Thinking about getting an oak framed garage? You’ve probably been doing quite a bit of research on your options. Right now, you might be trying to narrow your options down to an oak framed garage… or something else. By the end of this article, you should have a much better understanding of whether or not green oak is the best choice for your garage project..
Nothing in life is perfect. Garages of any type certainly aren’t, either. We exclusively manufacture and supply green oak at Premier Heritage, but we’ve been in this business long enough to understand that an an oak frame isn’t the best fit for everyone.
We want all garage buyers to make the best choice for their lives and homes. Over the years, we’ve turned away hundreds of potential customers if they’re clearly looking for something (a certain style, a specific shape, a distinct set of features, or anything else) better suited to a brick, block, prefab or even softwood garage.
Green oak, or freshly harvested oak that has not been dried, has several advantages and disadvantages when used for building your oak framed garage.
Pro’s of an oak framed garage:
- Aesthetics: Green oak has a natural, rustic look that will really make your garage stand out (or blend in), particularly in traditional or historic settings.
- Sustainability: Green oak is a renewable resource, and using it for your garage can be more environmentally friendly than using non-renewable materials such as steel.
- Structural Stability: Green oak has excellent structural stability and is highly resistant to compression and tension forces.
- Insulation: Green oak is an excellent insulator and can help to keep buildings cool in summer and warm in winter.
- Can Increase Your Home’s Value: Does a garage help or hurt home value? It depends – a lot on where you live and how desirable a garage is in your area. Oftentimes, a well-maintained oak framed garage can add value to one’s home.
Disadvantages of an oak framed garage:
- Shrinkage: Green oak is highly susceptible to shrinkage and movement as it dries, which can cause problems with fittings and joints that have been made while the wood is still green. At Premier Heritage Oak we use this to our advantage – the joints are designed in a way to make them lock in tighter as it shrinks.
- Warping and Twisting: Green oak can warp and twist as it dries, making it difficult to work with and reducing its stability. (Also adding to its natural beauty)
- Insect and Fungal Attack: Green oak is more susceptible to insect and fungal attack than seasoned oak, due to its higher moisture content. Choosing a reputable source will help minimise this issue.
- Cost. An oak framed garage can have a higher initial cost than that of others build types. However, with an oak framed garage – this should be seen as an investment to last you a lifetime.
- Longer Construction Time: Building with green oak requires more time and attention to detail, as adjustments may need to be made as the wood dries. At Premier Heritage Oak – our structures are manufactured on a CNC machine as a kit – This ensures your garage will fit together perfectly.
There are plenty of reasons to get a garage that’s all your own, and there’s also reasons why not to get a garage. It’s important to assess these and determine 100% is having a garage before moving forward with a decision. This will help prevent you from going through garage buyers remorse. But as we said, our expertise lies with oak framed garages , so we would like to spend our time with you focusing on oak framing.
The benefits (pros) of oak frame garages
Let’s be up front before we get started: all oak framed garages are NOT created equal. The advantages we’ll cover here apply to high-quality, well-manufactured oak framed garages.
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Oak Framed garages are durable
One main advantage of oak framed garages is their high durability — inside and out.
Both the structure and the appearance of a high-quality oak framed garage can last a long time, provided you take care of it.
A well-made oak framed garage can last 100’s of years, with less maintenance required to keep it useful and enjoyable decade after decade. Speaking of maintenance…
Oak Framed garages are low maintenance
Oak framed garages really are as low-maintenance as you’ve heard.
For example, the natural hardening of the surface actually increases its resistance to rot and disease
You won’t have to worry about painting your garage each year with wood preserver as you might with other garages.
Oak framed garages require less ongoing labour
Continuing from our last section, you’ll spend a lot less time and energy keeping your oak framed garage in good shape.
