Timber Frame Builders
These firms repair historic timber-framed buildings and construct new oak frames using traditional carpentry. Repair work includes replacing decayed posts, plates and rails with matching sections, scarfing new timber into old, steaming out distortion and re-pegging joints – keeping as much original fabric as possible. New work ranges from green oak extensions and outbuildings to complete framed buildings, cut and raised in the traditional way. Many also advise on infill panels, whether wattle and daub, lath and lime or modern breathable build-ups, which affect how the frame weathers and moves.
What this category covers
- Repair of historic oak and elm framed buildings
- Scarf repairs, sole plate and post replacement
- New green oak frames, extensions and outbuildings
- Traditional jointing, pegging and raising
- Infill panels and breathable frame build-ups
Antique Buildings Ltd
Antique Buildings Ltd specialises in ancient oak-framed buildings and the reclaimed materials ...
Bakers of Danbury Ltd
Bakers of Danbury is a privately owned building contractor established in 1878 ...
Bespoke Construction & Joinery Solutions
Bespoke Construction & Joinery Solutions (BCJS) is a building contractor based in ...
ES Restoration Ltd
ES Restoration has more than a decade of experience conserving listed buildings, ...
Ewd Crane Timber Framing + Conservation
EWD Crane Timber Framing + Conservation is a small team of experienced ...
Greenman Carpentry Co Ltd
Greenman Carpentry is a small firm of carpenters based in Chichester specialising ...
Harber Carpentry & Restoration
Harber Carpentry & Restoration is a traditional carpentry and listed building specialist ...
Commissioning timber frame work
For repairs, the aim is to keep original timber. A good framer will splice and scarf new sections into sound wood, retain smoke-blackened or moulded members that carry the building’s history, and resist wholesale renewal. Ask how much existing fabric each firm expects to save; the answers are revealing.
Insist on like-for-like structural thinking as well as materials. Old frames move and share loads in ways modern engineering can misread; firms used to historic structures work comfortably alongside structural engineers who understand timber.
On new work, understand green oak. Fresh-sawn oak shrinks and checks as it dries over several years; joints are designed for it, but glazing, panels and finishes must accommodate movement. A framer should explain this before contract, not after cracks appear.
Listed timber-framed buildings need consent for structural repairs in most cases, and exposed repairs are usually expected to read honestly rather than be disguised.
Questions to ask
Does repairing a timber frame in a listed building need consent?
Structural repairs that replace or alter historic fabric normally need Listed Building Consent, even like for like. Minor, genuinely matching repairs are sometimes accepted without it, but the safe course is to agree the scope with the conservation officer first.
What is a scarf repair?
A traditional carpentry repair that joins a new section of timber to the sound remainder of an old member with an interlocking joint, secured with pegs or bolts. It keeps the maximum original fabric while restoring structural continuity.
Will a new green oak frame crack as it dries?
Surface checks and some movement are normal and expected as green oak seasons in place over several years. Traditional joints tolerate this; detailing for glazing and panels is designed to move. Checks are part of the material's character, not a defect.
Directory information is provided to help visitors identify potentially relevant specialists and suppliers. Inclusion does not constitute a recommendation, approval or guarantee by Tuscan Foundry Products. Please check current services, credentials, availability and suitability directly with each business.