How to Look After Your Oak Structure

This guide is written for those working with Oak Frames Direct kits. It sets out the key steps to protect the integrity of your installation. It also highlights the advice you should pass on to your customers to ensure their frames continue to perform at their best.

Your Responsibilities at Installation

Internal Timbers

• Finishing is optional. To reduce movement or cracking, apply a suitable treatment.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s data sheets for coverage and re-coating intervals.

External Timbers

• Oak can be left to weather naturally, or finished with a compatible product if the customer wants a maintained look.
• Ensure any finish chosen is approved for use with green oak.

Weatherboard Maintenance

The performance of the weatherboard depends on the local climate and exposure conditions. Always follow the manufacturer’s application and maintenance recommendations.

Typical Maintenance Interval: Every 5–8 years under normal conditions; more frequently in coastal or highly exposed sites.

Softwood Weatherboard (treated with XILIX GOLD 760)

Trade Action: Apply a stain as soon as possible after installation. This prevents water penetration and creates an even colour.

If left unstained, the timber will weather patchily and absorb moisture on the inner face.

Advice to Customers: Keep a log of coating dates and check annually to maintain protection.

Fire-Retardant Softwood Weatherboard (treated with SENTRIN FRX)

Trade Action: No additional preservative is required.

If decorating, confirm the chosen coating is compatible with SENTRIN FRX Exterior. Incompatible products may reduce fire-retardant performance. SENTRIN FRX is a fire-retardant chemical necessary to meet the testing requirements of BS EN13501-01:2007 fire classification of construction products and building elements.

Advice to Customers: Only apply finishes recommended for fire-retardant-treated timber.

Oak Weatherboard

Trade Action: You can expect shrinkage, splitting, and seasonal mildew from oak weatherboards. No treatment prevents this, but it does not compromise performance.

Mildew is most visible in warmer months but fades as the oak weathers to silver-grey.

Advice to Customers: This is a natural part of oak’s character and should not be considered a fault.

Joinery Protection and Finishing

All joinery leaves our factory with a base coat only. This will protect the joinery while it’s being handled before installation, but it is not a final finish.

Installer Checklist

• Apply the full topcoat immediately after installation.
• Treat all surfaces, including the front, back, edges, tops, and bottoms.
• Follow manufacturer instructions for drying and re-coating.

If left unfinished, joinery is more likely to crack, split, or move. Oak Frames Direct cannot be held responsible for untreated joinery.

Ongoing Care

• Inspect the windows annually.
• Repair any small patches of coating damage promptly.
• Wash with warm water and mild detergent.
• Keep hinges, locks, and handles free of grit. Apply white lithium grease to hinges and a Teflon-based dry lubricant to locks.
• Never paint over gaskets or ironmongery.
• Redecorate when the lower parts of the joinery show general signs of wear.

Gutters and Downpipes

Correct rainwater management prolongs the life expectancy of both gutters and downpipes, as well as the structure itself.

Trade Responsibilities

• Confirm the gutters fall correctly and do not discharge onto walls.
• Fit bird or leaf guards to outlets where appropriate and if asked.
• Check that any ground-level gullies are clear before handover.

Advice For End Users

• Clean the gutters twice a year (recommended in the Spring and Autumn) and after heavy storms.
• Keep vegetation away from downpipes.
• To clear blockages, dismantle affected sections rather than flushing water into underground drains.
• Reassemble with a silicone lubricant on seals for durability.

When inspecting gutters during the year, be sure to look for:

• Blocked downpipes and leaky joints during heavy rain.
• Whether or not the gullies at ground level are clean.
• Whether the gutters are sloping the wrong way or discharging onto the wall. Have them repaired if so.

The steps we’d suggest for cleaning gutters are as follows:

1. Brush debris off the roof areas feeding into the gutters.
2. Remove gutter debris with gloved hands or a small trowel.
3. Flush finer debris towards downpipes with a hose, ensuring clear flow. Ensure that water is flowing properly down the spout* when you do this.

*If you have a downpipe that is connected directly to underground drains, DO NOT flush a blockage with the hosepipe.

Oak-Framed Structures Made to Last

Oak Frames Direct frames are precision-engineered, bespoke, and manufactured to Q-Mark-equivalent standards. Our process covers 22 separate industry standards, including specialist timber grading, ensuring consistency and structural integrity. Every structural frame comes with a 10-year guarantee when installed and maintained correctly.

Why Professionals Choose Oak Frames Direct

• Our bespoke kits are engineered for accuracy, reducing time on site.
• We offer reliable, up-front pricing, which includes Eurocode wind load, elevation, and orientation.
• We provide clear installation and aftercare guidance, simplifying your handover.
• We have an efficient turnaround, with drawings in 1–2 weeks, and builds within standard timelines.

Take the Next Step

Need a quote for your next project? Work with one of our online builders to see an exact figure for what you need. Alternatively, get in touch with our team for tailored guidance.