Sawn Green Oak Beams and Posts

What is Fresh Sawn Green Oak?

Oak that has been felled between 3 and 12 months ago, and kept in its original state without any preservatives or treatments. As fresh sawn, the edges remain unplaned and the moisture content will be high, usually in excess of 60%. Working and jointing green sawn oak is considerably easier than air dried and as once the fresh sawn joints begin to dry, the oak locks together forming a very tight bond.


 

What is Green Oak commonly used for?

There are multiple uses for green sawn oak which include: new build housing, garages, orangeries, stand alone annex buildings, porches, pergolas to name but a few. Large gates posts, bollards and signposts also commonly use green oak as it's a robust and durable material to hang structures from.


See our Gallery for more inspiration.

What grade are your Fresh Sawn Oak beams and post?

We mostly sell at THB (D30) grade which is a British Standard for structural green oak beams. This is similiar to the French QP1 grading, we a few notable differences.

We sell Quercus Robur and Quercus Petraea, European Oaks is predominantly sourced from France, Italy and parts of Central Europe.

This should not be confused with Turkish oak, Quercus Cerris, which is a very different grade.

To find out more information the grading of our Green Oak, take a look at our H&H Forestry specification.
Grading Specification

If you require D40 grade for your project, contact us with your requirements and we'll do our best to asisst. Please note there is an additional charge to provide this.
 

Should I choose Planed or Sawn Green Oak Finish?

Planed Oak has been machined to create a smoother finish and is commonly requested for timbers that will be touched, such as in porches, pergolas, handrails, or used internally. This finish removes rough saw marks, making it more visually appealing and easier to oil.

Sawn Oak has a more rustic and natural appearance. It is typically seen in structural elements like fencing, posts and rafters, or where a more traditional, authentic appearance is desired.

What is the difference between Green and Air-Dried Oak?

Air-dried or seasoned oak, is oak that has been left to dry naturally in a ventilated space and is usually referred to as ‘air dried’ once it has been left for at least 5 years. The rule of thumb for the drying of oak is one inch (25mm) per year, so Oak dries slowly!

What type of oak should I use for internal beams and trusses?

You can use either Fresh Sawn or Air dried oak to create beautiful truss features depending upon the look you desire.

What is a shake or check?

A shake or a fissure, also known as a crack is the longitudinal separation of fibres appearing on a face, edge or end of a piece of timber. While naturally occurring, there are grading rules which determine the acceptable lengths of these cracks and are applied to the grading of our fresh sawn oak to ensure its structural ability.
What is a check?A check is small crack or surface split that develops as the wood dries and commonly occurring along the grain, especially near the pith where growth rings are stressed. These aren’t defects and occur as part of the oak’s natural drying process over time.

Should I worry if my fresh sawn oak beams develop cracks?

There is no need to worry as this is a natural and endearing feature of fresh sawn oak. As the oak dries, it shrinks. Such shrinkage creates splits, cracks and surface checking but it’s natural and doesn’t affect the durability or structural stability of good quality oak.

Are your beams cut exactly to the specified length?

With both our stock and custom cut beam orders, we ensure a minimum of 25mm extra on the end of the specified size, allowing you to cut and shape the oak as you see fit.

What are FSC® and PEFC?

FSC® and PEFC are both forest certification schemes. While there are subtle differences between them, they both promote sustainable forestry management and have chain of custody schemes that ensure that felled timber is carefully monitored from the forest to the end user.
 

To learn more about these schemes visit:

Forest Stewardship Council®

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification