Oak Framed Garden Room (Oak Framed Sun Room & Orangery)

The initial design for this particular project was to integrate a spacious ground floor oak frame extension to the existing 16th century cottage. The L shape footprint of the cottage led to the design concept of a centred structure tying the two sides of the existing cottage together, creating a large vaulted area that could be accessed via the kitchen and front room. To create the space to enable us to build the newly designed structure called for a huge amount of earth to be excavated from the site. To retain the earth bank after excavation, we utilized the strength and longevity of oak sleepers to create a retainer wall, which, after completion, gave a soft, natural look to an otherwise large vertical area.

The roof configuration was chosen to give a more stand-alone feel to the structure and to aid the existing window positions. The large amount of glazing to the new oak structure called for a highly insulated roof to help compensate for any heat loss from the underfloor heating system that was also incorporated into the design. Underfloor heating is the most economical way to heat the majority of our structures as the system heats from the ground upwards it does not waste its energy in the large vaulted ceiling areas as the standard convection radiator would.

The frame was hand built using air dried oak to keep the movement of the frame to a minimum.As the structure was predominately glazed, this is important for the longevity of the sealing direct glaze process.The plastered SIPS and ceiling panels all have stainless steel stop beading to prevent any plaster touching the oak frame. This helps the plastered panels stay complete, as the frame settles the plaster being a stand alone unit allows for this slight movement. All of our structures include interior and exterior lighting, this being a very important design detail for the feel of the finished room.

Interior lighting is set with dimmer switches which are essential to create the right mood within the room these usually consist of up lighters placed in every eaves corner and centered ridge pendant lights. The external lighting is very important with a highly glazed structure as this gives the ability to see the illuminated garden detail through the glazing at night which with out the light would become black panels. This helps to keep room feeling spacious as your eye finds it difficult to determine where the structure begins and ends.The clients also instructed us to incorporate a woodburning stove with in the structure giving in the winter months the extra ambience that only a wood burner can give.

The materials used for the entire build were all natural products giving the new oak structure a very authentic and sympathetic finished look and feel.