Garden furniture, structural support, character features, beautiful fireplaces – these are just some of the ways in which oak beams can be used around the home. Oak beams are filled with character and encapsulate the true beauty of wood, making them unique, attractive, and highly appealing for projects of all types. You might be a professional woodworker or joiner, or you might be a homeowner embarking upon your next home improvement project – whatever it is you’re looking for, you will be able to find beautiful oak beams to suit your needs. There are just a few things that you need to consider first to make sure your project goes to plan.
The main thing you’ll need to do is make sure all your plans and requirements are in order before ordering any types of beams. If you are undertaking a major home improvement project such as a large renovation, or having an extension built, then this will involve having an architect or a surveyor involved. They can tell you more about the types of beams and products you will need to consider, and they can help you to get the best possible timber for your project. This is especially important if you are going to be using structural beams and you need to understand the correct load bearing requirements before choosing your timber. Your professional will be able to tell you more about what you need.
The main different you’ll notice when considering different types of timber is the moisture content. The more recently the wood has been felled, the higher the moisture content will be (unless of course the timber has undergone some kind of process like kiln drying that will reduce the moisture content straight away). The moisture content will need to be reduce if the wood is going to be used structurally and you don’t want to have shrinkage. However, green oak is very useful for crafting your perfect oak beams from scratch, because the wood itself can be cut down to size and made into custom shapes. Many people will choose green oak, and will then season it before using it. At the same time, if some shrinkage is not a problem, you may be able to use your oak beams sooner.
If you are looking for oak that has a little more character (after all, if you are splashing out on oak, you will want to enjoy its natural, characterful properties) then air dried oak beams could be the ideal answer. These types of beams are generally died out for three to five years, which is what gives them their aged appearance. They can blend in with other types of timber in older properties, and the ageing process can add depth and character to the oak beams themselves. Where relevant, oak dowels can be used in conjunction with oak beams to create tight fitting joints. D
Construction companies and architects often source oak beams from one particular timber merchant to maintain quality. Timber merchants can cut beams to size where needed, and offer different types of beams.