Original wood structures
shaped by site and setting
Oak external structures are one of the most beautiful ways to add permanent interest to a garden or outdoor space.
External Structures
Made with durable,
beautiful green oak
Oak framed garden structures integrate into their surroundings with ease and can be appreciated all year round.
With over 30 years of experience and a record of three Gold Wood Awards, every oak frame structure is designed and handcrafted by our expert in-house team. We bring the same level of knowledge and skill to every project, working with you from the first drawing to the final assembly to create truly original oak frame structures.
What is an oak frame external structure?
What is an oak frame external structure?
The term oak external structure refers to any outdoor structure made from green oak.
This could be a honeysuckle-smothered oak pergola where you can sit on a sunny day and listen to the bees hard at work, an oak frame gazebo that provides shelter from the sun or rain, a well-equipped oak outdoor kitchen, perfect for hosting your famous BBQs or a simple oak obelisk, supporting a cherished climbing rose.
How can you use an oak frame outdoor structure?
You can use an oak frame
outdoor structure in any
number of ways.
They’re most commonly used to add shelter or provide architectural structure in a landscape. Here are some of our favourite examples:
An oak framed pergola makes the perfect outdoor ‘room’, especially when accessorised with lighting and considered planting
An oak frame gazebo can act as a sheltered outdoor space with stylish furniture, where you can sit and relax
A visual ‘anchor’, forming a destination that adds intrigue to your garden design
An oak framed arbour can be an elegant walkway covered with fragrant roses, wisteria or clematis
An adaptable oak outdoor kitchen for relaxed dining or high-profile celebrations
Never repeated. Always remarkable
Every Green Oak Carpentry external structure
is an original – we don’t work to set
design templates, nor do we build the
same thing twice.
We’ll work with you to create an oak frame structure that complements your grounds and main building by considering factors such as scale, location and finishes. Our designers will ensure your oak framed garden structure works with your outdoor space, enhancing your garden for everyone who uses it.
Our fully bespoke approach accommodates your site’s idiosyncrasies – taking advantage of opportunities while managing any constraints. And, as you’d expect, we’ll work in line with local planning considerations and respect your budget.
Quality & craftsmanship
without compromise
Enjoy an unsurpassed level of continuity throughout the design, build and installation of your oak frame outdoor structure. We guide you through your entire project, allowing you to enjoy the unique process of commissioning an oak frame building.
Design & architectural development
Our in-house draughtsmen and frame designers bring your vision to life, combining structural integrity with architectural beauty. Our designers readily accommodate unconventional ideas and specific features, and can incorporate any number of custom-designed features.
If you’ve already commissioned an architect, we’ll work with them and can adapt existing drawings to ensure your plans are suitable for oak framing.
Planning support
Our trusted planning consultants are here to support your planning permission application and are particularly experienced in heritage projects and sensitive sites.
Our materials
Oak is a popular choice for external structures, but it isn’t always the best choice for a project. We work with you to choose the right materials, based on your site, aesthetic goals and engineering requirements. We only use sustainably sourced materials.
Fabrication
Each oak external structure is handcrafted from start to finish by our same team of award-winning carpenters. Using skills practised since the Middle Ages, they scribe the naturally shaped components together, making each frame unique.
Build & installation
After dry-fitting your oak frame in our workshop, our carpenters deconstruct it, deliver it on-site, and personally assemble it. Using the same team throughout build and assembly creates a rare level of consistency, giving your frame unsurpassed care and respect.
Bespoke finishes & specifications
We’ll work with you to agree on the best finishing options and specifications for your finished oak external structure. This will allow you to appreciate the beauty of this celebrated natural material while complementing your aesthetic.
The Green Oak Carpentry guarantee
All our frames carry a warranty against defective workmanship and materials for six years. Problems are very rare, but if they do occur, we take them very seriously and do our utmost to ensure all is well.
Commission your oak framed external structure
Learn more about beginning your oak outdoor structure with Green Oak Carpentry. We work around you and your needs, whether using your drawings, quoting on a reconstruction or guiding you as you begin your journey from scratch.
A naturally
sustainable choice
Oak is a natural, renewable material with exceptional longevity. When properly detailed and crafted, an oak framed external structure matures beautifully, developing an individual character and long-standing structural integrity.
A Green Oak Carpentry external structure is built with sustainability at its core. All wood – whether oak or another hardwood – will be sustainably grown and harvested. Crucially, it will meet PEFC’s strict chain-of-custody certification requirements, demonstrating our sustainability commitment.
Experience our oak
framed buildings for
yourself
Join us at one of our open days or events – they’re the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of oak framing, see our oak frames up close and ask our knowledgeable team as many questions as you need.
Why choose us for your
oak framed external strucuture?
There’s no shortage of oak frame building companies to work with. So why choose us?
One-of-a-kind
Every project is a one-off – you won’t see a single templated design on our website or in our office. Whether a domestic porch or a high-profile commercial build, we begin every project the same way – by taking your brief and designing to your needs.
Integrity, longevity
Oak trees can live for hundreds of years. We honour these gentle giants by building structures that will last for generations to come. Our team skilfully designs, fabricates and assembles each structure to achieve structural integrity and a positive, lasting impact.
Transparent & available
It’s not just about the buildings we make. We’re good to work with, too. We’re readily available and happy to accommodate our clients throughout their projects. We work transparently and will be open about your project’s progress and any potential challenges.
Deep expertise
Having been in business since 1996, we’re timber framing experts, training up the next generation of carpenters in our business. Our renowned timber restoration experts allow us to support highly specialised projects.
Professionalism assured
We partner with architects, contractors and developers to create modern and traditional timber structures of all sizes.
Industry recognised
Our timber structures have been recognised by numerous awards, and we’re the only company to have been awarded the prestigious Gold Wood Award three times. No other company has achieved this more than once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning your external structure
What types of oak frame structures do you specialise in? Can you accommodate custom designs?
We design, build and assemble a wide range of external structures, such as oak framed pergolas, oak framed gazebos and oak outdoor kitchens. Everything that leaves our workshops is completely bespoke and can be designed and fabricated to meet your specifications, no matter how unusual.
What permissions or approvals will I need for my oak frame structure?
Many oak frame external structures require planning permission, although this depends on a range of factors such as the size of your proposed structure and where you would like to build it. We can work with you throughout the design and planning process to make sure all necessary details are covered.
How long does it typically take to design and build an oak external structure?
External structures can vary in size, from a small oak frame pergola to an expansive oak frame veranda running along the width of a property. As a ballpark figure, you should allow 8-16 weeks from the start of the design phase to frame assembly. If you’d like a more accurate idea, get in touch, and we’ll be happy to help.
Every project is a one-off
No templates. No repeat designs. Every frame
we have ever made has started from scratch.
Never repeated.
Always remarkable
Explore our project gallery to inspire your oak frame building project. Take your time; each Green Oak Carpentry structure is unique and hand-built – you’ll never see the same project twice.
“Thanks for the excellent job which has been completed on our Oak Frame extension. Not only is the quality of the work faultless, it is a true work of art, which will bring endless enjoyment to me and my wife. The end result has surpassed our wildest expectations.”
Ray
Great builds
begin with a chat
If you are considering an oak external structure and would value a thoughtful, design-led approach, we would be pleased to explore this with you.
Oak craftsmanship is best appreciated in person, so we welcome you to our workshop near Petersfield, Hampshire, where you can meet the team, see our carpenters at work, and catch a glimpse of the skill and care that go into every build.
