John Rawlinson from oak Beams Uk explains the advantages of using reclaimed oak beams in your home

Reclaimed oak works perfectly for beams in period properties as it has a lot of character. It is darker in colour because the tannin in the wood reacts with the surrounding atmosphere, giving the beam a distinctive aged appearance. It features knots, splits and a sense of time passed with old notches from cut branches still showing, or with previous joinery cuts now forming part of its history. Reclaimed oak is also very hard and heavy as it has completely dried out, so while difficult to cut, the beam moves less and therefore is less likely to twist.

Reclaimed beams can be anything from 50 to 300 years’ old, which are the most stable type of oak beam available.

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When it comes to measurements, the odd centimetre often doesn’t matter and will be plastered in anyway, so if your builder gives you a list of sizes, establish in advance a range of acceptable dimensions. Beams can be cut to length, but cutting them lengthwise is much more difficult. It is better to work with what is being offered.

What to avoid

Beams should have been properly cleaned and treated to avoid an infestation in your home. Avoid beams that have come from eastern europe as these are prone to infestation, and are of lesser quality than western european beams.

Renovation tips

A power washer, stiff wire brush on a hand tool, draw knives and rotary polishers are used to achieve a variety of finishes — some of this equipment is expensive. Cleaning old beams is dirty work, and potentially toxic if the wrong paint has previously been applied. never use sandblasting as this can leave the wood pitted and hard to bring back to its natural texture.

What to pay

From £35/ft3 for green oak, to £45/ft3 for airdried and reclaimed. The finished cost, after bring cleaned, treated, denailed, custom shaped and waxed is £73.50/ft3.