A-Z of Self Build Guides Timber Frame Construction

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1. Oak is a wonderful material, whether used in a contemporary way as in the grid shell (which is well worth visiting) or in the traditional manner, or even a combination of both. I would recommend a visit to The Weald and Downland Museum as it covers the use of oak frames from well in excess of 500 years ago to the ultra modern Gridshell. Oak has a very low carbon footprint. Most oak forests are either managed or self seed and continue to encapsulate carbon. The carbon used in the production of oak is relatively minimal compared with brick and concrete construction which gives you another very good reason to use it on top of the asthetics. A word of caution, do not let steel or iron come into contact with oak, you will get a reaction which induces major purple staining as a result, so no cutting scaffold tubes with a disc cutter near oak as you will live to regret it. Use stainless steel fixings which will not react with the oak in this way for a long lasting result. There is not a huge difference visually between French and English oak, The French have generally managed their oak forests more so in the last 200 years so it can be easier to get good structural grades from France. If you buy timber from Normandy or Brittany it may be less of a carbon footprint to bring it to you than moving it from the north of England too so bear that in mind. Using Oak is a pleasing method of construction, consider it seriously would be my advice.

   Posted by Jon Maine on 10/10/2009 12:44:40

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