Why pick oak for your next building project

Using more traditional building materials is something that is becoming much more popular again. One example of this is adding an oak framed extension to the home like these Timberpride oak extensions. They work particularly well on older properties as they blend in well with the traditional features of the house but look just as good on a modern home.

Many people are now turning to the more traditional materials for home design rather than a more modern conservatory style such as UPVC for example. One of the reasons that oak and wood in general has become so popular is the fact that it uses old and skilled construction methods. Not a lot has changed for centuries with these, and it creates a strong and study construction and a great look for the home.

Trend Towards Tradition

Interiors are also benefiting from traditional materials and methods of construction – wooden kitchens are beginning to make a resurgence in home interiors magazines you may have noticed, as well as the use of natural tiles and stone for flooring and kitchen counters, as well as in the bathroom.

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Improving with Age

Another appeal to oak is that it is widely acknowledged that rather than getting weaker or needing repairs over time, it actually improves with age. The appearance of oak is beautiful as it ages and something that attracts many people to use it as a building material. After all, the Tudors favoured oak for building houses and many of these are still standing all over the country to this day, with no sign of going anywhere soon!

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Environmental Credentials

It is also a good choice for those wanting to choose a building material that is kinder to the planet. Being a natural material, it won’t have any nasty chemicals involved and can be manufactured in a much more environmentally friendly way than most man-made building materials can. Given the fact that we are all starting to have to make big changes to the way that we live and work in order to save the planet you can see why using a natural material like oak is such a good choice from an environmental perspective.

What type of Oak is Used?

The type of oak that is used in building will be usually British or European and will be green oak. This means that it has been felled recently and has retained a lot of moisture. It is chosen because this is what makes it much easier for builders and manufacturers to work with. Because of the amount of moisture still within the wood, there will be a period of time that the new building will have to take to settle, and as it loses the moisture it will shrink a little. However, this is something that is to be expected by the builder and it will also have the advantage of tightening up and making the structure much stronger overall.