Despite the wide variety of timber species available, oak is one of the most popular choices for building properties. It is strong and durable, has a close grain and naturally resists rot and insect attack. However, its cost can be high. If you’re on a budget, there are other options, including softwoods such as pine and Douglas fir.
Oak
Oak is naturally durable and beautiful, which makes it a favourite for traditional timber frames and exposed beams. Green oak is often used for framing because it is easier to work when freshly cut, although it shrinks and moves as it dries. For advice from Timber Merchants Southampton, go to www.timbco.co.uk
Walnut
Walnut is a hardwood that is prized for its rich colour and is often used for furniture, joinery and flooring rather than structural framing. It is expensive, even compared with other domestic species, and is only moderately durable.
Choosing Timber for Your Frame
Once you’ve chosen a timber frame system, the next step is deciding which types of wood are best for your project. Different parts of the structure have different requirements, and a timber frame builder will often use more than one type of wood. It’s also worth choosing timber from a certified sustainable source, such as FSC or PEFC certified timber.
Pine and Other Softwoods
Pine is an affordable softwood. Its grain is straight, it can be stained easily and it planes well. It is cheaper than Douglas fir and oak, and although it is not as dense as oak, structural-grade softwood is strong enough for most house frames. However, it is not naturally as durable as oak, so it needs to be protected from moisture and, where necessary, treated.
Texture and Colour
The texture of the wood is important, as it affects how well it can be finished. The colour of the wood also matters, as it affects the look and feel of the property. These factors are more important for exposed and decorative timber than for hidden structural timber.
Related: Is it possible to build a house using salvaged materials?
Where oak earns its place beyond the frame
Oak is not only used for structural frames. It is a long-standing choice for flooring, joinery, furniture, veneers and exterior cladding, and it is popular for outbuildings such as garages, carports and garden rooms. European oak is a warm yellowish brown, and it is the heartwood that gives the timber its durability; the paler sapwood is far less resistant to decay and is usually removed for outdoor work.
Its high tannin content is what helps oak resist insects and rot, and it means good heartwood can be used outside without chemical preservatives. That same tannin has a catch: it reacts with ordinary steel, leaving dark blue-black stains around nails and screws and gradually corroding the fixings. Stainless steel or other suitable fixings avoid the problem. Freshly cut oak can also show harmless surface marks or bleed tannin in the rain at first, which weathers away as the timber settles to a silver-grey.
Green, red and reclaimed oak beams
Oak beams have been a favourite in house building for generations. They are strong, attractive and come in a range of colour tones, and they can be shaped into elegant architectural features that add real character to a home. The oak used for building usually comes from mature trees, often at least 80 years old, grown in the UK, elsewhere in Europe and in North America.
Beams generally fall into three groups. Red oak has a classic look but is among the more expensive options. Green oak, which is freshly cut timber, is cheaper and widely used, though it needs more thought about protection against decay.
Reclaimed oak, salvaged from older buildings, is the third option and brings a ready made sense of age to a new project. Choosing between them comes down to the look you want, the budget and how the timber will be used within the frame.
Oak beams as a structural and decorative feature
Oak beams show why this timber is so valued in house building. They bring a rich colour and texture that is hard to match, and they suit modern, traditional and country interiors alike. Beyond looks, oak is known for resisting decay, insect attack and fire, which helps explain why oak framed buildings and beams last so long.
The trees used for beams are typically around 80 years old when harvested, and their timber can be shaped into decorative, intricate architectural features that give a home real character. As well as exposed beams, oak is used for columns, flooring and cabinet framing.
Prices vary with quality and how much work goes into each piece, and oak beams are rarely the cheapest option. For many people, though, the cost is justified by the strength, durability and lasting beauty they add. Its toughness compared with other hardwoods is also why oak appears so often in high end commercial projects as well as homes.