a well tested and extremely adaptable building technology. It is a method of construction which has been widely used in the UK and throughout Europe for many centuries.
It is a very economic way of adding both space and value to your property without having to relocate, and compares very favourably with block, steel or uPVC systems - in terms of both cost and durability.
As a modular material, green oak is almost unique in being able to sit visually and structurally within both traditional and modern contexts. The range of materials and settings that it can be made to complement is limited only by the imagination.
In addition to its suitability to a wide range of applications, green oak is renowned for its environmental credentials. Our timbers are selected from sustainably managed and certified woodlands, through reputable suppliers. This promotes the continued management and survival of oak and mixed broadleaved woodlands, together with their associated habitats.

Whilst the primary objective of any design is to create a sound structure, there is a wide variety of frame styles that can be applied to almost any given site or budget. These can range from simple post and beam lean-to extensions to complex multi-plane arch and sling braced trussed frames, allowing considerable scope for creativity.
To facilitate this, we will consult closely with you (or your architect or project manager) throughout the design process, presenting as wide a variety of options as possible through a combination of concept drawings and increasingly detailed plans to arrive at a final design.
Whether you require a porch, roof frame or complete building, it is customary that there be at least one site visit as early as possible to establish or confirm design dimensions, the suitability of materials, site conditions and access.
Where applicable, the final approved plans are reviewed by an independent structural engineer for certification prior to carpentry.
This process aims to produce a final design that is strong, durable, practical and economic, as well as in keeping with its surroundings and pleasing to the eye.

Typically, the bulk of the carpentry work is carried out in the workshop using mainly traditional specialist hand tools in addition to modern, state of the art machinery where applicable.
There, the constituent frames of the structure (walls, trusses, etc.) are laid out so that the timbers can be oriented and worked to best allow for the effects of aging and load, as the building matures once installed. All the joints throughout the frames are carefully fitted, making use of classic pegged mortise and tenon joints of a range of shapes and types. This tried and tested method of fabrication is known for its strength and durability.
Whilst largely determined during the design stage, the finer carpentry details are often decided upon in response to the features of each individual timber. During marking, we make best use of the particular strengths of every piece of wood - positioning, sizing and shaping accordingly.
Green oak, by its nature, is a dynamic material and, as such, demands a high standard of craftsmanship and a thorough understanding of the material. In the shaping of each part of every joint, precision is of the utmost importance.

On site, the timbers are unloaded and stacked as close as practicable to the build area.
The first parts of the frame are installed relative to established setting out points, ready for the next layer of timbers. In this respect, there is always a strict sequence of fitting which must be followed. As it is mainly a matter of reassembling and pegging the constituent frames created in the workshop, this process usually takes place very rapidly causing a minimum of noise and disruption. In a very short time it gives rise to a fully formed self-supporting structure