The Oakmasters Blog

UK conservatories must legally have at least 50% of their side walls and 75% of their roof areas made from translucent glass or polycarbonate glazing. This amount of glass means that they can get very cold in the winter and overheat in the summer, making them good greenhouses but not very comfortable spaces for entertaining. Nowadays, people require more versatile use from the additional space they add to their houses. Conservatories don’t allow this and so are gradually dropping out of favour. We take a look at how oak framed glass rooms are replacing the old style conservatories and why.

A porch is an example of that very rare combination: style and practicality. It can provide extra storage for items such as bikes, boots, coats and bags that would otherwise clutter a hallway, act as a useful shelter from the rain, or offer the perfect place for couriers to leave those all-important Amazon packages. But as well as being functional, tailor-made oak porches are also majestic and beautiful. Your porch is a metaphorical entrance to your home as well as a literal one, and can say a lot about you and your style.

Recent figures show that the once much sought-after conservatory, is no longer the fashionable home staple it used to be, as the temporary and potentially set apart feel of conservatories doesn’t necessarily fit in with the psyche of the modern home owner. This is where oak framed glass extensions come in. More solid and robust than conservatories, glass rooms can be used for multiple purposes, from housing kitchens to acting as ‘link’ rooms between spaces or simply providing a stunning extra living area to a family home.

Thanks to the latest app technology, plus amazing advancements in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), you can take your customers on a visual guided tour of their new oak garage, allowing them to explore the different designs available, and make easy decisions about number of bays, roof type, loft inclusion, dormers and whether they want an external staircase.

Oak has always been popular among self-builders and ambitious renovators for its character and natural warmth, but in recent years we’ve spotted a trend in clients discovering the potential oak has to shine alongside other materials and finishes. Here’s some ideas on how oak can be a stunning part of a bigger design jigsaw.

As a hard, open grain wood oak is not only beautiful, it is one of the most dependable and resilient of all natural construction materials. Oak’s unique characteristics combine strength with pliability, environmental sustainability and unrivalled durability. Whether you’re remodelling an existing building or creating an entire self-build property, here are four reasons to work with oak.

Whether they call it the loft, the attic, the roof space or the eaves, most of your customers will have some kind of attic or loft space in their home. For some, the loft is a dark, unvisited space full of cobwebs and suitcases. For others, it’s a third or fourth bedroom, added in to increase space and value. In other cases, it’s used as an outlet for their work or their hobbies: a music room, an office or even a gym. With the right plans, permissions and investment, adding a loft space can give your customers’ homes a completely new lease of life.

Oak barn conversions are often high up on the wish list for many people planning a new home, thanks to beautiful examples of such renovations being shown on countless property TV shows. But how easy is it to carry out such a project, and what are the options and considerations facing you if you decide to go for it?