FAQ
Venables Oak FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Venables have been supplying the finest European hardwoods for over 150 years.
Venables Oak is a trading name of Venables Brothers Limited and is a brand name rooted in one family's 150 year association with the supply of this wonderful timber.
Venables pioneered online sales of European Oak in cut to size, planed all round and live stock of hardwood packs. For many years we have improved our online services making the ordering of your oak requirements as easy as possible.
1) How do I order my Oak?
Please take time in ordering your Oak and ensure the dimensions you enter are correct. The thickness and width should be entered in millimeters (mm) and the length in meters (m).
Add them to your basket.
Proceed to checkout. Here you will be asked for an invoice address and a delivery address. We can deliver to a site address if it makes things easier for you. Timed deliveries are not possible.
You will then be transferred to Sagepay which is the safest online payment processor. Once you have entered your details and placed the order then your job is done! Leave the rest to us. If you ever need an update on your order you can email or call us and simply state your sales order number and one of our staff will advise you accordingly.
2) Is there a minimum order?
Yes, we have a minimum order of £750. There are times that this can be wavered however so its always worth contacting our sales team with your enquiry.
3) What grade of Oak should I use?
We would always recommend Prime Grade Kiln Dried Oak for joinery usages such as doors and windows. For internal joinery it depends on what type of look you are trying to achieve. If you prefer a clear look then Prime grade would be your best option or if you're trying to achieve a natural look with knots in, the Character grade Oak would be your best choose.
If you are building an external oak frame then you would normally use fresh sawn structural grade. Fresh sawn oak due to the high moisture content may warp more than the air dried grade. However if the frame will have glass panels in or shrinkage is an issue we recommend air dried structural grade oak. Fresh sawn structural grade oak is liable to shrinkage and some cracking as it dries out. Air dried structural grade oak will have some cracks and knots in and will still be liable to some shrinkage but far less than fresh sawn oak.
4) Delivery of your order.
We will deliver to your address or a site address, which ever you prefer. We have our own vehicles but also use outside haulage companies on a daily basis. We will call you to arrange a delivery date and also what size of vehicle suits your access requirements. Your package will be securely banded and wrapped accordingly to avoid any damage in transit. In the unlikely event that you receive a piece that is damaged then please call us straight away so we can rectify this. Timed deliveries are not available. Please note it is the customers responsibility to ensure here are off loading means on site. Our trucks do not contain high abs. Please speak to one of our team for more information.
5) Environmental Credentials
Venables are PEFC Certified. With two-thirds of the world's certified forest managed in compliance with PEFC's Sustainability Benchmark, PEFC offers the widest supply of certified timber globally. We source only from properly managed forests. Nowadays most of the oak used in Britain comes from Europe, mainly from France. This is because, whilst Britain has tended to view the oak tree as a random part of its woodland landscape, countries like France have continued to farm oak as a commercial crop and to manage its planting, its growth and its harvesting for timber, accordingly. This means that the whole operation is sustainable and ecologically sound and ensures that we shall be able to enjoy oak as a wonderful raw material for many years to come. Good husbandry is paramount.
6) Why purchase from Venables Oak?
We feel it is extremely important that the products you receive are to specification. That is why purchasing your oak from oak specialists is a very important factor when choosing your oak supplier. For many years Venables Brothers Limited has bought oak and other hardwoods on the continent of Europe and there is probably no-one in the UK with the same knowledge of continental sawmills.
7) Caring for your Oak.
Solid European/English Oak is one of the most beautiful materials that you can use in your home. With proper care its beauty can be enhanced and preserved and passed on to future generations an investment and an exciting feature of the house.
The oak in your house may be in a variety of grades and finishes. Oak in the structure of the house such as beams and posts and roof trusses will normally have been supplied in the 'green' untreated state and assembled in such a way as to accommodate subsequent drying. This timber will weather/season and darken with time and needs no further surface treatment indeed varnish type treatments will break down quite rapidly with dire results for the wood's appearance.
Oak in joinery and finishing's such as doors, paneling, skirting's, staircases etc and in furniture will have a planed finish and have been seasoned, usually by kiln drying. In these situations we recommend a waxing of the finish every few months especially in the first few years.
Wax helps bring out the grain and helps avoid cracking and crazing. It should be applied with a clean cloth in the same direction as the grain and the surplus removed by buffing, again, with the grain. A small spill wiped up immediately is not likely to cause significant damage but a spill left for longer might well leave an unsightly mark. If a more hardwearing surface is required you could consider a lacquer finish although this would have a shinier and less natural appearance.
One of the most difficult problems in caring for oak is a scratch or a dent. There is a possible remedy but it is not for the faint hearted! Proceed with caution or serious damage could result. Start by allowing a few droplets of water to soak completely into the dent or scratch. When the wood is damp, cover the area with a clean cloth and gently iron the area with a warm iron. The combination of the heat and the moisture can help to lift the grain and repair the dent.
