This project is a narrow side return in Tilehurst, and narrow is exactly where timber frame earns its keep. We are recording each stage of the build here as it happens, starting with the demolition and the groundworks. Timber frame extension in progress Why timber frame on a narrow plot The walls do the work. A timber frame extension reaches the same structural performance and insulation values through a thinner wall build-up than brick and block, so more of the footprint e

The back of this Winnersh house had a set of French doors on one side and a window on the other, and neither was doing much for the room. The owners wanted the garden to feel like part of the house. That meant moving the opening, not just replacing what was already there. Window and door, before replacement The brief: reverse the openings and go wider The plan was straightforward to describe and rather less straightforward to build. We took out the existing window and the e

Some projects start as a straightforward upgrade and quickly reveal a much bigger problem underneath. That was exactly the case with this garden room transformation. When we first arrived on site, there was an existing garden room in place along with timber decking surrounding it. On the surface, it looked like a project that might only need a refresh. Once work began, it became clear that the existing structure had reached the end of its life. The old room was removed from s

Some projects are about adding space. Others are about restoring peace of mind. This extension was one of those jobs. We were asked to step in after a client had been left with a part-built extension that had been sitting unfinished for around three years. By the time we took it on, the structure was already there in part, but the project had stalled badly and the family had been left in limbo. Our priority from day one was simple: get the extension completed to a good standa