Wealden Times | WT162 | August 2015 | Wedding supplement inside

WT chats unusual projects with two Wealden oak framing companies...«When our client was applying for planningpermission for an extension on their home, a surveyrevealed they had a lodger in the roof space...»The team at Oak Designs describe aparticularly memorable projectWhat was the brief? This was possibly one of the mostunusual briefs we’d had in a while! Our client required an outbuildingto house… A BAT! Not a cricket bat, one solitary bat. The twobaygarage for the cars was an added benefit. When our client wasapplying for planning permission for an extension on their home,a survey revealed they had a lodger in the roof space. To be ableto continue with their plans the bat was required to relocate toits own luxury quarters in the form of an oak-framed garage!How did you come up with the design? Thedesign for the garage was adapted from one of our standard Acorndesigns but we needed an enclosed roof space with an increasedpitch to meet habitation requirements. Access was also requiredso the design was adjusted to add a first floor and hatch.What construction methods did you use? We used atraditional oak frame structure with softwood rafters, softwood studworkand weatherboarding. The brick plinth had already been preparedutilising our 150mm wide special facing bricks to give a flush finish.How long did the work take to complete?Our assembly team erected the frame on site whichwas completed over the course of three days.For more information on Oak Designs Co. call01273 400411 or see www.oakdesigns.org.89 www.wealdentimes.co.uk