We’ve highlighted 10 reasons to consider using this natural material for your self build project

1 Age-old technique updated

Oak has been used to construct buildings in the UK since the middle ages; many villages, such as Lavenham in Suffolk, have half-timbered medieval cottages that have stood the test of time and prove the durability of one of Britain’s best-known native trees. Nowadays, the heritage methods for working with this material are combined with the latest in construction technology. Skilled craftsmen will handcraft the oak frame in specialist workshops, using modern engineering techniques to ensure the accuracy and efficiency needed to meet modern Building Regulations.

2 Design versatility

Picture an oak frame home – chances are you’re imagining a Tudor-style building with wattle and daub infilled walls, low beamed cosy rooms and a traditional look. However, this construction method is capable of so much more and can suit the aesthetic palettes of traditionalists, modernists and everyone else in-between. In fact, oak is regularly used to create strikingly contemporary homes that utilise the natural warmth and character this wood offers alongside highly modern architectural elements. You can clad the frame in various materials, have the oak exposed internally and/or externally, create vaulted ceilings and breathtaking mezzanines – the only real limitation is your imagination.