Tigh Darach, Gaelic for Oak House, is a self- build guest house created by architect Roderick James and his wife. Designed as a prototype for ‘expandable’ living in timber frame homes in Scotland, this home is an excellent example of open plan, informal, versatile and comfortable living space, with unexpected, quirky and fun elements.
The property has corner verandas which are currently exposed to the elements but could be enclosed to provide further rooms if required. A bookcase crafted by Roderick is in fact a hidden doorway to a child’s bedroom.
The property comprised of a guest house downstairs and an adaptable studio/further accommodation upstairs, which in total took just six months to build. The green oak frame is insulated using SIPs, then clad using Douglas Fir, and painted in blue Sadolin to reflect the coastal setting. Internally a central open-plan kitchen flows into the living and dining areas, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms leading off.
I feel that one of the keys to building a contemporary oak frame house is to not overdo the Oak
Roderick James
Property featured in: Homebuilding & Renovating (December 2012) Coast (February 2009) 25 Beautiful Homes (September 2008)
Although predominantly single storey there are stairs leading up to a spacious central core studio room. The stairs have glass balustrading and open treads to allow the natural light from the first floor windows to filter down to the ground floor. A contemporary feeling is achieved through the use of posts in the living room measuring only 150mm square which meet all necessary safety requirements.
The lack of walls means that each living area ‘borrows’ space from the next making it feel larger than it actually is because you are looking beyond, not just to the next area but for miles and miles on a good day.- Roderick James
Outside, the 2 front corners of the house have outdoor verandas sheltered with overhanging eaves – a major advantage of building a timber framed house means that later these could be enclosed giving extra living space inside. See more timber frame homes or get in touch to tell us your ideas.
We arrange for 10 oak saplings to be planted for every tree used to build your frame. Read More
Budget considerations are of course one of the primary factors for anyone undertaking an oak frame self build project whether it's a new build oak frame or a timber frame extension. 'How much will it cost?' is therefore a question which will be asked over and over and will almost certainly form a central thread of your project.
Overall build costs for a complete new build oak house typically vary from £1,500 to £2,000+ per square metre (referring to the useable area of the lower and upper floors added together) i.e. for a two storey property times the area by 2. We would suggest that you budget from £1,200- £1,800 per sqm (or £120-£180 per sqft).
For extensions we would suggest budgeting from £2,000 per square metre - don't forget to add VAT (for UK customers). It is worth noting that guide price is for a complete build based on a contractor doing the work with the timber frame is usually a 20-30% proportion.
If you intend to self build then expect to budget toward the lower end of the scale (although of course it may take longer!). There are several caveats with this guide price including the following key considerations:-
At every stage your decisions will affect the overall costs, from the complexity of the design to the level of finish. Engaging an architect will almost certainly save you money in the long run. Getting advice from us on the timber frame concept prior to going in for planning will minimise the risk of sending your architect 'back to the drawing board'.
We are happy to discuss your ideas with you at an early stage and can offer you advice along the way. It is helpful for you to build a scrapbook (you could use Pinterest) of your ideas and wishes – this makes your brief to us and your architect much clearer. Once you have a plot in mind we would encourage you to come and see us in the show barn at our yard to discuss your ideas in more depth and help you establish a concept design and rough costs.
You can meet with one of our frame designers and an architect if required (Roderick James Architects offer a free initial consultation). We can offer you an estimate for your budget costings at that stage based on a timber frame sketch scheme. You will then be in a position to draw up a planning application, knowing that you will be able to achieve what you want with the frame. We can offer you an accurate estimate based on a timber frame sketch scheme once you have architects drawings. Once your planning application has been approved we can get going on a detailed frame design for you.
Yes! We are happy for you to visit and look around. You can book in here to see the Show Barn or Show House. Or, pick up the phone and talk to us. Generally, our advice would be to wait until you have a plot and an idea of what you are wanting to build but we are very willing to talk through plans for a plot at any time.
At that stage you can meet with one of our frame designers, and a free consultation with one of the architects if you would like. You will get far more from your visit if you do this – it is a chance to really talk through the design, layout, style, costs, materials, options with everyone in one place. We look forward to meeting you!
We have two show houses for you to visit - read more about the different options.
As in most walks of life, if it looks too good to be true then it probably is.
We are different and instead pursue excellence – we look to be the best at what we do whilst maintaining affordability, accurate and realistic pricing – we seek the trust and loyalty of our clients as this is the basis of positive working relationships which last beyond the raising of the frame.
All of our Oak is from sustainably managed woodlands located around a single sawmill in Normandy, France (PEFC certifified). When this mill is unable to fulfil our order we divert to an alternative mill in Germany. The mills have access to a plentiful supply of exceptionally well managed and very high quality timber.
Why not use UK sourced oak, I hear you ask? Sadly, the lack of investment and good timber management for hardwoods in this country over many years means our domestic supplies are generally of a lower quality, inconsistent supply and can be more expensive. Although the situation will gradually change, it means that currently continental Oak is the best option for our framing. Carpenter Oak Ltd are investing in the future of UK woodlands.
For every tree used in a project we will donate 10 Oak saplings to an organised planting scheme in the UK
Douglas Fir and Larch all comes from sustainably managed UK forests.
Yes. If you are looking for a complete build or ‘Turnkey’ service, we can offer a solution to include each stage of the process, from the feasibility assessment, design, management and construction, right through to completion. We pride ourselves on being adaptable as every client is different. We can offer a number of routes for you and your project, depending on how involved you want to get. We aim to understand your particular situation and respond to deliver what you need. For many people that means us working as a contractor alongside your architect and builder, for others, involvement at each stage or a self build project. Get in touch to find out which route would suit your project best and we can deliver a range of options from a finished frame to a finished house, ready for you to move into.
Find out more about Carpenter Oak's Complete Build solution Click here to visit our 'What We Do' page.