An Oak Framed Farmhouse

Mark and Sam Benbow could not be described as self-build novices. With four previous projects under their tool belts, the couple have an enviable wealth of experience — Sam even works at Kingspan, the insulation megastar. It might be tempting to assume that a ‘been there, done that’ attitude would protect them against the vagaries of yet another self-build, but their first foray into oak framing brought plenty of fresh challenges, not least juggling the build around full-time jobs and their sons, Tom and Ollie.

“We dearly wanted to move back to the village I was brought up in,” says Sam, “but didn’t necessarily envisage building again.” Pressure to move intensified, however, when a sale was agreed on their house; but despite an exhaustive search, their dream home proved elusive. With completion looming, they started to look into the possibility of plots.

“We knew of package company Border Oak because they are based nearby and have built dozens of homes in many of the local villages. They also have a fantastic reputation,” says Mark, a project manager.

So Sam casually popped into their office to join the plot list: “I didn’t dare imagine that they would have anything in our chosen village — but they did!”

The plot in question was one of four located within the Conservation Area and surrounded by listed Mediaeval oak frames. Previously a tannery and most recently a breakers yard, the unprepossessing site was covered in old concrete and self-seeded ash saplings. Though planning was approved for a house on the land, the industrial legacy of the site was still a worry. “We were, however, very lucky as the site was clean and straightforward,” recalls Mark.

Work on the foundations began in January 2004. The ground floor of the house is of conventional brick and block, combined with internal oak frame dividing walls. A fully exposed green oak frame sits above the masonry with insulated infill panels faced in lime render. This blend of systems lends all of oak’s charm with the added bonus of characterful brickwork.

Mark and Sam used Border Oak’s package for part of the build and self-managed the rest. They were determined to only use subcontractors familiar with the exacting specification, and able to meet the standard of workmanship that would do justice to the oak frame. “When the guys came to erect the oak frame in April, the project really seemed to take off,” says Mark. “It was exciting to see the house take shape over a couple of weeks — definitely a highlight.”

The impressive skeletal frame gave the couple their first real sense of how large the house was, and it was at this point that they decided to switch to attic trusses for part of the roof. “We had a vaulted ceiling in the master bedroom, which looked fabulous and illustrated how much available space there would be over the other flat ceilings,” explains Sam. “So we obtained planning permission for two Velux rooflights on the rear of the house.”

Once the oak frame had been erected and completed with Border Oak’s specialised infill panels, Mark arranged for the saffron-coloured lime render to be applied. The working elements of the panel itself are applied in various layers and made to fit each opening exactly, with expansion joints and gasket seals to take account of the natural timber shrinkage. “We have some lovely arched beams and the panels are cut to follow these curves perfectly — a painstaking job for the guys on site, but important to ensure the house is weatherproof,” explains Mark, who applied colourless teak oil to the frame one weekend to nourish the oak.

Although the build was progressing without major incident, Mark and Sam found that project managing and working full time was a constant juggling act. Mark would spend most weekends and evenings on site whilst Sam spent hours researching fittings and caring for Tom and Ollie. “Initially we stayed with my mum, who also lived in the village, but we later rented a tiny cottage. This upheaval was probably the most stressful element of the build because we all felt terribly unsettled — moving three times with young children is far from ideal,” says Sam. Consequently the family were in for Christmas, but the house was unfinished.

The couple tackled most of the interior finishing themselves over the coming months. Mark also cleaned and waxed all the beams and woodwork, as well as digging and laying the foundations for an oak cart shed and landscaping the entire garden.

One of Mark and Sam’s original objectives was to seamlessly blend modern conveniences such as under - floor heating and good insulation with a traditional, craftsman-made structure, and they have achieved this with distinction. The high ceilings, oak joinery, large windows and high standard of workmanship afford the house an impressive but relaxed ambience.

Now the oak has mellowed to a silvery hue and the handmade roof tiles are collecting lichen, the ‘newness’ and prominence of the house has softened against its Mediaeval counterparts. “But thankfully there are none of the maintenance issues inherent with these older properties,” says Sam.

Building their home has changed the family’s lives in more ways than they initially imagined. So impressed with Mark’s work, the director of Border Oak was keen to recruit him, so ironically Mark now helps other families build their dream homes. “The boys are very proud of their daddy and to live in a house that he built — and so am I,” beams Sam.

Further reading:

• An Oak Frame Cottage Built for Under £300,000
• An Oak Framed Cottage in Herefordshire
• The Evolution of Timber Frame