Timber Frame Raising
Timber frame raising week is an exciting time. After the long build-up to this point – putting together a team, planning, architect, design, groundworks – for many clients it is the first point at which they get to see their timber framed construction project come off the paper and take shape.
The structural frame forms the skeleton of the building and is made in its entirety in our workshops while your builder is preparing the foundations. Once we get on site, the frame goes up very quickly under the care of the team of carpenters who made it. Even the largest of structures is usually complete within the week. For small frames, it can be a day or two.
The completion of the frame raising is a moment to celebrate, both for you and the carpentry team. The team will ‘top out’ and mark the milestone of the project – this is when the carpenter nails a branch of a tree – traditionally oak for us – to the top of the roof.
The skeleton is in place and the work of encapsulation (with Structural Insulated Panels SIPS, cavity wall, straw bales, hemp panels etc.), roofing and cladding can get underway. The building can be watertight within days allowing internal studwork and first fix to carry on inside under cover & with ease. Compare this to traditional brick and block builds, where getting to this stage can take months, and it’s easy to see the advantage of the timber frame route.
The Carpenter Oak Way
You need to be confident that work on site is going to get done swiftly and skilfully without compromising safety or attention to detail. Our teams are highly experienced, raising over 50 frames a year and we pride ourselves on being swift, efficient and safe.
Your raising team will be made up of the carpenters who made the frame, and this ensures the ownership of quality right down to the last peg. Our teams raise frames in the trickiest locations and most challenging conditions, always maintaining pride in their work and going the extra mile to get the job done with the care it deserves.
Timber Frame Details
Wrapping the frame
The timber frame usually stands partially or entirely within the internal finish and is revealed to the interior of the property. The frame is surrounded by a structured build-up whose function is to protect and insulate the building and protect it from the weather. This zone consists of external finishes, insulation and membranes, which can surround the frame unbroken and are therefore able to do their job more effectively. In this way, the timber frame can meet and exceed all current regulations and standards for weather protection, insulation & air tightness. We do not advocate revealing the frame to the outside of the building.
External finishes
Since the frame lies inside the insulation and membrane build-up, it is possible to finish the building with any form of external finish that you want. Many frames will not be apparent from the outside of the property unless that is what you want. Often getting the appearance of the frame from the exterior is about having timer framed balconies & porches and areas of direct glazing.
Standard Architectural Details For timber framed construction
As part of our service we supply your architect with all relevant ‘Standard Details’, these are advisory details showing the recommended detailing for the timber frame and applied glazing, and how they interact with surrounding detailing in numerous scenarios.
These details are architect approved and have been developed over many years to be robust and reliable.
Come and visit our workshops in Devon and Scotland to see examples of our work, talk about your project and see the team who craft the frames. Keep an eye on upcoming events for opportunities to meet us in person at self-build shows and visit Carpenter Oak homes.
Contact us for further information.
