Nàdar Oak is a design led oak frame specialist.   

We work with clients to explore and nurture the possibilities of using oak in their home, creating spaces that stir people’s emotions the moment they first enter.

Obviously, you want to make sure any investment in your home adds financial value, which our structures certainly do, but they also create a tangible sense of well-being and connect people with nature.

Whether your project is a house, outbuilding, or extension, we can offer a complete bespoke design and build service.

We guide you through the design and development process, creating sustainable and unique living spaces that inspire.

If you are considering an oak frame, we would love to help you with that… or if you are looking for a company that will take ownership of a complete oak building project from start to finish, we are the company to talk to. 

Design Led

Our ethos is to add value to our clients’ properties, both financially and by improving their holistic well-being.

We help our clients understand that it is not just about the oak frame, but also about the other elements of the design that make the project really come together.

With creative thinking, we take great care in creating the right lighting and interior design plan for maximum aesthetic appeal. This is the key to great oak-frame design and is determined in the early stages of your project’s design planning process.

When it comes to the oak, we believe less is more. Clever use of design and styling, alongside the subtle and restrained use of oak frame, maximises the light and space whilst showcasing the quality of the natural material. We care deeply about the overall scheme, ensuring all the different components come together.

Woo Woo…our connection with nature

An oak frame building provides a natural connection with our living environment. At Nàdar Oak, we create outstanding homes that stir the emotions from the first time you enter. By combining oak frame and traditional building techniques, our homes balance dramatic space with comfortable living, providing you with a connection to nature: inspiring and delighting.

Like snowflakes, no two pieces of timber are the same, and they have an innate beauty which nature has provided.  There is something quite tactile about a hand crafted oak peg – every single one is different, just like your home.

We create spaces which invite you in and encourage you to explore, as much as you would when walking in the woods… beyond the first trees at the side of the path are the shadows and spaces around and the trees beyond which beckon you in to explore the forest.

At Nàdar Oak, we strongly believe that buildings shape the way people interact with each other, and therefore it is not just about connecting to nature but also to our families and friends. We want you to benefit from that experience.

Expertise

We have over 25 years combined experience in designing and installing beautiful oak frames for clients. We have the knowledge, passion, and level of care required to expertly manage the build project, ensuring an enjoyable experience and delivering results you can live with for years.

Oak frames are generally made using green oak, referring to oak that has been felled in the last 18 months. All green oak frames shrink as they dry out and age; this is known as seasoning. The oak will move and twist, particularly in the first couple of years, adding to the character. This is an entirely natural process, during which time your frame will develop cracks (known as ‘shakes’), which adds to the character of the new structure. This is why it’s important to choose an oak specialist who lives and breathes oak frame construction and understands the behavior and characteristics of this natural material.

We understand the nuances of working with a natural product. All the jointing and pegging that will be designed into your frame will minimize this movement and, in the process, become stronger as a result.

Almost all mainstream structural oak framing in the UK uses green oak, rather than kiln-dried or air-dried oak. For superior craftsmanship, green oak is much better than seasoned oak for cutting and shaping.

Glazing requires particular care. We use face-applied glazing, where glazing is installed to the exterior of the frame, with an oak strip or cover board that holds the glass in place. Many years of experience has taught us that rather than rebating, a face-planted (or face-fixed) approach is a more robust solution to oak shrinkage. This technique maintains the integrity of the seal with the glass, and we believe it looks better aesthetically too.

Part of the appeal of oak is that it does not need to be finished; externally it weathers to a beautiful silvery grey. We do have clients who wish to retain the rich color of the natural oak, and our experts will provide guidance on how to achieve this.

Craftsmanship and Quality

Most of the oak we use is from France where it is plantation-grown in single species forests which are cropped on a rotating cycle. The competition between the trees to reach the sunlight results in the trees having very long straight trunks, with very few knots, compared to those grown in mixed deciduous woodland. The French planted massive oak forests back in 1827 and they have been really well managed ever since. 

As a consequence, the trees grow faster than they are cut, which results in a very sustainable supply chain. There is currently 524 million cubic metres of standing oak.

We can also source English Oak depending on our clients’ requirements.

Oak frames are constructed off-site and brought to site ready to be erected by our experienced team, often in under a week (depending on size and complexity).

Traditionally, the timber is crafted while it’s still green. It is slotted together with tenon and mortice joints. Handmade tapered wooden pegs secure all the joints connecting the principal rafters, which form the integrity of your building and ensure a strong and durable construction.

The architectural detailing and the execution are crucial to lasting quality. All elements of the build are designed to complement the oak frame. All our frames are individually made for each client, using the very best quality timber to ensure a high level of aesthetic detail.

Our carpenters will be truly engaged with your project. Our aim is to provide you with an outstanding space, providing richness of character, flooded with light… all individually designed for you.

Project Management and Service

Nàdar Oak is a multi-disciplinary team offering a full turnkey service, which means we can deliver the full end-to-end solution for your project.

Full design creation service: We will meet with you to discuss your requirements in detail, to create a unique design that will get you excited about what we can do for you and your home.

Our services include:

• Architectural and structural design
• Planning and building regulations
• Site clearance
• Groundworks and structural changes
• Doors and windows
• Internal and external finishes
• Heating and electrical requirements
• Fixtures and fittings
• Decoration.

We will provide you with a professional, established team to deliver the results you expect. We work with high integrity, ensuring an enjoyable experience for both parties. We are very happy and experienced in working with your architect, or we have our own experts who we can bring on board.