- Expertise
- Carpenter Oak CPD Programmes
- Timber Frame Building Regulations and Planning Permission
- Architectural Design Services
- Encapsulation Panels
- Oak Frame Design
- Oak Windows, Oak Frame Doors & Glazing
- Commercial Oak Framing
- Cedar, Larch & Oak weatherboarding and Fixings
- Timber Framed Construction
- Roof Boarding
- Timber Engineering
- Modern Oak Staircase
- Encapsulation Systems
- Oak frame porch
- Complete Build
- Oak Frame Restoration & Conservation
- Self Build Log Cabin – Design and Build
Our skills, expertise and knowledge are borne out of thirty years of problem-solving and seeing complex commercial oak framing projects brought to fruition. We look to share this expertise from the outset, offering frame design and engineering contracts to enable early collaboration on projects.
Every project we undertake is unique, including the UK’s most prestigious and challenging timber frame engineering projects. We regularly collaborate with architects and engineers, participating in some of the finest timber framed public, commercial and educational buildings.
Our team has lead the way in the creative and technical design-led solutions of commercial oak framing ranging from small gridshells to large timber canopies. We don’t promote a particular approach within our design. We harness the potential of timber engineering to tailor an approach that is right for every individual oak frame for any commercial development. Passionate about the detail – both the aesthetic and process.
We produce contemporary designs such as Greywings in glu-laminated timber to a more traditional oak frame with other timber options available.
If you are looking for an oak frame for commercial development, we have worked on many award winning projects such as the RIBA award winning Brixton Department Store, Wolfson Tree Management Centre, Solar Canopy at the Earth Centre and Loch Lomond National Park Headquarters along with the Wood Award winning Stowe Gardens Visitor Center to name but a few.
We collaborate with renown architects and engineers such as Squire and Partners, Momentum Structural Engineers, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, BuroHappold, Page\Park, David Narro Associates, Mark Lovell Design Engineers and Simpson & Brown
Our widely experienced team are registered with Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and are Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) certified. We have site operatives trained in Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) and Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS).
We are members of the Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA), Building Safety Group (BSG) and Construction Line
We are able to provide copies of our Health and Safety Policy, Environmental Policy, Employer’s Liability Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Need more information? Contact us >
Meet the team
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.
Adam Milton
Founder
Joined Carpenter Oak: 1987
Interview with Adam Milton
Favourite thing about working at Carpenter Oak?
Constructing great buildings, with a great eclectic bunch of people in the most beautiful part of the world.
When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Sailing on the river Dart and walking with the family and dog.
What is the best project you have worked on and why?
Bedales School Olivier Theatre in Petersfield, Hampshire: great design and a wonderful team.
What is the most embarrassing job you have ever had?
Selling beef burgers at university and having a dyslexic moment when I put up a sign saying “Beef buggers for sale!”
Biography
I have been in the timber/design world since leaving school. I gained a BA (Hons) in Furniture Design in 1984 and then trained as a fine cabinet/furniture designer and maker producing highly finished pieces. In 1987 I joined Carpenter Oak and Woodland as a structural framing carpenter. The work was mainly restoration and conservation of historical timber frames, culminating in the major repairs at Windsor Castle after the great fire of 1992. I gained huge knowledge of building conservation, running skilled teams of carpenters and project management. In 1995 I had the opportunity to set up a new yard in Devon with my colleague Paul Kirkup, becoming Carpenter Oak Ltd. It was an inspiring time, building a new team, alongside living and raising a family in the beautiful South Hams. Carpenter Oak has grown from a small team to fifty odd carpenters, all highly skilled and loyal timber framers and of course our dedicated and talented office staff. I passionately believe in our craft of timber framing. I find it heartening that we use skills developed over a hundred years ago, as well as cutting edge contemporary methods to create stunning timber framed buildings. This is what gives me the buzz.
Luke Copley-Wilkins
Managing Director
Joined Carpenter Oak: 2016
Interview with Luke Copley-Wilkins
When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Climbing on the amazing sea cliffs, quarries and tors around Devon, spending time at the beaches and dusting off my tools to make things.
If stranded on a desert island, which three people would you take and why?
My family for their laughter and adventures
Favourite CO project
Although I wasn’t involved in it, the Ballista we built for the BBC, it’s a feat of the creativity and skills across our teams.
Favourite quote
“If you always do what you’ve always done you’ll always get what you always got”
Favourite place in the world
Any of the numerous mountain huts around the world, including Upper Travers hut in New Zealand and Corrour Bothy in Cairngorms near our Scotland yard. Nearer to home, some of the sea cliffs around Berry Head, where you can climb all evening with the sun setting behind you and the occasional seal popping its head up.
Biography
After studying architecture at Sheffield University, with a focus on environmental design, I worked on high end projects in the Cotswolds and played a part in a number of experimental timber architectural constructions including Studio in the Woods and Dartmoor Arts.
After a stint in New Zealand working on housing and innovative architecture, I returned to the UK, starting at Carpenter Oak as a carpenter.
After several months of carpentry, I set my sights on creating a new market sector for the company called ‘Carpenter Oak Build’, a new part of the business focussing on complete builds. After the successful implementation, I went on to join the leadership team who merged Carpenter Oak with its sister company Carpenter Oak and Woodland in 2017, allowing the company to bring together its combined skills and expertise, and offer new services.
Paul Kirkup
Founder
Joined Carpenter Oak: 1990
Interview with Paul Kirkup
Bio chemistry, field officer, artist, photographer, master printmaker, father, carpenter, cyclist, runner of sorts, frame designer, company director and married to the wonderful Sarah, this is my serendipitous journey so far. For me its all about the building of and nurturing trusting relationships, within and without the company, and knowing that wood is good.
The truss and gable end purlins and ridge beam are now up. Everything fitted perfectly. I was particularly pleased with the design and crafting of the joints such that any subsequent movement would not result in an unsightly crack appearing. Please convey my thanks to your team.
Douglas Murray, Retired Architect
Everything went really well and all looks great. Your guys were exemplary and were extremely professional, they were meticulous in the detail and the frame fitted pretty much perfectly on the foundation. The boys did a great job and left the site very clean and tidy too, it has been a pleasure dealing with you and Carpenter Oak on this project and I hope to work with you again in the future.
Jason Cooper, Client
Everything went very well despite the weather, the frame looks brilliant. Tom and Ben are great guys and they have done a really good job. Thanks to you and all your team for your help with the architects and SIPS people, brilliant job.
Roger Wicks, Client
It has been one of the pleasures of this scheme to have Carpenter Oak on the project. They have responded to all requests made of them, both during the design and build on the original building in a professional, positive and cheerful manner, meeting and in many instances, bettering, programme dates. After the loss of the building by fire, their response was immediate, positive and, under the circumstances, remarkable, achieving substantial elements of redesign, and delivering the new frame to site ahead of programme, in spite of major commitments elsewhere. I can unreservedly recommend this company, and will have no hesitation in placing further business with them in the future.
