Green Oak Porch

Our client had an old, well-built porch that had served its time but was ready for a transformation. We carefully dismantled the existing structure and reimagined it as a functional yet beautiful room for coats, boots, and outdoor gear. This upgrade will not only add valuable space to the house but will also integrate with its character and charm.

The porch was crafted entirely from green oak using traditional mortice and tenon joints, securely pegged for durability and authenticity. By incorporating these time-honoured techniques, we ensured the structure’s strength and honoured the craftsmanship of earlier architectural styles. The original plinth walls were retained, preserving a link to the property’s history and serving as the foundation for this elegant update.

The walls were rendered both inside and out with traditional lime plaster. This breathable material allows any old moisture to escape, ensuring the longevity of the building while maintaining a healthy internal environment.

Innovative Timber Home

We collaborated on this project in Frome, Somerset. Jim Blackburn, Director of The Timber Frame Company was responsible for designing and managing the build.

Our contract involved constructing the timber frame, which we prefabricated in our workshop and then assembled on-site in partnership with the Timber Frame Company and the East Somerset Timber Frame Co.

We utilised modern engineered LVL timbers from Steico. Together, we helped create a stunning bespoke house with an impressive living area.

Modern Timber Frame Building

We were contracted by the Architect Charles Gillespie to construct the super structure of his modern project in rural Somerset. The project is an ambitious and beautifully designed timber frame house that we were trusted to bring to life.

Our part of the build consisted of 26 trusses and one huge beam made of Laminated Veneered Lumber. LVL is layers of timber engineered and glued, then compressed under high pressure to make structural members.

Each truss had 3 structural layers and were joined with a steel flitch plate between the timbers. The frame is principally held together with 2500 nuts and bolts which stay on show in the vaulted ceiling.

Once built the timber frame created a huge upstairs living space consisting of kitchen, dining and living space and spectacular views over Somerset and towards the Mendips.

To build the house we had to create each truss on the ground and then raise them using a crane. Each truss leg was bolted into a concrete ring beam on the perimeter of the house.

After the main build we also took on the modern style warm roof build up which is a complete blanket of Steico insulation on top of the mainframe of the roof which also has outstanding acoustic properties. We needed to be meticulous with the Vapour control layer to make sure we completed the hermetic seal essential in high end new builds and Passivhaus.

We are really proud of the work we completed with this ambitious build, we have loved working with Charles and we look forward to collaborating more in the future.