Oak Buildings

British oak has been a well managed source of materials for housing since Roman times. Oak has earned its place as one of the most versatile woods, being used for everything over time frmo battleships to the panelling in the houses of parliament.

'Oak' itself isn't a species, but a whole genus of trees and shrubs. There are six hundred species of oak which are native to the Northern Hemisphere. British Oak is deciduous and grows slowly, making it one a hardwood. With its very tight grain oak is very strong and yet not as brittle as some hard woods. This makes it perfect for traditional oak framed buildings which, with care, can last for centuries.

One of the things which make oak framed buildings so strong is that as the wood seasons it contracts. The moisture trapped in the wood as the tree grew evaporates, causing the grain to tighten even further. This natural feature of oak is one of the key reasons that Acorn Buildings still use time honoured methods of carpentry. These traditional methods are so effective because it means that the joints in the structure will become stronger with time, as the wood dries and matures. The contraction in the joints mean that the building will creak as the wood seasons, this is entirely natural and is an audible sign that the oak is strong and getting tougher.

The other feature which makes oak a highly desirable building material is the attractive grain. Many of the UKs stately home, palaces and castles feature interior oak paneling, for centuries it has been a common technique to use oak both for the structural frame of the building and for interior decoration. We use oak as it is still much sought after for the appearance of its grain and colour. In fact it is used in the veneers for high quality furniture and flooring.