Getting Started

 

• What considerations are important to bear in mind when designing a free standing garage?

Consideration must be given to the end use of the garage, the location within the property, the floor space available and the amenities you wish to include. Drainage, water and electric also need to be considered. The groundworks are the most variable element in the build and must be carefully considered.

 

• Will an oak frame building add value to my property?

An Oak Frame Building is a permanent structure which can create extra space and facilities within your property and that may well add to the overall value of your property when designed well and built to a high standard. However, with any property valuation you must bear in mind the specific location, current market conditions and fluctuations.

 

• How do I start planning the design of an oak framed building?

We have designed a range of single storey garages, buildings with first floor accommodation, summerhouses, Cookhouses, gazebos, pavilions and porches, etc.

Using a standard design will save costs on design, structural calculations and certain other economies of scale but if you have a specific design requirement we can accommodate these too.

 

• What about cost and budgeting?

From your initial enquiry we can provide a good price indication based on an approximate size and style of building to allow you to determine the budget for your project.

 

As an example, for full build, including groundworks, supply, erection & build of an Oak frame three bay garage with a slate roof, the price is approximately £13.0k + vat per open fronted bay and start from £15.0k + vat per enclosed bay (depending on the type of doors chosen.  An additional log store is approximately £5k + vat.

Therefore, a three bay open fronted garage would be approx. £39.0k + vat, assuming you are Cheshire based. Please note these are approximate price indications only,  as of October 2025, prices vary depending on design, the site, raw material prices etc.

 

For other structures built by Cheshire Oak Structures please complete the form on the Request a Brochure page (click here) detailing the style and dimensions of the building you are interest in and we will provide a price indication.

 

• How can I be sure what the building will look like on my site?

We encourage clients to visit our HQ to view the structures we have on display here. Oak is a tactile material and it is important to view the dimensions of the timbers we use and see how it ages and weathers. Once you are sure you wish to proceed we produce a full set of design drawings from each angle, showing your chosen joinery, roofing materials, etc. to illustrate the final product.

 

• Are there any current design trends?

Oak frame buildings are a classic structure however, we do see trends emerging relating to the overall property market and also aesthetics. Growing families often request a garage with first floor accommodation to create an extra guest room or a games room for the family. Increased numbers of people now work from home and requests for office space has grown. Aesthetically we are fitting roller shutter doors on a more regular basis, these can be colour matched to other paintwork on your property and are operated by remote control key fobs.

 

• What timescales are involved?

The Oak frame usually takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks to produce in the workshop, depending on the size of the frame and how busy the production unit is at the time. If we are constructing the groundworks, then these are constructed whilst the frame is in production. Once the frame is ready it is delivered to site, then the build will take between 14 to 30 working days, again depending on the size of the structure.

 

• How long will my oak framed building last?

A quality, well built and maintained structure will outlive you! There are historical Oak Frame Structures that have been in existence for hundreds of years especially in cities such as Chester and York in the UK.

 

• How will the structure weather naturally?

At Cheshire Oak Structures we select materials and finishes that weather off naturally. UV light causes the timbers to “grey off” and blend in. We can illustrate this by sending photographs of buildings built a while ago and what they look like now. Plus you are invited to our HQ to see the “greying off” on the buildings we have here.

 

• Where does the Oak come from?

All our oak, where possible is sourced from sustainable, managed forests, mostly from France but also from other parts of Europe where sensibly managed forests have been producing Oak for the timber industry for years. We do source from England and Wales whenever possible but unfortunately the supply of British Oak has been depleted over the years. The use of timber is often considered more environmentally friendly than other building materials, as it is classed as Carbon Neutral.

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• Will my building be secure?

We fit substantial 5 lever locks and hardware to all the joinery products we use and where we fit roller shutter doors these are operated by remote control key fobs.

 

• What about insulation and heating?

When discussing the design we talk through end use and can fit insulation to both the base and walls of the structure, depending on your requirements, allowing the building to be used all year round. Many of our structures are used as guest bedrooms, office space, games rooms, etc.

 

• Can I add an upper floor to my building?

We have a range of designs featuring first floor accommodation. It is advised to include this at the start as it is not easy to add in retrospect.

 

 

 

Planning Permission and Building Regulations

 

• Will we need planning permission?

This depends on several factors, size of structure, design and location. Please call us to discuss your requirements and we will give advice. We can handle all planning applications for a small fee.

 

You may not need planning permission if you can tick all of the following boxes, providing that you still have permitted development rights on your property:-

-by keeping the ridge height below 4mtrs – which we can do, we build lots at 3.9mtrs.

- by building behind the front line of your house

- by your building being 2mtrs away from any boundary

- by you not being in a conservation area, nor a listed building.

We always advise speaking to your local planning officer.

 

• What are permitted development rights?

Permitted development rights allow owners of a building to make certain building changes and changes of use without having to make a planning application. These rights are set out in The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.

 

If you are completely sure your project is within permitted development you can start your building work. For proof that your building work is lawful you should apply for a lawful development certificate. If your project does not qualify as permitted development you will need to submit a planning application.

 

Structures can usually be built under Permitted Development Rights providing the following:-

-by keeping the ridge height below 4mtrs – which we can do, we build lots at 3.9mtrs.

- by building behind the front line of your house

- by your building being 2mtrs away from any boundary

- by you not being in a conservation area, nor a listed building.

 

We recommend checking with your local planning department and consulting the UK Planning Portal at https://www.planningportal.co.uk/

 

 

• What Building Regulations will an oak garage need to adhere to, if it’s purely being used as a space to house cars and other items?

Building regulations certificate is required if the internal footprint is in excess of 30square mtrs.

This basically means that a Building Inspector will need to visit to ensure that all parts of the build are being built to today’s standards, covering groundworks, Oak frame structure, roofing, drainage, insulation if applicable and fire regs.

We can take care of this process if requested, as we do on many builds.

 

 

Aftercare

 

• What aftercare and maintenance is required?

This really depends on the look that you want to achieve. The Oak and the weatherboard cladding will “grey off” after some time, maybe a year or so when subject to the Sun’s UV rays. Most of our customers want to achieve this look.

Most maintenance is required on moving joinery products, ie. doors and windows within the first year.

Due to the Oak being a natural product, there will be a certain amount of movement. This may affect doors and windows, which we will adjust FOC within the first year after the build. We can visit at later stages, however there is a small charge for this service.

 

• What about rot or woodworm?

It is very rare for an Oak frame to suffer from rot. Our structures sit on a dwarf brick wall and the Oak posts sit on staddle stones to ensure the timber structure is “off the ground” and will not sit in water or puddles. Infestation of the frame by insects is similarly unlikely, as Oak is a very dense timber. A well-built and maintained Oak frame should not produce conditions that allow either rot or infestation.

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