Oak frame extensions

Building an oak frame extension can bring instant character to your property, offering the perfect fusion of structural integrity with the natural beauty and durability of exposed beams, as these UK projects perfectly demonstrate

- DEBBIE JEFFERY

Scaled up

While planning a renovation and large extension for their 1930s house, Mared and Nick Morant were drawn to the idea of incorporating oak features. ‘We like the farmhouse look, but didn’t realise that the visible oak formed the structure as an alternative to steel until we went along to one of Welsh Oak Frame’s open houses,’ explains Mared. ‘We successfully tripled the size of our house, and it’s now unrecognisable, and we had no problems securing planning permission as we were the last on the street to extend.’

Welsh Oak Frame (welshoakframe.com) completed the structural drawings and finer details for the oak and glazing, before delivering and erecting the frame, which took around two weeks. Mared and Nick chose how much oak to expose in the kitchen, living room and the two bedrooms above, settling on stunning floor-length glazing for the gable extension and narrow frames designed to work with the movement of the oak.

Art and craft

As the manager of a craft brewery, Mick works with artisans every day to produce award-winning ales. When it came to their home, he and his wife Julie wanted to bring that handcrafted element to an extension, choosing Oakmasters (oakmasters.co.uk) because of the company’s reputation for craftsmanship.