Glulam Beams

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Glue laminated (Glulam) timber is often used in large-scale projects. It is extremely stable, without surface imperfections. This allows it to be used in place of steel as an engineering solution, as well as an impressive feature in its own right.

Incorporating a range of woods (including oak, Douglas fir chestnut and ash), glulam provides straight and uniform timbers to bespoke lengths. Unlike an oak frame, glulam will not move. If natural cracks and splits are not your style, glulam is an option for a more managed finish. Its stability is due in large part to a lower moisture content (8 – 12%) than alternatives we work with.

Glulam’s stability allows special shapes and structures to be made to measure, making it one of the more specialist timbers within timber framing.

Glue Laminated Beams

Glue-laminated (glulam) beams are available in a variety of different timbers as they use dry smaller section source material – Ash, Chestnut, Oak, Douglas Fir and spruce are all available. Planed, straight and clean-lined, they have very few surface anomalies, are incredibly stable. Glulam won’t shrink, crack or shake, and is easily treated with decorative finishes.

Carpenter Oak have completed several projects using this material and are excited by the alternatives it offers.

Glulam beams are available in huge lengths and sections. Engineers tend to love them as they are very uniform, stable and predictable which suits their structural analysis techniques. For this reason, you often find them in large scale building projects such as public buildings.

They suit modern, contemporary buildings and are often referred to as the timber equivalent of steel beams.

Here are some of the Pros and Cons to consider before choosing to use Glulam:

They are not suitable for exterior use.

It is very stable. Glulam has a moisture content of typically 8%-12% (compared to 60%-80% within Green Oak). The moisture is an indicator of how much you can expect the timber to move (shrinkage, twisting and splitting (shakes)) through the drying out process.

They can be several times more expensive and require additional workshop space.

The timber doesn’t need any cleaning (in theory) as it arrives at our framing yard with the finished surface. As a consequence the timber requires special care while handling to avoid marking the timber.

Large clear spans are easily achievable with glulam beams.

You can order exact shapes, curves, radii and specific sections.

You can produce a very crisp and sharp look timber frame using glulam. See the Greywings Case study.

The manufacturing process for bespoke beams is longer than other materials, meaning significant lead-in times.

The glulam can be jointed using mortice and tenon, hidden steel brackets or feature stainless steel connections.

Are you thinking of using Glulam in your plans? Contact us to discuss your ideas.

Meet the team

Will Harris

Team Leader

Joined Carpenter Oak: 2018

Interview with Will Harris

When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
A close acquaintance has recently got me into making children. I wasn’t convinced initially but have been persuaded she was right. Other than that, making things, river swimming, walking with the children, running with the dog and good food.

If stranded on a desert Island, which three people would you take?
Bear Grylls, Handy Andy, Jesus

Who would be in your dream carpentry team?
Bear Grylls, Handy Andy, Jesus

What music do you listen to?
Don’s music

What is the most embarrassing job you have ever had?
I was a child model for Horse and Pony Magazine

What is the best comedy film ever made?
Super Troopers. Or Amelie if I’m feeling more mature.

What do you enjoy most about working with wood?
The smell

Do you have a favourite quote?
Run away

What is your nickname at the yard?
‘Captain Will’ seems to have stuck

Biography
One of two boys bred on a small livestock farm in Cambridgeshire with a retired Tup (male sheep, for the use of) called Jethro and a border collie called Nelly. Averagely academic, I achieved mixed results and was sent to a small village in the Brazilian Pantanal while my dad toured various art schools with a blank UCAS form, my A level portfolio, and a brown envelope full of sweet breads. Four years at Newcastle delivered a few life lessons and aligned my star map with the woman who would subsequently teach me the rest. I really enjoyed the technicality of portraiture and printmaking and was interested in the conservation and restoration side of art, but as the end came it became quite clear Sotheby’s weren’t crying out for 2:2s from red brick universities. Fortunately for me, Her Majesty was, and leaving a large pile of hair where Nelly (RIP) used to sleep, I walked up the steps of Sandhurst in January 2006. I spent most of the next six years based in Germany, with two active service stints crawling around the marshes in Iraq and learning how to roll a cigarette in Afghanistan. I was then posted back to London to drive a desk and decided (with a huge amount of patience from Zoe) that I’d rather do something more physical and creative. I managed to convince someone to allow me to do some work experience here and they seemed to be a company that really thought carefully about what they do and the people that do it. Essentially my gut instinct was that it felt very right.

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Muna Sono

Project Manager

Joined Carpenter Oak: 2013

Interview with Muna

What music are you currently listening to in the workshop?
Stormzy, Bonobo, The Black Seeds, El Michels Affair, Midnite, Boris Brejcha…

When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Brazilian Jiujitsu!

If stranded on a desert island which three people would you take and why?
Bob Marley for positive vibrations, Hermes Trismagistus for the knowledge and wisdom he could share and Bill Hicks for people conscious comedy.

Biography
I graduated from university with a degree in politics with economics and was preparing, like so many of my peers, to begin a finance-based career in the city. However I experienced a synchronistic chain of events, which would culminate in a major shift in my world view and send me down a path of self discovery. I spent the next two years helping teach bread making at a cooking school and working as a chef. All the while I was absorbing vast amounts of material on the esoteric, the occult, spirituality, consciousness and philosophy. Whilst volunteering at Embercombe, a social enterprise in Devon, I did some carpentry for the first time since school and felt a deep connection to the craft. After this I knew I wanted to make a profession of woodworking but was unsure how. I spent some time helping Mike Abbot run green wood chair making courses and discovered timber framing, this was a eureka moment, I knew I was going to be a timber frame carpenter. After completing an apprenticeship in site carpentry, I was offered a position to train with Carpenter Oak. I feel blessed to be working with highly skilled, capable people with enormous amounts of experience. It feels fantastic to have found my path, creating incredible frames with wonderful people.

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Fergus Stuart

Design and Project Consultant

Joined Carpenter Oak: 2008

Interview with Fergus

What is the best project you have worked on and why?
Med Quoy truck frame in Orkney. Great frame, great location and the best jolly ever. Plover Hall reciprocal roof for the challenge

When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Saturday adventures on the hills and glens of Angus

If stranded on a desert island, which three people would you take and why?
Nate Herreshoff to build a boat and teach me how, Bob Dylan to play the tunes, Donald Trump to do the rest of you a favour (you’re welcome)

What is the most embarrassing job you have ever had?
Agency work scrubbing pots in a university canteen a few weeks after I’d jacked in my course – an existential crisis.

What music do you listen to?
6Music of an evening and on Sundays floats my boat.

What do you enjoy most about working with wood/oak?
The most sustainable material on earth and it happens to be beautiful too.

Where is your favourite place in the world?
The bothy on the wilds of Knoydart will take some beating.

Biography
Edinburgh raised, I took the conventional route to uni straight after school which didn’t work out. So I spent the next couple of years staying up a bit too late and generally faffing about before coming across timber framing through Grand Designs. It turned out there was a cool company just up the road, making the best frames in Scotland. I wrote them a letter, they took a punt on me and I’ve been here ever since. Seven thoroughly enjoyable years spent on the tools – how many people can genuinely describe their jobs as fun? – then a position opened up in the office, handling sales and design, and another punt was taken (there’s a theme here). A few more years down the line I’ve enjoyed learning another side to our industry and it’s no less fun. The yard is well and truly home now and conveying what we’re about to those interested in us is probably the most satisfying bit of my job. There’s a really bright future for the Scottish Yard and one I’m looking forward to being part of with a great group of people.

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Ben Hancock

Architectural Services Manager / Carpenter

Interview with Ben Hancock

If you had to pick one, which is your favourite Carpenter Oak project and why?
Bedales School Theatre, due to the collaborative relationship between the school, the architects and ourselves leading to a fantastic project.

When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Playing piano

What is the best comedy film ever made?
The Riviera Touch

What do you enjoy most about working at Carpenter Oak?
The Team

Biography
As well as being a carpenter at the company, I also have a background in architecture. It’s therefore my job to work with the company’s design departments and aid our relationships with other architects and keep up Carpenter Oak’s high standards in design.

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Working with you guys is much more of a pleasure than with most contractors or subcontractors, largely because you are so appreciative of doing a really good job.

Peter Clegg, Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects

Could you please pass on my thanks to those involved in the project at Pound Cottage. From our first meeting to completion of the frame we have received extremely professional service from everyone at Carpenter Oak. The frame was delivered ahead of time to a high standard of workmanship. The team of craftsman were excellent, nothing was too much trouble and they happily took time to explain anything we queried. From a project management perspective I was delighted to see the site was left clean and tidy and their standard of health and safety was high.

Andy Turner, Director, Princeton Homes

Still thrilled! We finally moved in, having taken a couple of years to complete our essentially DIY project. The sense of satisfaction is therefore even greater. We are envied by all who come here! Isn’t it strange how visitors sit staring up into the rafters much of the time. We are speechless with delight and so is everyone who has seen it! We are so full of admiration for the skill of all the team and we would be very grateful if you would please thank them for making it all possible.

Shelagh and Martin Herbert, Clients

My grateful thanks for the very good work put into the frame and its erection on the foundations of my bungalow.

Glulams are excellent materials dependent on your project, design and styling ideas.

Here are some of the Pros and Cons to consider before choosing to use Glulam:

Meet the team

Will Harris

Team Leader

Interview with Will Harris

Muna Sono

Project Manager

Interview with Muna

Fergus Stuart

Design and Project Consultant

Interview with Fergus

Ben Hancock

Architectural Services Manager / Carpenter

Interview with Ben Hancock

Peter Clegg, Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects

Andy Turner, Director, Princeton Homes

Shelagh and Martin Herbert, Clients

E Goodchild, Client

Hart House

Award winning oak glulam framed home

Awards

About Us

Glulam beams

Glulams are excellent materials dependent on your project, design and styling ideas.

Here are some of the Pros and Cons to consider before choosing to use Glulam:

Meet the team

Will Harris

Team Leader

Interview with Will Harris

Muna Sono

Project Manager

Interview with Muna

Fergus Stuart

Design and Project Consultant

Interview with Fergus

Ben Hancock

Architectural Services Manager / Carpenter

Interview with Ben Hancock

Peter Clegg, Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects

Andy Turner, Director, Princeton Homes

Shelagh and Martin Herbert, Clients

E Goodchild, Client

Hart House

Award winning oak glulam framed home

Awards

About Us

Contact

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