Oak has always been a mainstay in the construction sector. This view is supported by the fact that these types of wood are strong, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. In fact, most building and extension projects rely on oak frames, which is a tradition that will probably remain fashionable for the foreseeable future. Whether you want to construct a rustic fireplace mantel, a modern kitchen, or even repair a cottage from the Middle Ages, all you need is oak beams to transform your building and extension projects into lasting and attractive structures.
Oak beams come in different varieties. However, the main ones are the English Green, the air dried, and the reclaimed oak beams. Green oak is usually freshly sawn from the trunk and spots a very light shade in terms of color. This kind of oak beam has an increased amount of moisture content.
This aspect makes it heavier, although it also means that the English Green variety is softer and easy to cut for use in your building and extension projects. The only caveat is that this kind of oak beam will move and split as it dries out. Nonetheless, they are very valuable for large framing projects and external beams.
Air dried ones describe green oaks that have been allowed to undergo natural drying. The outcome of this drying is the loss of moisture content. Consequently, air dried oak beams provide better stability and show reduced settling movement. However, they are tough to cut into the required piece, which also means they present significant challenges in terms of ease of use. In terms of color, they are slightly darker compared to the English Green ones. Air dried oak beams are perfect for internal trusses and beams, as well as in the building of fireplace mantels.
The third kind is the reclaimed oak beams. Essentially, these are oak beams that have been utilized before and recovered from their original buildings. Reclaimed oak beams may be as old as 500 years or even more. In most cases, they exhibit an attractive deep dark shade that is characterized by several splits and character. These kind are very tough, although they also boast of an elevated degree of stability.
This aspect makes them ideal for the fireplace and interior beams. We can only wonder what if these beams could tell stories!
If you are looking to spruce up your home with oak beams, they normally come with a variety of finishes. The most common ones are sanded, washed and brushed, polished, treated and waxed, sawed, as well as hollowed oak beams. The choice is yours.