Some Disturbing News and Pitfalls to Avoid when Choosing your supplier. Click Here.'Price is important but quality is more important. Does your supplier belong to any industry bodies? Do they understand EU Oak Grading? Do they have checkable and valid references from similar works? This is a specialist area and requires articulate & specialist knowledge. Make sure you protect yourself & avoid cowboys at all costs!'

Green Oak is Freshly sawn oak usually left to settle in the log for about 12 to 18 months. There are some oak suppliers that we are coming across at the moment that are using very green oak that is newly cut. Be aware that the price may be cheaper but the quality will definatley suffer. Unfortuately you may not be able to tell until well after you have paid. These beams are very prone to bending and swaying once in place and should be avoided.

It is cheaper to produce and work with than Air Dried and the Furniture Quality grade Kiln Dried Oak.

The softer Green Oak is cut planed and the required joints (mortises and tenons or other) are then added.

Green Oak Beams do shrink, age and split however this should be seen as the quality of the timber and adds to the character.

As the timber dries in situ the Oak hardens further and is one of the toughest building products available. The proof of this is evident in the historical structures all over Europe that have stood firm for hundreds of years.

Your builder, engineer or architect may have a preference for either Air Dried or Green Oak. We provide both and have not had any complaints or issues with either. It is a matter of preference of the designer or builder. So too is the type of joints and fixings requested. We also supply the Wrought Iron Mongery which is a durable and specialised feature for the design oriented.

Oak of this nature is taken and dried in large Kilns. Due to the amount of energy required by this process there are thankfully now producers of Solar Dried Oak of the same quality.

Where possible & costs allow we will always endeavour to source Solar Dried Oak for the use in our production of RSJ Beam Casings.

When talking of either Kiln Dried or Solar Dried Oak the properties of the wood are very similar if not indistinguishable.

Kiln and Solar Dried Oak is mostly referred to as Furniture Grade Timber.

The moisture contents are minimal and therefore shrinkage and movement reduces however only to a point.

All timber will move and adjust to the final inhabited environment. For instance the noises in a wooden house during the changing seasons and weather.

Kiln or Solar Dried Oak is more expensive and seen as a premium craftsmens' product for specialised projects.

Price on application.

RSJ Beam Casings, Fireplace Mantles, Bespoke Furntiure Requests

Oak of this nature is taken and dried in large Kilns. Due to the amount of energy required by this process there are thankfully now producers of Solar Dried Oak of the same quality.

Where possible & costs allow we will always endeavour to source Solar Dried Oak for the use in our production of RSJ Beam Casings.

When talking of either Kiln Dried or Solar Dried Oak the properties of the wood are very similar if not indistinguishable.

Kiln and Solar Dried Oak is mostly referred to as Furniture Grade Timber.

The moisture contents are minimal and therefore shrinkage and movement reduces however only to a point.

All timber will move and adjust to the final inhabited environment. For instance the noises in a wooden house during the changing seasons and weather.

Kiln or Solar Dried Oak is more expensive and seen as a premium craftsmens' product for specialised projects.

Price on application.