- Expertise
- Architectural Design
- Timber Frame Building Regulations and Planning Permission
- Encapsulation Panels
- Frame Design
- Commercial
- Oak Frame Glazing, Windows and Doors
- Structural Framing
- Weatherboarding and Fixings
- Roof Boarding
- Timber Engineering
- Encapsulation Systems
- Hand Crafted Oak Staircases
- Choosing a Timber Framed Porch
- Conservation and Restoration
- Cabin Design and Build
Traditional, contemporary or unique -what suits you?
A new timber framed porch can transform the look of an existing house adding interest and value as well as providing a buffer between indoor and outside space; helping to maintain the desired temperature inside and save energy. Carpenter Oak can construct a frame to any design of your choice or a design of your own. Porches offer an inexpensive way to improve your home and may not need planning permission. Timber framed porches can be traditional or contemporary in style, ultimately Carpenter Oak can design something truly unique for your house. Sketch some ideas down and come and meet with one of our frame designers at The Framing Yard. Oak frame porch prices vary dependent on design and crudely speaking the amount of timber and number of joints.
An oak porch can be a great introduction to your property. Adding ‘kerb appeal’ and unifying the feel of oak through your home, particularly if you have oak beams or a Carpenter oak extension to the rear.
A porch can provide a sheltered entrance or extend your living space outside, see below for some of our completed designs. We can recreate any of these for you and design specifically for your home.
Will I need Planning Permission?
Adding a porch to any external door of your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, provided:
- The ground floor area (measured externally) would not exceed three square metres.
- No part would be more than three metres above ground level (height needs to be measured in the same way as for a house extension).
- No part of the porch would be within two metres of any boundary of the dwellinghouse and the highway.
We advise that you check planning legislation in your area as there may be additional provisos e.g. in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Meet the team
Thorsten Busse
Senior Carpenter
Joined Carpenter Oak: 1996
Interview with Thorsten
What is the best project you have worked on and why?
Nags Head in Hargrave, North Hants, 2006. We built an extension to this 15th Century pub built in harmony with the original building and using huge pieces of timber. It was a highly satisfying job building such an old fashioned frame.
When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Being leisurely.
Biography
Thorsten completed a traditional apprenticeship as a Journeyman in Germany, he then relocated to Devon and became a self-employed carpenter/ timber framer for a few years. When Carpenter Oak relocated to their current dwellings, Thorsten was asked to complete a couple of frames with them and then became one of the very first employed carpenters in the spring of 1996. Thorsten has always been into carpentry, he has fond memories of his childhood days, always with a knife in hand to do a bit of whittling with whatever wood he could find, he enjoys working hands on with amazing material, and working in a traditional way. This brings about a general feeling of happiness and satisfaction within the job. He is really happy to be working at Carpenter Oak with great and extremely skilled people, that’s what makes the job: running big jobs with great people who all share a passion for building beautiful structures out of natural materials.
Chris Amey
Team Leader
Joined Carpenter Oak: 2012
Interview with Chris Amey
What is your favourite timber frame joint?
A sliding tapered dovetail.
What music are you currently listening to in the workshop?
I actually listen to a lot of Radio 3 with my radio ear defenders. I have to on my own because hardly anyone else likes it. I’m a big fan of Bach, probably because I play some piano a bit and love a string quartet, so some Haydn or Mozart rocks!
What is the best project you have worked on and why?
I have worked on some really beautiful frames. In particular, the Church House Inn in Rattery for having two arch brace trusses. Also, Levens Hall in the Lake District for its angular and original design and Bryan for its beautiful trusses across an old barn from the Port Elliot estate in Cornwall
When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
I play Badminton each week followed by beers with some friends. Otherwise I occasionally get to sail a friend’s boat and generally get to hang out on our gorgeous Devon beaches
What is the best comedy film ever made?
How can I pick between The Big Labowski and Withnail and I?
Biography
I started doing carpentry when I lived in London having previously studied Sonic Arts at university. Enrolling on an NVQ course at Hackney College, I fell in love with it the moment I started the course and it took me to quite a few different places. My first proper job was oak framing in Kent with a bit of restoration work alongside new-build, then I got a job on the Cutty Sark in London for two years during the recent conservation project (before and after the fire). After that I went self employed and mostly worked in Chamonix doing renovations for a family who run a chalet business. Being kinda homeless at the time, me and my then partner decided to head for the South Hams in Devon to run a B&B by the sea and make sculptures and furniture (she ran the B&B while I made the sculptures). This is when I approached Stuart for a job at Carpenter Oak looking for a more reliable income. Eventually he agreed and I started work having to re-learn quite a bit. Six years on, I really love my job, especially since becoming a Team Leader. It’s hugely enjoyable and rewarding. It’s so great to be doing a craft all-day, everyday and although I’m not the designing stuff I am making all day whilst having a fair bit of input into that process along the way.
Thank you for everything you've done regarding our frame. We totally love it, and can't believe how quickly it went up! I really appreciate everything, I think Carpenter Oak are the best ever! We would always recommend to you to anyone looking for an oak frame.
Ali, Client
The frame has now been erected and we are absolutely delighted with it! Everyone has been very impressed with the calm, professional and pleasant way that Justin and his team went about the construction. It has been a very exciting and rewarding experience for us. We are really impressed with the quality of the workmanship and the final appearance of the frame.
D and M Sweet, Clients
I would like to thank you and all your team for the wonderful oak frame extension which you have made for me. From my very first e-mailed enquiry, and Lee Manning's quick response inviting me to visit the show barn at Cornworthy, to my visit to see the frame made and its erection here in Cornwall and all the e-mails in between, you have given me outstanding support and service. Every member of your team with whom I have contacted has been positive, helpful and enthusiastic - exactly what a novice like myself needs when making such life-changing decisions. The day the frame was erected will always stand out in my memory. I cannot thank you and your team enough.
Rosie, Client
Thank you for building us such a lovely frame. It was a pleasure to meet the team, to see the frame take shape and to enjoy it standing in proud solitude on its hillside for a few days before the walls went up.
