Carpenter Oak

We combine technical design, master craftsmanship and exquisite materials to create stunning spaces. We pioneered the use of structural timber for sympathetic restoration across the UK and for over 30 years we have continued to develop innovative techniques to lead the way in the timber framing industry. Oak framing, timber engineering and integrated glazing are now firmly in the repertoire of the modern architect. This has also enabled a new generation of self-builders to follow their dreams. Making dreams a reality since 1987, Carpenter Oak Ltd are award-winning specialists in the design, construction and raising of timber framed structures.

Combining our creative timber frame design with efficient project delivery enables us to offer a complete build service. From designing a concept to handing you the keys we bring our full range of professional experience to the table, to provide a truly comprehensive approach to building bold and inspired timber framed buildings. Our turnkey solution enables you to see a coherent and assured project evolve from start to finish. From the initial brief, this includes rigorous quality assurance. We work with individuals, families, businesses, and communities, and every building idea presented to us is a story in the making.

Barn style buildings offer flexibility to suit everyone's tastes. Whether a barn conversion or barn style new build, each allows for individual design and a finish. A timber frame can be of any size with window positioning, cladding and roofing materials chosen and designed for the owner's needs. From the traditional barn style frame of Seagull House and Lamper Head to the modern, crisp lines of Hart House and everything in between, Carpenter Oak have designed and created barn style living for over 30 years.

We've been trusted with the conservation of some of the UK's most precious oak framed buildings, helping to preserve our architectural legacy for future generations. Preserving some of our most famous buildings from humble barns to grand castles, building conservation for future generations requires skill, experience and the highest levels of craftsmanship. Carpenter Oak honours traditional skills, enabling these to live on in the techniques we perfect for conservation today. Our work contributes to cost certainty and reporting to funders, lenders and investors.

Each of our commercial timber framing projects is unique. We are a team of problem solvers, from design through to erection. Collaborating with architects, engineers and contractors from the outset enables us to build some of the finest public, commercial and educational timber framed buildings in the UK. Our widely experienced team has helped construct many award-winning projects. Our thirty years of skills, expertise and knowledge has brought complex projects to fruition. Sharing our expertise from the beginning, offering frame design and engineering contracts, support early collaboration on projects.

We work with architects already commissioned by our clients, or bring our own architect to the table as needed. We regularly collaborate with some of the country's most accomplished architects in practices large and small: Squire and Partners, Foster and Partners, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Roderick James Architects, Van Ellen + Sheryn, Harrison Sutton and BBH Architects. At each stage of a creative process, we can add a little bit of Carpenter Oak magic as your plans evolve. An architect is central not only to the design of your building but to the smooth running of the whole project.

A garden room can be separate from your existing property or form an extension. The space can vary in size and appearance depending on your needs. Garden rooms offer an escape from the house or a means to bring the outdoors into your existing home. With over 30 years of framing experience our dedicated team of project managers, frame designers and carpenters infuse their passion into your frame. We create your timber frame by hand in our workshops using traditional craftsmanship methods. We successfully marry modern technology with traditional carpentry.

From simple but unique timber frame design, to detailed architectural specifications using cutting-edge timber engineering, we can help. You are invited to explore our full range of services, skills and expertise. We design, craft and raise timber frames, and have done for three decades. The design potential of timber framed buildings is limitless, and there are a myriad options for adding style and sophistication. Our specialist knowledge, experience and skills ensure your project is beautifully conceived and constructed.

Decades of experience informs the Carpenter Oak team's depth of understanding. We work with architects and structural engineers, surveying existing frames and proposing a sensitive program for restorative work. The work we produce is award-winning. Our conservation specialists are members of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). They lead cutting edge training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in timber engineering and conservation techniques.

From crumbling barns to dilapidated buildings, Carpenter Oak have created award-winning conversions. Our skilled designers and craftsmen are adept at working with the challenges that can come with conversion. Using a range of timbers and techniques from oak to Glulam and steel offers a myriad of options to those considering conversion. Converting listed and agricultural buildings is nearly always a challenge. Be it from a design or conservation perspective an oak frame conversion requires a great deal of consideration and close liaison with the local authorities.

Working in collaboration with our customer and their architect, our experts ensure every residential timber or oak frame project is bespoke to your design requirements. With hundreds of unique residential properties created, across three decades, you can rest assured that our team will seamlessly deliver your timber framed dream home. Whether you are planning on building a new build oak frame house, an oak frame extension (single or two storeys), a log cabin, annexe, oak framed garage, swimming pool, boathouse or outbuilding, Carpenter Oak are well placed to help you achieve your dream.

At Carpenter Oak, we see the opportunities to create buildings differently, and have been doing so for 30 years, pioneering ways of integrating new materials and techniques within exquisite timber structures. It is this acumen for combining the traditional with the ultra-modern that allows unique buildings to take shape. We create buildings that surpass expectations. Behind our striking timber frames sits a combination of timeless tradition and true innovation. Our team has proven skills in creative and technical design-led solutions of timber frames ranging from small gridshells to large timber canopies.

Our Devon yard was set up in 1995 following the expansion of the Wiltshire business. It also followed on from two of our most memorable projects, Seagull House and Lamper Head a few minutes from where we would build our offices and workshops. Both projects acted as a springboard for the company and we haven't looked back since. The Devon yard has grown bigger over the years in terms of workshop capacity and the number of people working in our office and on the tools. We work on projects all over the UK, with around sixty projects made and raised each year, just from the Devon yard.

We pride ourselves on being highly knowledgeable and professional, from workshop to rooftop. Over 30 years, we have developed workshops in Devon, Cornwall, Wiltshire and Scotland, raising timber framed buildings across the UK. As established teams of designers, carpenters, and project managers, we partner with architects, engineers and contractors in all disciplines to deliver projects from RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) stages 0 to 7. You will be hard-pushed to find a friendlier group of people.

Since 1987, we've been involved in some of the most challenging timber-framed buildings in the UK and overseas. Collaborating with our clients, architects, engineers and designers, our expert knowledge and skill has led to many award-winning projects that feature a Carpenter Oak frame, including multiple regional and national RIBA Awards, three consecutive Build It Awards for Best Oak Frame and the Stirling Prize. From residential projects large and small to builds in the commercial sector, the national and international awards that have followed are highly prized throughout the team and act not only as a reward for ingenuity and hard work, but help to inspire us forward.

We love getting out and about with our camera to capture everyday life here at Carpenter Oak. We film anything interesting going on in the workshops, on site or at one of our finished projects. Subscribe to or follow our YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts to follow the latest videos, or have a watch of some of our favourites below. Marketing PermissionsCarpenter Oak will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our website.

Carpenter Oak is a specialist Oak Frame Company based in Devon (UK). We are award winning specialists in the design, construction and raising of oak timber framed buildings. We have a dedicated team of Project Managers, Timber Frame Designers and Carpenters who work closely with clients and architects to deliver a wide variety of bespoke oak frame projects across the UK, Europe and beyond. We celebrate the beauty and joy of timber frames in many different styles and raise over 60 frames a year for inclusion within schemes ranging from oak extensions to extensive high-end architectural oak houses.

Making complex or expansive timber framed spaces possible, steel can work as a subtle part of the construction, or a feature in its own right. Our carpenters are experienced in combining timber and engineering, and in working with specialists to ensure quality and compliance in all our structures. Steel can simplify structures by supporting clear and impressive roof spaces and arches. At the detail level, bolts, fixings and joints can be sleekly integrated, or used as character features. Steel provides additional strength, so is often partnered with timber in large or complex structures.

Our carpenters marry diligence and skill to deliver truly ambitious construction projects. A highly versatile craft, with almost limitless design options. The foundation of our skilled team is their extensive experience with traditional pegged mortice and tenon jointing techniques. Combining this with specialist knowledge in partnering timber with steelwork and other modern materials opens up endless possibilities for design and structure. Using cutting-edge Computer Aided Design tools alongside our traditional timber framing knowledge enables us to show and interrogate detail at every level.

Providing clean lines and a crisp finish, Douglas fir can be an attractive option for more contemporary frames. The timber has an orangey-pink hue, maturing to a deeper orange over time, giving it a distinctive feel and flavour. Douglas fir performs best in straight frames. Due to a lower moisture content Douglas fir seasons more quickly than hardwood, so can take surface finishes to bring out its natural character. Whilst it is a softer wood than oak, it is well suited to timber framing and a confident and natural partner to engineering features, glass, external panelling and decking.

Our commitment to our clients is driven by expert project managers, skilled carpenters and experienced designers (to name but a few). They maintain the values of the business as Carpenter Oak changes and evolves. Our collaborative and creative ethos took a significant step forward in 2017, when Carpenter Oak started the journey to becoming employee-owned. For a company that consciously steers away from a faceless corporate approach, this is an important commitment to remaining 'hands-on' in all aspects of our business.

Timber frames are beautiful. Squared timbers, intricate curves, the roof, purlins, wind braces and rafters can all be features of the design. Expose less of the structure for a different effect, highlighting perhaps just the trusses, and letting the interior spaces speak for themselves. Modern timber engineering techniques allow seamless integration of steel and glazing within a timber frame to create a completely different feel. From the interior to the exterior, we can design a palette of materials that work effectively with a timber frame.

Timber framed buildings are energy efficient and comfortable places to live and work. Add thoughtful glazing design, and you can create truly impressive and light spaces with stunning views. Our 30 years of experience means we are skilled in considering how glazing can best add to the atmosphere and performance of timber frame structures. We supply joinery for a range of fittings and fixtures which integrate glazing seamlessly into timber design. Often referred to by our customers as one of the most impressive features of an oak frame, glazing allows the ability to have 'frameless' windows.

As pioneers of exceptional timber engineering, you can find the work of Carpenter Oak in buildings across the UK and overseas. The original team of owners championed design and craft across timber construction. Their knowledge was gained through the study and repair of traditional timber buildings. They developed an understanding of the historical use of green timber and gained the confidence to build new structures. This knowledge continues to grow, transferring skills to contemporary designs and true innovation.

Oak is iconic, naturally providing the curves and arches we would all recognise as typical of traditional timber framing. You can see the lines and shapes in the wood, and literally hear it change as it naturally adapts to temperature and dries with age. All of our Oak comes from PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certified forests in Europe. Oak's incredible durability means that, used in a rough-sawn state, it can last for centuries without requiring treatment. The interior will maintain a beautiful honey gold colour.