frames

Building with green oak has a long tradition in Britain going back many millennia. The first frames were constructed with simple lap joints, later Roman influence saw the introduction of the stronger mortice and tenon joint. Peg holes in the tenons are drilled slightly nearer the shoulder of the joints than the peg holes on the mortice, when the peg is tapped in the offset holes forcing a tight joint. The golden age of oak structures was the Middle Ages with the pinnacle of design being the medieval hall house of which there are still many surviving examples.

An igloo oak frame uses mainly 150x150mm timbers, all joints traditional mortice and tenon. Green oak has the advantage of being much easier to work than seasoned oak. The distinctive look of a green oak frame is due to its shrinking and drying. The face of a post will twist and crack during this drying process. The look of the frame will take a year or so to mature, a process which adds enormous individual character and strength to the structure.

As an alternative to green oak other types of wood or metal can be used.