Oak Framing, Past & Present

Whilst the design of timber framed structures has slowly evolved over many hundreds of years, the techniques used to construct them have remained constant. Some of these are still in use today, and define a certain style of British carpentry. The skills and techniques of the Master Carpenters have been passed down through generations, being honed and developed to meet changing circumstances.

The timber most commonly used is green oak (oak used within a couple of years of the tree being felled). English oak has primarily been used for framing because it is a strong, durable timber containing its own natural preservative which protects against rot and insect attack. Given the right conditions it will outlive most kinds of stone in construction.

The 20th century saw a massive change in the materials used to construct houses. The use of traditional lime was abandoned in favour of concrete, roofs were constructed out of ‘gang nailed truss rafters’ (most still are) using imported softwood, and metal window frames gave way to UPVC.

Perhaps as a reaction to these changes, the 1970’s saw a revival in not just the craft of traditional oak framing, but many other vernacular trades as well. During the last thirty years oak framing has grown in popularity and is once again a well established construction method.

This shift in attitude can be attributed in part to the modern trend for open plan living, as well as the speed of site construction and the fact that an oak framed building is a sustainable choice. When it comes down to it, most people just love the smell and touch of the oak, as soon as they walk in the workshop.

At Westwind we are working towards building zero energy houses in the future (more information coming soon)

With the increasing desire for sustainable living, green oak frames are ideal. In fact, locally sourced green oak has the lowest embodied energy of any primary building material. Add to this, ground (or air) source heat pumps to control heating, photovoltaic cells for generating electricity, rain water harvesting and you can create a truly sustainable building.