Sawn Green Oak Beams

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 North of 60%. Working and jointing fresh sawn Oak is considerably easier than air dried and as the fresh sawn joints dry, the Oak locks together forming a tight bond.


 

What is Green Sawn Oak commonly used for?

There are multiple uses for fresh sawn oak which include: New build housing, garages, orangeries, stand alone annex buildings, porches, pergolas to name but a few.

    


See our  Gallery for more inspiration.

What is the difference between Fresh Sawn and Aired 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 twelve months. The rule of thumb for the drying of Oak is one inch (25mm) per year, so Oak dries slowly!

What grade are your Green Sawn Oak beams and posts?

We sell THB (D30) Structural Grade Oak which meets the British Standard BS 5756.  
Whilst there are some difference this is similar to the European Standard QP1 grade.

What is European Oak?

Generally Quercus Robur and occasionally Quercus Petraea, European Oak is predominantly sourced from France, Italy and parts of Central Europe.

What is a shake?

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.

Should I worry if my fresh sawn oak beams to 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.

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

You can use either Fresh Sawn or Air dried Oak beams depending upon the look you desire.

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