A handcrafted oak-framed porch or garage doesn’t start in the workshop, it starts with your vision. Whether you’re based in Lutterworth, Leicester, Coventry, or anywhere across the Midlands, the journey to your dream oak structure is a detailed process that balances design, planning, craftsmanship, and care.

At Oaksmiths, our family-run team handles every step. In this blog, we take you behind the scenes and explore exactly what happens from your first consultation to the final installation of your bespoke oak-framed building.

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Step 1 – Understanding Your Vision: Initial Consultation

Every oak project begins with a conversation. Whether you’re dreaming of an oak-framed porch to enhance your curb appeal or a double-bay garage with character, we start by getting to know your property, priorities, and ideas.

What we discuss:

• The type of structure you want: oak porch, carport or garden room
  
• Site conditions: dimensions, access, layout
  
• Functional and aesthetic preferences
  
• Any planning constraints in your area (e.g., conservation zones in Leicester or Coventry)
  

Our goal at this stage is to listen, advise, and gather all the information needed to develop a design that fits your lifestyle, property style, and budget.

Step 2 – Bringing It to Life: Bespoke Design & 3D Modelling

Once we understand your goals, our in-house design team gets to work creating a fully bespoke proposal. This includes:

Precision Oak Frame Drawings

• Tailored to your property’s size and style
  
• Optimised for structural integrity and visual harmony
  
• Traditional features like decorative trusses or curved braces included where desired
  

Interactive 3D Modelling

With our 3D modelling software, you can:

• Rotate and explore your future structure from every angle
  
• Visualise materials, roof pitch, layout, and positioning
  
• Suggest changes before anything is manufactured
  

This is one of the most powerful parts of our process and helps homeowners in Lutterworth, Nuneaton, and beyond make confident decisions early.

Oaksmiths Design Services →

Step 3 – Planning Permission Support

Not every oak-framed structure requires planning approval — but when it does, we manage the entire process for you.

We’ve worked with planning departments across the Midlands, including in Leicester, Rugby, and Birmingham, so we know how to navigate their requirements efficiently.

When planning is usually required:

• Your property is listed or in a conservation area
  
• The building is over 3 metres high or close to a highway
  
• You’re in an area with Article 4 restrictions
  

How Oaksmiths helps:

• Producing detailed drawings for submission
  
• Liaising directly with your local authority
  
• Advising you on permitted development rights where applicable
  

Learn more: Oaksmiths FAQs – Do I need planning permission? →

Step 4 – Traditional Craftsmanship in the Workshop

Once your design is approved, we begin the hands-on phase. This is where Oaksmiths’ generational skill and love of the craft take over.

PEFC-Certified Green Oak

We use only sustainably sourced, PEFC-certified green oak, renowned for its strength, natural character, and durability.

Hand-Cut Joinery

We don’t use mass-production machinery. Every beam is:

• Cut and shaped by hand
  
• Fitted with traditional mortise and tenon joints
  
• Assembled in our workshop for quality assurance
  

The result is an oak frame that is not only structurally sound but visually striking and full of charm.

Step 5 – Seamless Delivery & Installation

With the oak frame pre-assembled and trial-fitted in our workshop, installation on-site is fast and smooth.

What You Can Expect:

• Timely delivery with minimal disruption
  
• Experienced fitters handling the install with care
  
• Most projects completed within 3 months, from initial design to finish
  

Whether we’re installing a porch in Market Harborough or a garage in Coventry, we aim to leave your home better than we found it — both structurally and visually.

Why Clients Across the Midlands Choose Oaksmiths

We’re not just oak specialists. We’re craftsmen who treat every project like a legacy piece.

What sets Oaksmiths apart:

• Bespoke design: No two builds are alike
  
• Family-run values: You speak to real people, not a sales team
  
• Sustainable quality: Using oak that lasts for generations
• Nationwide service: From Lutterworth to Nottingham to Warwickshire — we go where you need us, with a simple per-mile travel rate