‘Matthews’ Self-Build Oak Framed House

Peter Matthews had always had the dream of applying his engineering skill to the construction of an oak framed family home. With the children having ‘flown the nest’ and being semi-retired, the time seemed right to bring the dream to life with a bespoke oak framed house.

Having sold their existing house and moved into rented accommodation, the search for a suitable building plot had been on for sometime. Peter and Sue finally located 1.3 acres of land, split into three plots at the end of a long wooded drive, deep in the West Sussex countryside in 2006. The central plot had a dilapidated bungalow on it, which it was proposed would be knocked down to make way for their new home.

Planning restrictions prevented additional houses being built on the land, so it was decided to purchase all the Plots to make one large building plot for a single four bedroom home.

Oak frames had always been appealing to Peter as he was born in Malvern and had spent his childhood admiring traditional timber frame houses in Worcestershire and Herefordshire. He took further inspiration from self-build magazines and construction exhibitions, looking at different oak framing companies and staying up-to-date with the latest technologies in oak-frame construction.

During a visit to the border counties to visit relatives, Peter and Sue took the opportunity to drop in and visit Oakwrights. While the guided tour took place, a good relationship built up. Peter particularly liked the application of computer-aided design and CNC K2 joinery machine that Oakwrights use to make oak frames. The level of accuracy this achieved and the flexibility Oakwrights showed through design and production processes appealed to his engineering mind.

Discussions and an initial meeting with Oakwrights took place at their Offices in September 2006 and following that, Darren Blackwell, one of Oakwrights architectural designers worked with Peter and Sue on the Outline Planning submission to Chichester District Council. The brief was for an oak framed house with clean lines and little wood exposed externally. Internally, the house was to be open plan with large areas of glazing, making the most of the view onto the garden and woodland at the rear of the plot.

The specification included high insulation values (specifically noting argon-filled double glazing), an advanced heating system for UFH and hot water, rainwater harvesting, low energy lighting, low maintenance externally where possible, a centralised heat recovery ventilation and an approved burglar/fire alarm system, including the garage and garden store, with phone connection to a central monitoring system.

A smooth passage of the Outline Planning Drawings for the Planning Application was critical to the schedule and prior to the official submission, Peter and Darren met with the Planning Officer in Chichester on 17th Jan 2007 to “sound them out” and were pleasantly surprised at the minor constructive comments that were made. Drawings were modified as necessary and submitted. Approval, with Conditions, was given by Chichester Council on 24th April 2007. Planning approval was also obtained for PV Solar panels and Wet Solar panels for possible future addition.

Due to the long narrow plot and certain restrictions, the shape of the house was designed to have an angled wing that faced south and added interest to the floor layout. The house is 2,988ft2 including the attached garage with 1,643ft2 of space on the ground floor and 1,345ft2 of space on the first floor.

Sue wanted a large modern Kitchen and Utility fitted with Oak cabinets and granite work tops and therefore the frame was to be stopped at the boundary of Kitchen and Family Room.

The Master bedroom was to be vaulted, with full height glazing and en-suite bathroom. Two large double bedrooms and one larger Guest bedroom, all with en-suite facilities were to face south.

The Build Process.

Once planning consent had been gained, attention turned to the detail of the build. A full environmental survey, including ground investigation was carried out and this indicated that foundations in some areas had to be substantially deeper than normal.

Detailed oak frame drawings and building regulation drawings were produced after many discussions and e-mail exchanges between Peter and the design team. The Oakwrights three dimensional “walk through” computerised programme was ideal in showing the full construction of the house and review of any changes.

To reduce costs, it was decided not to provide a rainwater harvesting tank but for Peter to instead, install a pump in the on-site well, at a later date, to provide supply to the toilets and washing machine. Plumbing and electrics were installed in the house and garden to allow this. Samples of water from the well were tested to confirm it was fit for use without treatment, for non-drinking purposes.

The original cess pit was filled-in and a connection made to the main sewer.

All soil from foundation trenches and construction of the drive was utilised on-site for landscaping and to eliminate removal and transport costs.

A Structural Engineer and Main Contractors were chosen to carry out the main building work, with Oakwrights supplying and erecting the oak frame.

The initial start of the build process was held up when a mandatory Bat Survey found the old bungalow had a few bat droppings in the roof (although no sign of bats even after a further two surveys). It therefore, could not be demolished until the bat nesting season was over. Planners initially required a bat roost to be incorporated in the roof design but finally agreed to six Schwegler bat boxes to be provided on trees in the garden. The Bat Surveyor had to stand-by during removal of the roof tiles to ensure that no bats were found or indeed harmed during this work.

Oakwrights required a 16-week lead time for construction and delivery of the frame to the site (Note: We strongly suggest erecting during dry weather to protect the frame from rain; reducing staining and additional work in cleaning, if carrying out acid cleaning).

Foundations were started in late February 2008, the Oakwrights frame was erected during April and the house was completed, sufficiently for occupation, in late October 2008. A small “topping-off” party, with champagne and home made food was arranged on completion of the Frame erection, with Oakwrights Project Manager Chris Mullis and his team.

It had been decided to acid clean and wax the frame utilising a Company called “Texturekote”, recommended by Oakwrights, once the house was reasonably water tight.

External appearance

A long, sweeping gravel drive leads you through the lawns to this stunning contemporary home. With its mellow, cream coloured render and natural slate roof, the house sits comfortably in its surroundings.

The angled wing of the vaulted sitting room creates a feeling of enclosure to the rear garden creating a real sun trap. At the rear of the house, there are large glazed windows which have been face-glazed onto the oak frame and allow the maximum amount of light to cascade into the interior. These windows look out onto the garden and the woodland beyond. Large patio doors open out onto stone slabs and an informal summer dining area.

Ground Floor Layout

Vaulted entrance area with fully glazed gable. Double oak entrance doors lead you into the porcelain tiled hall area. The glazed gable lets light into the hall and onto the landing above giving a light and airy entrance to the home. To the side of the entrance hall space is a (disabled access) downstairs WC and Shower room, with adjacent coats cupboard, housing the ground floor UFH manifold.

The main core of the house is open plan with a post and beam oak frame defining spaces. The entrance hall leads onto the dining area which has glazing looking out onto the garden and woodland beyond. The dining area has large oak floor beams above with oak floor joists.

To the right hand side of the dining area, you walk through an open entrance way to the large vaulted sitting room with oak frame and central feature wood burning stove. The porcelain flooring of the dining area gives way to oak engineered boards and large rugs along with big comfortable sofas giving a cosy and warm feel to this space. The sitting room has one complete glazed wall that looks out onto the garden. To the centre of the sitting area is a large sling brace truss giving a focal point to the room. Roof lights set in the vaulted roof give additional down light to the sitting area space.

To the left hand side of the dining area is the open plan kitchen with island unit. The porcelain that is the flooring to the hall and dining area runs through into the kitchen space. The kitchen units are hand made oak in a contemporary style. The rear wall of the kitchen units incorporates Neff stainless steel ovens, warming drawer, microwave and a large fridge freezer unit with stainless steel doors. A Neff dishwasher is incorporated close to the sink, and a Bottle cooler under the opposite granite worktop. The island is two tier granite with a Neff gas/electric hob and rising re-circulating extractor in the higher level and the lower level designed as a breakfast bar with stools. The open plan area of kitchen/family room/dining gives a great space for entertaining.

To the side of the kitchen is a large utility room with kitchen units and work tops. There is access to the back garden and garage from the utility room.

From the utility you can enter the double garage which in turn leads into the Garden store. All utilities enter the house through the Garden store. Planning requirements specified that as well as the heat pump equipment, hot water tank, electrical junction box, the store should be designated for at least two bicycles.

First Floor Layout

To gain access to the first floor you rise up an impressive German built semi spiral oak staircase. This staircase has an inner laminated structural string which gives a feeling of lightness to the structure. The stairs are set within a stair tower that has four diminishing size windows giving light onto the oak staircase within.

Once on the landing you can go right handed and enter the master bedroom suit which takes up one full bay of the oak frame. Once in the master bedroom you are greeted by large windows over looking the garden. The rear wall of the bedroom is taken up with a full set of fitted wardrobes giving a large amount of storage space. The roof of the master bedroom is fully vaulted with a central oak truss, purlins and rafters above. There is a full en-suite running off the master bedroom with bath and full size shower unit. In the master bedroom there is a secret door that leads onto a study deck that looks out onto the vaulted sitting room below.

Back on the landing, there are three further bedrooms on the left, all with an en-suite bathroom. These three bedrooms are all within a part of the house that is built traditionally and does not incorporate oak framing.

Internal decoration

The decoration has been kept natural in colour with magnolia walls and white ceilings enhancing the colour of the principal oak frame. The oak frame has a planed finish with wax applied. Porcelain tiles have been used on most of the ground floor with engineered oak boards in the sitting room. The sitting room also has large rugs to give a warm feel to this large space.

Dark granite up stands have been used in the kitchen to compliment the dark granite work tops. In the bathrooms the tiling has been brought up the walls to the ceiling in the showers and halfway up the walls with decorative border tiling in other areas.

On the first floor neutral colour carpets have been used again to enhance the colour of the oak frame. Sanderson blinds are fitted to most of the windows, except the large windows in the sitting room where heavy lined curtains make the room more comfortable and homely.

External Construction

The construction of the house is a combination of block work and timber frame with a rendered external skin. The Webber render is a soft cream colour that is complimented by the grey of the double glazed windows. Two different types of render were required to be sprayed onto the wooden wall panels and the blockwork.

The windows have been imported from Distner in Germany and are made of oak with a grey powder coated aluminium externally for low maintenance and have double glazed units. They open inwards, which enables window cleaning to be carried out safely from inside the house. Where the windows are mounted in the oak frame the Oakwrights method of “floating” fixing has been utilised to prevent damage to the frames.

Junctions between the green oak frame and blockwork are sealed with a special expanding tape (Compriband) to allow movement of the frame without loosing air tightness.

The roof is constructed using 300mm thick Milbank structurally insulated panels bolted to the oak frame. The inside of the panels was supplied with plasterboard already fixed, and just requiring skimming. The panel joints are sealed with foam, producing a highly insulated roof structure. The external finish to the roof is natural Spanish slate which again compliments the cream render.

Velux sun tubes are fitted through the roof to illuminate the 2nd and 3rd ensuite bathrooms. Guttering and down pipes are low maintenance Lindhab black coated galvanised steel.

Heating system

A 16Kw air source heat pump supplied by Dimplex feeds the hot water tank and Wavin zone controlled under floor heating system that is installed to both the ground and first floor. Hot water temperature is programmed to be heated to 60°C by the use of immersion heaters once per week (or more) during off peak electricity period in order to eliminate the risk of legionnaires disease. Hot water is circulated by a timer controlled pump to eliminate water wastage by ensuring instant hot water on opening the taps.

The heat pump system includes additional equipment to allow the connection of wet solar panels at a later date.

The house also incorporates a heat recovery and ventilation system supplied and fitted by Rega Vent.