oak framed extension

If you are looking to create more space in your home, that also adds value to your property, the best approach is to consider extending your home with a timber frame extension.

Building with oak adds charm and character, not to mention warmth and longevity. Thanks to oak’s innate natural beauty, a timber frame extension can blend seamlessly with both modern and traditional style houses.

If you’re thinking about how to enhance your home with a timber frame extension, the best place to start is researching on the internet and picking up the latest copies of relevant home building magazines. The likes of Grand Designs, Homebuilding and Renovating and Built It feature a great deal of information, inspiration and technical advice about the style of oak frame you may require. Alternatively, you’ll find on all the oak frame manufacturers’ websites entire ranges as well as technical support to answer your questions or concerns.

 

Budget

For a single bay timber frame extension, prices can vary with each manufacturer, and the total cost will depend on how much you’re willing to do yourself. Oak frame kits alone can range from £4,000 to £5,000 for a single-bay frame-only project. However, if you’re looking for a company to supply, assemble and fit all the necessary materials, such as insulation, roof tiles, joinery etc, then the project costs can easily escalate up to £20,000.

The best advice when setting a budget is to always over-estimate costs. Unforeseen issues can arise at any stage of the project, so it’s important to account for any surprise outgoings by adding 25-40% of your anticipated project cost onto the final budget.

Style

The style of your timber frame extension will partly depend on the size and style of your existing property. It is important that you select a design that is in proportion to your home as it may feel and look out of place. Before you look into design options for your oak frame, ask yourself what will be the primary purpose of this newly created space? Will it be used as an extension to your dining or living area? Will it be a place of relaxation and tranquillity? Or will it be a place of work or study? Your answer will help you select an oak frame building that is tailored to suit its exact purpose.

For instance, its use will dictate the amount of glazing you may choose to feature. A study will require lots of natural light and therefore you might choose to include a glazed lantern for direct sunlight. If you want to use the space for entertaining, then bi-folding or French doors will allow you to extend out to the garden or bring the outdoors in.

Either way, oak frame extensions are a significant, but worthwhile, investment and the size and design will need to be carefully considered to meet not only your immediate needs but future needs too.

Planning

So you’ve chosen the design for your timber frame extension, what next? Generally speaking, any addition to a property requires consent. The most common forms of consent are Planning Permission, Listed Building Consent and Certificate of Lawful Use (for Permitted Development). Before you take your drawings to the planners, here are some initial considerations. What type of land will the building be placed on? Will the oak frame building be subservient to the main house? What is the position of the oak frame extension to the main house? How visible will the building be to neighbours?

In a number of circumstances, Permitted Development may apply which means you don’t necessarily have to obtain Planning Permission. However, this is only if your timber frame extension meets a certain criteria. We would always advise that you speak to your local authority as they will guide you on the correct route to take. Some oak frame manufacturers work closely with independent planning consultants who can deal with the planning aspect on your behalf. Failure to comply with the correct process at this stage can ultimately affect you further down the line. For example, without the correct paperwork or stamp of approval this may affect the resale of your home in the future or in the worst case scenario you could end up having to start from scratch.

Groundworks

To ensure the longevity and stability of your timber frame extension, it is vital that you enlist a professional to undertake the groundworks. If you fail to provide the correct foundations for the structure, then ultimately it will not support the weight of your oak frame. Foundations are generally divided into two categories: shallow foundations and deep foundations.

The type of foundation you have will depend on a number of factors – these may include the size of your oak frame building, the condition of the site and nature of the soil. Your Building Inspector is the best person to advise you on the correct foundations for your timber frame extension, and always seek advice should the design of your oak frame building change in any way as this may affect the foundations also.

Insulation

As soon as you start attaching an oak frame building to your existing property, that’s when you need to start upping the insulation values. Building Regulations will stipulate the minimum values for floors, walls and roofs, however you may want to improve on these values to help reduce future energy costs in order to heat your timber frame extension. You also need to take into account things like heat loss, thermal bridging and condensation risk analysis. These things are especially important when using green oak because the oak will shrink over time and you need to minimise the effect of shrinkage.

Interior Decoration

While the beauty of your oak frame extension will speak for itself, your choice of fixtures and fitting will really make your oak frame extension come to life. There are a variety of ironmongery options on the market that will complement your joinery, however for ease and convenience, English Heritage Buildings offers a selection of suitable ironmongery in house. You can discuss your options with your sales consultant in more detail when going through the specification.

Thanks to the versatility of oak frame, you have complete freedom when it comes to deciding on your dĂ©cor. The oak frame building concept suits both contemporary and traditional interior schemes which can make this stage even more enjoyable. To get an idea of this season’s trends, Pinterest is a great resource for colour schemes and decorative accessories. Meanwhile, major home improvement retailers, such as Farrow & Ball, often post useful blogs on their websites, which can guide homeowners on which colours suit specific rooms within the house and describe the mood they exude. Also be sure to shop around to grab your hands on the best deal – keep an eye on auction sites such as eBay too for higher ticket items which are sold at a fraction of the cost.

Call our Team Today

At English Heritage Buildings, we have been designing and carefully crafting oak frame extensions for decades. We are proud to have enhanced the homes of many happy customers. For further information about the designs on offer or if you would like to speak to a member of the team about bespoke options, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01424 838643 or email sales@ehbp.com.