How It All Works

Step 1: The big idea and research

Your idea

It all starts with your idea. You may want a garage for beloved motors or mowers, a space for kids to play or a beautiful structure for your garden. Even at this early stage, it is essential for you to define the need as this will help you choose the right solution.

TIP: Make a list of all of the things you’d like it to do and be. For example, I’d like a place that can store all of our gardening items and two cars; I’d like it to be in keeping with the house.

The method

Next, it is essential to consider HOW you will build you oak-frame building: the method. You can opt for a DIY oak framed building or turn-key solution, or choose our cost-effective self-sourcing alternative. With self-sourcing, you manage the planning, groundworks and roofing arrangements yourself, while our design and services provide essential guidance and support in the middle. This model not only saves you money but also reduces stress, as we equip you with all the information necessary to efficiently advance your project.

Research

Most people browse the internet looking for inspiration and a better idea of what’s available – maybe even researching companies and costs. Larger buildings are a big decision and it’s important to have a clear idea of usage, style and cost. Many people save pictures of designs they like or use social media tools like Pinterest to share ideas with suppliers. As part of your research, you’ll be asking:

• Can we really do this? Is it physically possible?
• What design, style and materials shall we choose?
• Can we afford it?
• How do we start a project like this?
• Who do we talk to about all the various aspects of a project like this?
• Do I need an architect, a builder and any other tradesmen/specialists?
• Do I need planning permission?

Trade Oak designs, makes and fits oak frames for a range of buildings, but we can also help answer these questions. We understand that larger building projects such as garages can be complex and confusing, with lots of moving parts, so our planning consultants can help you throughout your project, from ideas to completion.

READ: A Guide To Planning Permission

Step 3: Scoping

Once you’ve decided exactly what you want, we’ll help you to scope the whole project. We’ll take your brief and create preliminary designs and plans so you can see what your building will look like.

This will also give you an idea of the total cost as well as the cost of your oak-frame building kit. This will give you an idea not only of the cost of the various elements but also help you understand what other suppliers and specialists you might need to complete your project. This might include:

• Groundwork (foundations)
• Brickwork
• Your oak-frame building kit
• Doors – including rolling doors
• Internal walls (plasterboard, drywall, plywood boards)
• Cladding and external walls
• Electrics
• Plumbing
• Insulation
• Roof

As you can see, our oak-frame building kits form only a part of your project. However, we can help you throughout your project to ensure it runs smoothly. This will also give you an idea of timings.

TIP: Let us know if you want rolling doors so we can design your frame to neatly hide the workings. Decide on these elements early, and we can design around them for maximum efficiency and aesthetics.

Many buildings, from pergolas to gazebos and even some small garages and lean-tos, don’t need planning permission. Many people who approach us don’t yet have planning permission—and that’s okay; our Planning Service can help you with that.

And don’t forget that we can change the specifications to match your budget, for example, slim down the oak sections or replace oak sections with softwood. Our pricing is straightforward: it’s based solely on the volume of material and the machine/cutting time – bespoke solutions take no longer to create so we can tailor your kit to your needs at no extra cost.

Step 4: Buying your oak-frame building kit

Once your project is fully scoped and designed you’ll apply for planning permission if you need it. This can take up to 10 weeks.

Once approved, you’ll place your order with us and we’ll take 20% of the final cost of the frame. Once paid, we’ll create the final production drawings and you’ll sign them off.

Once you’ve ordered, we’ll also produce a full set of construction drawings, which will include loading points for groundworks and roof (in metres squared) and ridge lengths, so you can ensure you have everything in place before your frame kit arrives.

Once you’ve signed off your drawings, we’ll take another 30% of the final cost and have your fresh green oak felled and shipped from France. This usually takes 8-10 weeks.

After a few weeks, we’ll check in with you to check that everything else is coming along – for example the groundwork and brickwork – and firm up delivery details.

Step 5: Delivery

Your DIY oak framed building kitwill be delivered at an agreed time and day. For frames of 1m3 and up, we deliver on a lorry with a crane (HIAB) as standard, so we can place the kit where needed. For frames under 1m3, we deliver by van. If your site is difficult to access we can plan accordingly.

Step 6: Fitting (recommended)

If you have ordered our fitting services, our two expert fitters will oversee the delivery and will remain on-site over a few days to assemble your oak frame building kit. The guys will also fit any cladding or doors that you may have ordered from us.

Step 7: The roof

The next step is to put the roof on, and your chosen builder – usually the people who did the groundwork – will come and do that.

The only roofing option that we supply and fit is cedar shingles, however, our kits are designed to take a range of roofing options. For particularly heavy tiles, we can specify the rafter depth to ensure the frame is structurally sound.

Step 8: Finishing touches

Finally, your builder or other specialists can finish your building, for example:

• Lagging and insulation
• Plasterboard/walls
• Rockwall behind the weatherboard
• Electrics
• Plumbing
• Automated garage doors
• Roller doors

Step 9: Aftercare

Our oak-frame kits come with a Trade Oak Warranty so that we will replace elements or entire buildings if any structural issues arise. This makes us market leaders in aftercare.

Issues are very rare because French green oak shrinks around the mortise/tenon and dowel construction making the joints even tighter and stronger and because oak shrinks in width not length, all joints will remain effective. It’s also a great outdoor wood and needs no treatment.

Why not read our TrustPilot reviews to see how we tackle aftercare if an issue arises:

“The quality of the build is excellent. The size of the beams is much better than most other manufacturers I compared them against which was also confirmed by my roofer who was also impressed. The quality of the construction is excellent it all fits together perfectly with only one minor issue.

“When we found one of the beams had been incorrectly mortised another was on site the next day (Sussex to Cheshire they set off at 4am so the beam would be there first thing)so they fixed the issue quickly and efficiently. Mistakes can happen, it’s how you respond that truly matters.”