The Client Gave The Design Of The Oak Porch Much Thought

We originally started speaking to Robert nearly a couple of years before he finally received his open oak porch.

He contacted us via our website and enquired about an oak porch. He initially thought he wanted a porch with shaped front oak posts, so narrower at the base, shaped to a curve at the top.

We arranged a quotation, and we discussed the design and made a few changes over the next few days, but he wasn’t convinced he knew what he wanted.

We often see this. The more you look into different designs etc, and see different options, the more someone changes their mind!

Over a year later Robert got back in touch. He was in the process of having the front of the house updated and was having a new drive installed. He wanted the new oak porch to finish off the front of his rather lovely modern brick built home.

With a new wide paved path leading to a modern door with sidelights, the porch needed to be slightly wider than this.

Richard didn’t want to build a high wall but wanted the porch to have some sides. He chose to have a side timber on each side, at waist height, with a small, stone flagged wall beneath, a few bricks high.

Previously, Robert had opted for a large tie beam with a distinctive curve in it, and shaped front posts. After much thought he now wanted to choose straight oak posts and tie beams, but to add the curves to the porch in the form of brackets on the front and sides.

A couple of drawings were provided and a quotation and he was happy with the final design. With a fabulous 45° pitch the porch would be quite magnificent!

We usually project the side returns forward of the front of the porch, by approx. 70mm. Richard chose to have his at 120mm. As he was having larger timbers for the whole oak framework, the proportions of this were correct.

Richard paid his 30% deposit and a Sales Order Acknowledgement was sent to confirm the order.

Usually at this point of the order we confirm a few of the finer details.

1- Is a stop chamfers required on the edges of the timbers?
A stop chamfer can be applied to the edges of the main timbers. The chamfer is the bevel, or shaving off of the sharp edge of the wood. The ‘stop’ element of the name is used as it doesn’t run the full length of the timber.

Robert chose to have these.

2- Which oil is required?

We offer 2 main Osmo Protection Oil for finishing off our oak frameworks. We apply 2 coats of oil prior to sending out.

The Osmo 420 has a more satin, slightly golden finish.

The Osmo 429 has a more matte, natural finish.

Robert chose the 429.

3-Any engraving?

We offer a free engraving service for a house name or number on the oak porch.

Robert chose not to have any engraving.

4 – Are oak tongue and groove boards required for the underside of the porch roof?

An optional extra is the supply of these oak boards. These can be seen above the oak rafters when looking up when inside the oak porch. Our blog On oak roofing options explains more.

Robert chose not to have the boards.

Once the porch was ready, we needed to store the porch as the builders hadn’t finished the driveway to his house.

As soon as they were finished and the driveway was accessible, the porch was delivered.

Speaking to Robert some time afterwards he said “The porch still looks great and is starting to weather in well”.

Robert sent the photos on here, and we have to agree, the porch has made for a rather beautiful entrance.