Glazing an oak frame can be full of expensive pitfalls if not done with consideration and care. Traditional oak framing uses green oak. Green oak is unseasoned oak, i.e. freshly sawn so it hasn’t had time to dry out/season before use. This high water content means the oak will dry in situ. The drying process will see the oak shrink, crack and move so this is the first consideration with glazing an oak frame.
The second is the traditional joinery. With traditional joinery, mortice and tenon joints are pegged together with handmade, tapered oak pegs. The handmade, irregular shape of the pegs mean they are better at gripping the wood, but it does mean the hole isn’t always fully filled and water can track through the end grain. So unless you seal the joints, peg holes and base/sole plates etc. you can get water and air ingress.
What is the solution?
The solution is face glazing. We only recommend this method because it deals with both potential issues of the drying movement and joinery methods.
We work with a third party glazier, Topworks, who are a very experienced, specialist oak frame glazier. Their system “clamps” the glass to the face of the oak frame with a system of unseen, sealed packers which are covered with seasoned oak cover boards. The glass is then protected from the movement in the oak frame and this also covers the joints. Their patented system is extremely comprehensive. It also protects against insect ingress and has built in drainage to protect the double or triple glazed units.
There doesn’t seem to be, in our opinion, anything as nice as enjoying an oak frame flooded with light but glazing it correctly is the key to hassle free living and a warm and cosy space. For more information on your new garden room, orangery or glazed extension please get in touch.
