Q&A: Building with oak frame
Gareth Edmunds, director at Welsh Oak Frame, answers your questions on this characterful and popular build system
Can you achieve a contemporary design using oak frame?
Oak isn’t just for traditional-style homes. Modern oak frame houses tend to have a stripped-back look and are often simpler in style, usually with less oak on display. Other typical features in this type of contemporary home include open-plan spaces with little or no corridors, double-height zones, mezzanine decks, galleries and vaulted ceilings. Wide spans up to 9m (depending on the roof pitch) can be achieved; or even wider with supporting posts. Adding bifold doors to the rear will maximise natural light and is a great way to boost the illusion of space. The exterior of the house can be encapsulated with a range of modern materials, such as cedar boarding. Inside, choosing an uncoloured wax for the internal frame will help to keep the timber light and enhance the feeling of brightness.