Oakmasters' blog is full of useful information on sustainability, self building and oak framing as well as our latest news and case studies. Use the tag system at the bottom of this page to navigate to articles that interest you. We hope you enjoy reading...
Here’s a quick question for you. What do Shakespeare’s Globe, Liberty of London and the Stirling prize-winning Savill Building all have in common? The answer is that they were all built using oak. But oak is far from being a building material of the past: more and more modern houses are using oak frames to achieve a wide range of styles by marrying oak with brick and other building materials.
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When most people think of oak porch styles they are most likely to find themselves picturing the Deep South of America. Those Southern mansions with wide, deep, open-planned porches are, perhaps, the archetypal expression of an entrance that becomes a living space all of its own. Yet, the porch has a fascinating history in the UK, too – and if you are looking to add an oak porch to create the perfect entrance to your home there are many styles to choose from to match and enhance your home’s exterior. We look at porches through the ages.
Read moreRegulations are being more strictly adhered to and inspections are much more thorough. It has never been more important to work with a supplier that you can completely trust. The risk of falling foul of building regulations is very real – and the potential cost of having to replace doors, windows and structures that do not meet this complicated set of regulations is very high. We talk you through the building regulation requirements and process early on in your project, so you are aware of what needs to be done and what is possible. We also have a lot of experience from previous projects of the solutions and acceptable alternatives that may be available to you. With such a complex web of regulations – applied differently according to region – it’s always best to take advice from those in the know, but here’s a quick overview of the regulations that may affect your project.
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Self-build homes come in all shapes and sizes – and self-build projects span everything from a simple porch extension to an entirely new house. And the self-build route itself takes many forms. At its most heroic, there’s the hands-on self-builder who is designing, sourcing, organising and laying every brick. Conversely, at its least involved, there’s the self-builder who has employed a project manager to oversee the site and the team that will construct the dream home. Of course, between these two extremes, there lies a spectrum of subtly-hued shades of self-build.
Read moreTraditionally when you customise an oak-framed garage you add a little cost to gain personality and character. You pay a little more to get everything just as you want it to be. But, this is not always the case. There are many ways we can help you customise our oak-framed garages to create exactly the same look but to save quite a bit of money on your overall costs in doing so. And, because we’re nice like that, we’re going to show you exactly how to do it. So, if you’re looking for all the lifelong value and beauty of oak for your garage, but also hoping to bring your project costs down, then read on to find out how it’s done.
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We’ve progressed from simple Stone Age oak-framed buildings to majestic medieval masterpieces. And, today in the 21st century, CNC machines are just a part of this ongoing evolution. For us, CNC machines are just the latest example of how our craft has evolved – and, what’s more, they take just as much skill to operate as planes, chisels and saws. We intelligently and skilfully marry cutting-edge design technology, precision processing machinery with traditional carpentry skills and vision. Here are three reasons we think you should do the same.
Read moreThere are many techniques that we use to ensure that your oak has the perfect finish – and each finish we achieve is as unique and individual as the look and feel of your home. But here we look at just two of these ways. Both enhance the natural beauty of oak’s grain and both will probably surprise you. Let’s discover how our modern craft relies on a Stone Age tool and ammonia to create rich, faultless oak finishes.
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With the chronic housing shortage currently facing the UK it’s no wonder people are increasingly turning to self build homes as a solution. Many of our customers choosing oak frame houses are opting to build these themselves, using our frames and kits as a base and managing the project themselves. The build your own home market is predicted to grow 41% by 2020 and mortgage lenders are now offering self build finance deals on very favourable terms. Let’s take a look at the opportunities as we review: • What is the difference between custom and self build? • What are the benefits of a self build home? • How do self build mortgages work?
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