oakbydesign
01423 593 794
In May, client Justin decided to have an oak porch installed on his beautiful 18th Century Farmhouse in Oxfordshire.
After much planning between himself and Joanne, at Oak By Design, the porch was finished. Complete with an owl engraving, (in memory of his Godmother) the beautiful porch was sent down to his home, where his builder, Ben Tolson, installed it.
The Case Study for this is here
He had no sooner had the porch installed and finished when he announced a glazed oak sunroom was the next item on the house’s requirement list!
The plan was to build the oak sunroom at the back of the house, out from the kitchen, the views across the surrounding countryside making it the perfect spot.
The plan was to re-use the existing bi-fold doors that were already in the kitchen. Justin had been researching and referenced the lantern roof of a previous project Oak By Design had completed.
Initially the plan was to have the room approx. 5.5m x 4.5m. Joanne’s colleague Jamie came up with some initial ideas, based on Justin’s requirements and they were sent to him for perusal.
Their plan was to use the room for relaxing and watching TV so the room needed to accommodate an L-shaped sofa, coffee table, chair and the tv. After discussing with partner Jon, they decided on fully glazed with a lantern roof.
Joanne arranged a quotation and Justin spoke to Ben and they made the decision to get the oak sunroom ordered in August. The intention was to have the sunroom ready in October.
They did, however, request that Jamie make a site visit, prior to manufacturing and he visited at the beginning of September. The finer details such as the roof pitch (37°) and the lantern design being confirmed at this time.
A few weeks later, after some discussions with their local planning office, the size of the building needed reducing slightly. After re measuring they decided to amend the depth of the building from 4.5metres to 4 metres and the Planning Department were happy!
Justin and Jon then managed to get away to a Greek Island for some much needed sun. There they planned the rest of the build and how they would furnish their new room. Joanne, meanwhile, holidayed in Northumberland, with café and pub recommendations from Northumbrian born Justin!
The building was finally ready in October and just prior to sending out, Justin asked for some engraving on one of the external oak fascia’s. All the external oak was finished with Osmo Poly UV Oil in 420 colour This done, the delivery arranged for the beginning of November – 3 Sprinter vans leaving York for Oxfordshire.
Jamie and Darren, Oak By Design’s Production Manager, managed to make another visit to see Justin and Ben before the build started, but after the oak and glazing was on site.
Justin couldn’t wait for the sunroom finishing, sending Joanne plenty of updates as Ben completed various stages. These are shown below.
Finally, with the sunroom installed, the couple said “We completely love the room and actually don’t need the rest of the house as it’s where we spend all our time now!”
The addition of a new puppy, Molly, made the home perfect!
So, after finally finishing the home they had lived in for 10 years, what next?
They’ve only gone and put the house on the market!!!!!
They have more plans. They want to downsize to another home locally, but if possible, try and buy a Northumberland home where they can spend time in the area they both love.
We wish them all the best with their new plans, and as they’re hoping to add a sunroom to their home, this might not be the last we see of this home improving pair!
Oak conservatories have emerged as a quintessential architectural addition, elegance and sophistication. This timeless structure seamlessly blends with any landscape, augmenting the aesthetics of both traditional and contemporary settings. The unparalleled charm of oak conservatories lies in their ability to harmonise with nature, creating a sanctuary that encapsulates tranquility.
One notable advantage of oak conservatories is their exceptional durability. Crafted from robust oak timber, these structures exhibit remarkable strength, ensuring longevity that surpasses conventional building materials. The solid construction not only withstands the test of time but also serves as an enduring testament to masterful craftsmanship.
Moreover, oak conservatories offer an abundance of natural light through their expansive glazing panels. These ethereal spaces become sanctuaries bathed in a soft luminosity during daylight hours, fostering a connection with the outdoors while providing an immersive experience within the comfort of one's home.
Furthermore, oak conservatories seamlessly merge indoor and outdoor living spaces, offering a seamless transition between the two realms. This spatial integration fosters a sense of harmony and unity between architecture and nature—a symphony where boundaries dissolve into nothingness.
In conclusion, oak conservatories are more than mere architectural marvels; they embody an embodiment of grace and beauty that transcends time. Their durability, ability to invite abundant natural light, and seamless merging of indoor and outdoor spaces make them an exquisite choice for those seeking to create a haven within their homes—a sanctuary where one can escape the chaos of everyday life and immerse themselves in serenity offered by nature's embrace.
Air-dried oak, a type of timber that undergoes a natural drying process, offers notable advantages in construction projects. This article aims to highlight the benefits of using air-dried oak and its superiority over green oak, particularly in terms of stability and reduced risk of movement and shrinkage.
One anecdote vividly illustrates the stability offered by air-dried oak. Imagine constructing two identical wooden benches, one made from green oak and the other from air-dried oak. As time passes, seasonal changes introduce fluctuations in humidity levels. The green oak bench absorbs moisture during humid periods, causing it to swell and potentially warp or crack. In contrast, the air-dried oak bench remains relatively unaffected due to its lower moisture content. This highlights how air-drying reduces the risk of movement and instability associated with green oak.
Research indicates that green oak typically has a moisture content ranging from 60% to 80%, while air-dried oak boasts significantly lower levels due to natural drying processes over several years. On average, air circulation aids in reducing the moisture content by approximately 25mm per year for exterior timbers.
In conclusion, when considering timber options for construction projects, it is crucial to recognize the superiority of air-dried oak over green oak regarding stability and reduced risk of movement or shrinkage. The anecdote presented above serves as a clear metaphor for understanding this distinction visually. Moreover, data points reinforce these observations by highlighting significant differences in moisture content between these two types of timber. By choosing air-dried oak, builders can ensure long-lasting structures that resist warping or cracking caused by environmental fluctuations and maintain their structural integrity for years to come.
In the realm of building construction and design, the implementation of effective insulation systems plays a pivotal role in ensuring optimal thermal performance. One such prominent solution is double glazing, which has gained significant attention due to its ability to augment energy efficiency within enclosed spaces. This article aims to explore the fundamental characteristics and benefits of double glazing as a means of retaining heat while preventing cold air infiltration.
Double glazing, also known as a double glazed unit (DGU), comprises two glass sheets that are separated by a spacer bar. The resulting air gap between these panes acts as an insulating barrier, enhancing the window's thermal resistance properties. By effectively trapping air or employing insulating gas fills, this innovative system creates a protective shield against external temperature fluctuations.
The concept of double glazing can be likened to a delectable sandwich - two layers of bread encasing an enticing filling. In this analogy, the glass sheets represent the sturdy bread slices that protect and encapsulate the room's interior from external influences. Meanwhile, the air gap serves as the tantalising filling that ensures utmost comfort by preventing heat loss and cold intrusion.
As discerning building experts, it is crucial to acknowledge the significance of incorporating efficient insulation solutions like double glazing into our designs. Through their exceptional thermal insulation capabilities, these units facilitate energy conservation by minimising heat transfer across windows. By utilising metaphors such as sandwiches with delightful fillings, we can evoke emotional responses in our audience while maintaining an objective academic writing style throughout our discourse on this essential subject matter.
Telephone: 01423 593 794
Locksley Park
Blind Lane
Tockwith
YORK YO26 7QJ
Opening Times:
Mon to Fri - 9.00am to 5.00pm
Bank Holidays - Closed
Christmas 2024 - TBC
Oak By Design is the trading name of:
Penny Bricks & Timber Ltd.
Reg Number: 04384416
VAT Number: 664 8012 33
Left us a star review
When embarking on a large renovation project assembling the right team of skilled work people is vital. It involves the need for skill, imagination and trust. It was important to us to use a local company and Oak by Design seemed to tick the right boxes although we had not dealt with them or indeed heard of them before. We soon came to realise that the combination of Ben, Billy, Jamie, Matt and MIck ( listed strictly in alphabetical order ) was a great success. Skilled: highly, imaginative: an excellent creative talent, trustworthy: 100% but also such great team players that all the other trades on site benefitted from their cooperation and great good humour. I would endorse the other reviewers who have commented on the quality of the materials used, whether in the replacement windows, the light oak internal doors. the fantastic oak staircase, the secret bookcase and the pièce de résistance: the oak conservatory. It has been a great project and much of that I attribute to the work of Oak by Design. A big thank you to you all.
We are delighted with our porch, from Oak by Design. Not only is the porch of excellent quality and finish but their customer service could not have been better. They bent over backwards to make sure that we were happy with the porch and I would happily recommend them to anyone.
Great company, always on the end of the phone to talk through design, measurements, fitting. The Oak is very high standard, looks amazing.
From start to finish Oak By Design have been incredible, nothing was too much trouble. Our new Oak doors are beautifully made and have really been the icing on the cake to finish our house renovations off. We have also had a fabulous outdoor oak structure with heating and we are very much looking forward to making the most of it in the months ahead. Thank you to the whole team I would throughly recommend.
Oak by design were a fantastic company to deal with. They made us some treads for a bespoke stair case from large pieces of air dried oak. They were very thorough in making sure that they understood exactly what we wanted. They made excellent suggestions for small changes to our own design in order to produce a better finished product and to manage the cost. We were very happy with the treads when they were delivered. They look fantastic and fitted perfectly to the steel frame which was made by a third party. I could not recommend them more highly.
Oak by design provided our engineered oak flooring. From our initial meeting and supply of samples to the final delivery we have been provided with excellent service. Carl has been in touch throughout the process and provided updates about the lead time and expected delivery dates. We are delighted with the flooring. Very happy to recommend Oak by design.
As the owner of a local joinery business, Robert Davis Joinery, I have had the pleasure of using Oak by Design on several occasions over the last 8 years. They have produced bespoke interior products for me including Oak doors and timber moldings. The staff in the office and the workshop are always very helpful and friendly and the standard of the workmanship and materials are always of a very high quality.
A fabulous service and supportive through the design and delivery process. Highly recommended
I first used Oak by Design in 2021 for a oak porch, I used them again 2023 for an oak pergola. Both times my clients have been Delighted with the finished product. Both times the product was delivered when stated, everything i needed was on the delivery. Oak by design listened to what I required for both jobs. The quality of the oak is excellent, all joints fit correctly & if I had a problem I only had to ring and speak to them. R Brown Carpentry always recommends Oak by Design when asked about oak structures.
Fantastic staff with fantastic craftsmanship. Great communication and always on the ball. I would highly recommend oak by design, I don’t think you could get a better quality oak porch anywhere. Extremely pleased with ours , always getting compliments from fellow villagers
Spectacular service from start to finish! great design work and support from concept to installation. The builders were amazing! So pleased with the outcome! Thankyou so so much !
From the moment we visited the Oak Design showroom, we knew that we were dealing with a top quality local company. Richard the owner, showed us around his design works with real pride of his product and service offering. Jamie as sales executive has discussed and agreed the options & design with costs to us and we have now implemented the first phase of our home improvement, with more work to follow. We are highly delighted with the finished product and would strongly recommend Oak Design to other interested clients. I also suggest that you pay them a personal visit at the Home Building & Renovation exhibition in Harrogate, as well as their wonderful showroom of Oak Solutions in Tockwith to get a personal guided tour.
Fantastic service from start to finish, I would have no hesitation in recommending this company or using them again. Very professional and helpful. Joanne was great in assisting us with choosing both styles and colours of the beams and cladding.
My company has ordered 2 porches with Joanne from oak by design, and have more planned in the future. They've been brilliant from start to finnish. Great communication right through. And the quality of the product is exceptional. Do not hesitate to order.
On behalf of John Docherty: Oak By Design were a great company to deal with; helpful, knowledgeable, professional. The quality of the oak supplied to us for our bespoke porch was first class. Nothing was too much trouble for this company, and we will definitely be using this wonderful company again in 2022.
From the initial quotation right through to the delivery and after service Joanne has been brilliant and given me an excellent product. I have just ordered another porch for another project from them and I will continue to do so for future projects . Thomas and Bell Building Contractors Ltd
Excellent customer service. Very friendly. Explained in detail. Product is beautiful. Would recommend. Company sent photos of finished product prior to dispatch to confirm our happiness with their work.
Amazing craftsmanship from this company. The customer service from Joanne was superb. My questions and indecisiveness were never an issue and she was always on hand to offer advice and find the answers to my questions. Our oak porch has transformed the house and we are over thd moon with it. Would highly recommend Oak By Design. Joanne is an asset to the sales and promotion of this company and is very knowledgeable. Would give 10 stars if I could!
I wish I could give more starts!! We looked at many companies before finally choosing Oak by Design. We are so glad we chose them. They were excellent from start to finish. They worked with us to find a workable design that was to our liking. Our door looks amazing (despite the building site that still surrounds it!). Their customer service is of the highest standard, Joanne could not do enough to help us. I would not hesitate to recommend them.
Having lived with our porch for over 2 years I can honestly say it’s the best addition to our house we ever made. Not only does it look fantastic the quality is outstanding. I love that it keeps the mud out of the hall and provides a seating area to remove muddy boots.
Really delighted with the new porch by Oak by Design. It adds a super feature to my converted barn. Thanks to Joanne and the team.
Fantastic service and quality of product. I couldn’t be happier with my Oak porch, which was designed to my specification with the minimum of fuss. Joanne was so helpful and nothing was too much trouble. Incredibly well engineered and looks fantastic. Thank you so much.
Great service from start to finish, Joanne was great help. Designs were spot on and so happy with the porch. 10/10. Fully recommend.
Oak by Design have made 2 oak framed rooms for us, sunroom at the front and and "moonroom" (photo) at the back which encompasses a shower room, work area and storage. They have been helpful at every stage and the outcome is simply brilliant. They make the whole house feel roomier and brighter and are beautiful places to be. GE North Yorkshire
Working with Oak By Design on our project was a pleasure and we were delighted with the results. Joanne was extremely helpful, quick to answer any questions and generally a great person to deal with! The quality and finish of the products - RSJ covers and Oak Windows & Doors were superb and look great. Would highly recommend working with Oak By Design and would not hesitate to use their services again for future projects!
Ordered an oak mantle beam from Oak by Design and they quickly called to check the finer details. Unfortunatly, the beam was slightly damaged on arrival by the courier company. Oak by Design immediately arranged to have it picked by DHL, transferred back to Yorkshire from Kent, repaired and sent back within 2 days, with no quibbles. The beam is beautiful, as is the high quality customer service by these people. Fully recommend using this company. Anthony Slater, Tonbridge. Tonbridge.
From the beginning the customer service has been superb, excellent help and advice when choosing the flooring, delivery arriving when promised and a product which is extremely high quality. We have replaced the majority of our flooring downstairs and we are so pleased with the result that we would have paid more. Fantastic.
Amazing customer service from beginning to end . My builder was in awe at the quality of the oak porch components. Call them and ask for Joanne - what she doesn’t know isn’t worth knowing! It’s not every day you invest in a “proper” porch so do it right. You’ll definitely be delighted!
Firstly, the product quality was superb, a beautiful oak mantle piece for my fire place, gorgeous. The installation was quick, efficient and fitter very friendly. The price was very reasonable, actually very good value. But what makes it all SIX STAR, ( but we I can only give 5!), was the customer service. When walking in the shop I was perfectly attended to, I was given samples to take home and they remembered to call soma days later to see what I thought. Order to install time was very fast for such a bespoke service. My experience was world class, great to deal with a brilliant local/small business, I totally recommend.
This is the second time that we have used Oak By Design for oak products and once again we weren’t disappointed. We recently ordered some internal oak doors and from the very start they were a pleasure to deal with. Joanne especially was extremely helpful and friendly, nothing was too much trouble. We were kept updated about the progress of our order. Unfortunately we needed to delay acceptance of the doors for a few weeks and Oak By Design happily agreed to store them in their workshop until we were ready for them. The quality of the doors is very high, they are very well made and finished, far better than any oak doors that you will buy “ off the shelf. “ They are all installed now and look fantastic. I would highly recommend Oak By Design and we will certainly use them again in the future if we require any more oak products. A huge thank you to Joanne and the whole team for a great service and a great product.
Found Oak by Design searching for a new front porch to replace a canopy and knew immediately that this was company for the job and I was not disappointed. I already knew what I wanted and Richard, very patiently, developed my basic requirements, with a number of iterations, into a full detailed design. As I live outside their site working area I decided go for supply only and to install the porch myself. It was delivered as promised and it looked great even on the pallet! It took me a while to fit but it was very satisfying and the result is fantastic. The quality of the aged oak and carpentry of the timbers is excellent. I’m delighted with the porch supplied by Oak by Design - it looks superb.
I firstly used oak by design a couple of years ago for an open oak porch. They were extremely helpful and everything was delivered on time to the highest quality. The porch went together with the oak dowels provided and looked great when it was all slated in. They have also supplied me with a oak beam for a fireplace natural random finish and it looks good.
We worked with Jamie from Oak By Design on a super project near Wetherby. There was plenty of oak in this design for the team to really show their worth - and they did. The attention to detail was excellent. If anything was not quite how the client wanted it, they were straight back to attend to this. The customer care was superb. We look forward to working with Oak By Design on another project soon.
My client was looking for ways in which to make his conversion (of an early seventies house into a period family farmhouse) “stand out from the crowd”. whilst maintaining a commercial eye on his expenditure, as the house was being converted for resale profit. Making the choice to meet with Richard and explore possibilities for incorporating some Real solid Oak features into his plans proved to be the making of the project. By taking lots of advice from Richard on both the size and structure of the components we were able to incorporate three key features. The beautiful and bold roof trusses and purlins for the open plan kitchen are simply a joy to behold. The stunning full height gable window which is directly glazed into the large framework can be appreciated from both the the kerbside and of course from within the cosy snug on the ground floor or the amazing first floor main bedroom where we incorporated some additional exposed roof beams just purely for effect. All in all it is fair to say that these significant choices certainly created the wow factor my client was looking for. Having managed to pre sell the property well before completion it in itself demonstrates the benefits of keeping these sorts of real oak features as part of a modern build. I have no hesitation whatsoever is saying that if anyone is looking to get advice and is serious about investing in quality oak products they should have no need to look further than Oak by Design. Thanks again Richard for all your help , guidance and continued support which is a credit to you and the craftsmen you employ.
A great company to deal with. Professional from start to finish and always there to assist with any queries. Highly recommended.
Very impressed with Oak By Design. Customer service is fantastic and they were very patient in helping me ensure what I needed was the right size. Photos sent of oak cover before it was sent to me and end product was great. It was also not the most expensive either. Would definitely recommend.
A first rate service from start to finish. We've used this company in the past for our floor - 40 foot of solid oak! 2 beams and 2 RSJ covers. This time a beam for our new kitchen inglenook and another RSJ cover. More than impressed with the products which more than met our spec. A very friendly and helpful team who I'd recommend to anyone.
From the start of our enquiry, the service provided was excellent. Joanne was a great help and the oak porch structure looks fantastic on our new build. It completely changed the look of the house. Very quick delivery could not recommend enough.
We were looking to have a bespoke oak and glass atrium for the front of our new house renovation. We wanted to find a company we trusted, who clearly understood our brief and could manufacture and install a high quality product at a competitive price. A big ask, but OakByDesign ticked all our boxes. Jamie and the team from the initial discovery meeting to completion of the installation were fantastic. The design, material quality and installation were first class and I would highly recommend you to include them within your project plans. Thank you all. Ben and Lindsay.
We decided to get an oak porch to make our home more attractive and we are so glad we did as it really is beautiful ! Joanne and the Team have been professional, friendly and just a pleasure to deal with ! Thank you so much !!
I was sourcing an oak RSJ cover (circa 5m length) for my extension and found Oak by Design on the internet. All of the reviews I could were glowing and so I contacted them......And I'm so glad that I did. Joanne Fisher answered my initial call and she looked after my order from beginning to end - in terms of ensuring that I got exactly what I wanted she/they provided a superb service - everything on time - delivery in to the Peak District to suit when I wanted. The quality of the the RSJ cover is fantastic thick solid oak that matches my oak floor - looks amazing. If you want anything oak I can thoroughly recommend Oak By Design.
Found this company by accident whilst passing through Harrogate, but well worth a visit.Great products choice with helpful friendly service. The wooden flooring and beams look great in situ and we are very pleased with the transformed room. Would recommend and use again.
Great service by a friendly professional team, a pleasure to work with. The end result of our oak glazed leisure spa and outdoor kitchen looks fantastic. Great job
