Crafting Your Perfect Oak-Framed Extension

Timberpride Team

Let’s start at the very beginning, which is understanding your vision and project requirements. How does the path to your perfect oak-framed extension begin?

Your first port of call is Timberpride; we’re the experts when it comes to designing with oak. Simply give us a call or arrange an in-person meeting with one of our friendly team members. We’ll chat with you about your ideas, needs, and expectations for the extension.

1. The Importance of Planning Permission

Creating your perfect oak-framed extension comes with legal caveats, namely making sure you’ve got planning permission. This ensures the project is compliant with planning rules and that it’s also a feasible undertaking. Most, but not all, building work will require planning permission, while some can be done under permitted development rights.

Why do you need planning permission for an extension?

Any work like this is considered to be a new or major change to a building, so it will need the appropriate permissions to comply with building laws.

If the extension project requires planning permission and you undertake the work without applying for it, you could ultimately be served with what’s known as an ‘enforcement notice.’ This means that all the changes made will have to be undone.

It’s easy to find out whether or not you require planning permission, simply by visiting your LPA (local planning authority) through your council’s website. All the necessary information and application documents will be there.

Don’t worry if you’re finding the process tricky to navigate alone. We can introduce you to professional planning consultants who’ll be able to offer expert advice on what’s achievable.

For those interested in the technical details of Permitted Development Rights, we’ve provided the government documentation below. This PDF offers insights into key aspects and considerations when working with oak-framed structures, including regulations and standards to follow. You can view or download the guide directly below:

2. Design Creation & Cost Estimate

This is a bit of a chicken and egg situation: you need a design to apply for planning permission, but designing without planning is jumping the gun. Timberpride can help by drawing up a concept and introducing you to planning consultants who will give an opinion as to how likely this is to gain permission. We can also give costings on these proposals so that we can amend them to better meet your budget. This way, you will know that what you are applying for is likely to get permission and that you can build it at an acceptable cost.

Let’s talk you through how it works stage by stage.

First, we’ll work with you to create all the initial frame designs incorporating oak windows, doors, glazing, cladding, and flooring.

We will produce a full CAD model for the oak frame so that a structural engineer can incorporate them into his engrossed/building regulations drawings. For more complex structures, the engineer or architect may need to design the whole structure first. We will then extract the oak elements for quoting.

We’ll then provide a cost estimate for all elements produced by Timberpride. Once you’re happy with all this, we’ll arrange a face-to-face meeting with you, so we can get to the nitty-gritty, honing and refining your designs to perfection.

 

3. Revisions & Budget Alignment

Our expert team at Timberpride want you to be 100% satisfied at every stage of the process so we can ensure the design work meets all your aesthetic and budgetary needs.

Most of our projects go through several revisions so we can really fine-tune your proposal, making sure we balance your budget with the aesthetic vision you have. Often the design will need to be revised for budgeting purposes, this is normal and happens in the majority of projects.

It’s truly a collaborative process and we’ll work together to get your dream oak extension looking just the way you want it.

4. Building Regulations Approval

Just as planning permission is all-important and non-negotiable, you’ll need to ensure you’re fully compliant with building regulations too.

Building regulations apply to habitable space only. However, you may want to build to this standard and keep photographic evidence – for instance, if you plan on converting your oak garage into a granny annex in the future! You may not need planning permission, but you will definitely need to satisfy building regulations – especially if your extension is going to be a habitable space.

It’s here we’ll bring structural engineers into our process to incorporate the frame design into detailed structural plans. If necessary, we’ll amend the frame design to meet the structural engineers’ stipulations. We work with several specialist engineers on your behalf, either for a turnkey project or we can introduce them to you.

Final Frame Drawings & Builder Coordination

We’re getting ever closer to your dream oak extension as we take the time to finalise the design and prepare for construction.

We’ll produce final frame drawings for sign-off and incorporation into the contract. It can’t be overstated how important the final sign-off is.

The build must be done as per the Building Regulation drawings, so the design set out in these must be agreed upon for the build to commence.

Builders are often reluctant to quote for work without these definitive drawings as they’re bound by them. If they vary the design you might not get the final build regulations sign-off.

All the building regulation requirements must be met and the correct paperwork should be in place. There’s one final brick in the wall, and that’s to ensure there’s a professional builder to complete the project for you.

Timberpride can put together a full turnkey package or introduce you to our team of trusted builders if you need assistance – or if not, we’re happy to work with your preferred professional contractors.

5. Material Selection & Craftsmanship

Now, it’s time to choose the finest quality materials from Timberpride, to complete your construction. Again, it’s important to note that all the materials and construction details will need to be specified in the building regulation drawings and this must all be agreed beforehand.

Throughout this stage, we’ll always keep you up to date with the progress of your extension via our dedicated WhatsApp group, giving you a personal and friendly service. Whilst your chosen team of professional builders are starting the groundwork operations, we’ll be hard at work on the framework of your oak extension.

We start by milling structural oak beams from high-quality English logs. Then our skilled team of artisans handcraft the frame and trusses and complete all the professional joinery work in Timberpride’s workshop.

6. Delivery & On-Site Assembly

 

Let the construction of the core structure at your home begin!

First, we’ll deliver the handcrafted oak frame to the site. Then we’ll assemble and raise the frame on pre-prepared foundations or walls. This is a surprisingly quick process, often we will be on-site for 3 days raising a frame which took 3 weeks to make! We can lift smaller structures into position with a manual crane, but larger trusses will require a contract crane lift. It is worth being at home for this as it is spectacular to watch.

7. Final Construction & Finishing Touches

We’re perfectionists at Timberpride and we’ll complete your build with perfect attention to detail.

Once your oak frame is in place, a builder will come to the site to install the roofing. Then the Timberpride team will return to fit face glazing, cladding, and detailed joinery. We do it this way around to ensure that the roof never puts any weight onto the glazing, it also means that the roofer doesn’t have to take care not to break the glass.

Final checks make sure that every single element is meticulously completed to bring the final structure together.

Completion & Final Review

We want you to be 100% satisfied before you sign off your oak-framed extension project.

That’s why we’ll check in with you and conduct a final review to ensure the extension meets your expectations. We’ll address any last-minute adjustments or concerns. Only then will we officially mark the project complete!

From initial inquiry through to planning permissions, design, build, and installation – to the final perfect finishing touches, Timberpride will make you beam.

Timberpride’s commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and customer satisfaction is second to none. If you’re keen to start a conversation about your very own oak-framed extension at home, we’d simply love to chat with you.

Great oaks from little acorns grow – so get in touch with us today for a consultation to bring your oak-framed project to reality.

Drop us a line via our contact form here, give us a call, or take a look at what we’ve been up to recently via our social media pages. Stop by and have a friendly natter if you like!

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