Oak By Design

We have the keys!

2011-04-12T14:05:00.003+01:00

Our new shop will be opening in Harrogate soon.

Triathlon training

2011-03-21T11:23:00.003Z

Training
The task
Swim 1500m
Cycle 42km
Run 10km

I decided to break each discipline down into manageable chunks.

The Swim

Ever since I was young, I enjoyed swimming at school and from an early age went on to achieve some awards for survival swimming. I remember getting the small cloth badges after completing a particular distance and getting my mum to sew them on my trunks.

Through work commitments and other hobbies, swimming seemed to be one of those activities you attempted on your annual holiday. Not really swimming, just dipping in and out of the pool to cool down.
The swim is 1,500m or 60 lengths of a normal size swimming pool. I found my local pool and after purchasing a new pair of goggles and locker key, I enthusiastically headed towards the changing area.
I decided on selecting the timetable where ‘lane swimming’ was in progress. This was divided into slow, medium and fast swimmers depending on their ability. I plunged for ‘medium’.

The first few lengths felt fine, adopting the breaststroke method, I quickly polished off 6 lengths. At this point my breathing and heartbeat were quickened and a small rest was needed. One tenth of the way there and I needed a rest!

It wasn’t a race. Well it was, but a long race that needed planning and preparation. I had to pace myself. After regaining normal breathing, I managed a further 16 lengths at a slower pace, before the arms felt heavy and the forward movement needed to define the word ‘swim’ was getting slower.

Upon getting out of the pool, it seemed that I had no control of the jelly legs the swim had given me. Not wanting to recreate the ‘dash’ to an awaiting bike, I got showered, changed and decided to plan my next meeting, with the chlorine filled pool, with a more constant and slower approach.

More to follow…

Raising Money for St Michaels Hospice

2011-03-14T15:44:00.002Z

If you would like to sponsor Richard, you can do so by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/Oakbydesign

Paddle, Peddle and Pound in London

2011-03-14T09:30:00.005Z

Richard Penny will be competing in this year’s London Triathlon on July 30th/31st.
The discipline will consist of a 1,500m swim in the Docks of the river Thames, a 42km bike ride and finishing with a 10km run. We will keep you updated with his training plans and experience in his first triathlon.
In the meantime, he will be dipping his toe in the water by attempting the Tadcaster Triathlon in May. Although a slightly shorter course, it will be a great introduction to the sport.
Richard is aiming to raise some sponsorship for the London Triathlon and will asking for everyone’s support to raise as much money for St Michaels Hospice in Harrogate.

Shhhhh ........ they're coming!

2011-03-11T10:28:00.002Z

We are expecting a delivery of Green Oak Sleepers at the end of March. At 2.6m long x 200 x 120 they are ideal for numerous outdoor applications, such as flower beds, garden paths & steps, garden structures and many more. We offer a free cutting service to length and can arrange delivery if required.

2011-03-02T13:45:00.003Z

As we constantly strive to offer the best range of colours and finishes possible, we are now launching 6 new colours for beams. From the lightest lime-washed tone through to a rich dark muscovado shade, we have a colour to compliment every setting.
Whether you are looking for a light contemporary feel or a rustic aged farmhouse look, we can create a feature beam that will fit your lifestyle perfectly.
With our new colour chart, making your decision is now even easier, with a colour to tone with any decor.

Driftwood

Natural

Antique

Traditional

Tudor

Jacobean

Shot Through The Heart!

2011-02-27T15:00:00.000Z

Every piece of oak that we use is completely individual, with its own characteristics and features that have been developing for as long as the tree was in the ground. Most of the oak that we use originates from France, the regions are varying.

One of our routine processes, is to scan every piece of oak with a metal detector prior to machining. Usually, this may detect the odd nail or even pieces of barbed wire, trapped within the timber. Once found, any foreign objects can be removed, wherever necessary, so that it is safe to start work on the timber.

Recently, whilst cutting a particularly large piece of oak, one of our skilled craftsmen detected what he thought to be a small nail buried deep inside the wood. This had not been picked up by the metal detector, as it was almost in the middle of the oak and therefore out of the range of the detector. The metal object was carefully extracted from the oak, revealing itself as a small bullet head. The fact that the bullet was so far into the centre of the wood, tells us that it had been there for a long time, probably over a hundred years.

Upon closer inspection of the bullet, we were able to identify it as a .303 bullet head, used by the English army during the 2nd World War. We will never know which battlefield this came from or exactly when it was fired. It's fascinating to think that this moment in history, trapped inside a French oak tree, has been discovered here in Yorkshire, as this old oak enters into the next stage of its life.

The PENNYS Dropped!

2011-02-27T14:59:00.000Z

Over the years our expertise now rests with timber, especially oak. Our customers now recognise us as suppliers of oak products, everything from floors, doors and beams.

We are rebranding ourselves as Oak By Design.

We have listened to our customers and all the feedback to make this decision in marketing ourselves as the 'Oak Experts'.

New Stocks of Air Dried Oak Arrive

2011-02-03T14:01:00.000Z

1st February and another load of Air Dried Oak is delivered.

Well seasoned oak in a number of sizes ready to use in the manufacturing of fireplace beams, porches and king post trusses.

Along side the beams we have managed to buy some kilned dried oak especially for the manufacturing of our oak canoes and oak shelves

Click here for examples.

http://www.oakbydesign.co.uk/products/oak%20miscellaneous/oak%20covers.html .

For more details of our oak beams, please do not hesitate to call us on 01937 580580.

FREE Tickets to Homebuilding & Renovation Show

2011-01-30T08:07:00.000Z

We now have a number of free tickets to the National Homebuilding and Renovation Show.

This event covers 4 days at the NEC Birmingham with everything the self builder may need.

We will be exhibiting so why not grab your free tickets by calling us on 01937 580580

More details are available at: http://national.homebuildingshow.co.uk/

A Walkthrough our Showroom

2011-01-15T13:35:00.001Z

A New Year, A New Venture

2011-01-15T11:41:00.000Z

At oakbydesign, we are awaiting the keys to our new shop to be opening in Harrogate!

Work should commence re-fitting the shop out with extensive displays of oak floors, doors and beams.

Working models of how things work and plenty of great ideas will be available. If you are wanting to create a new room with an 'oak' theme give us call on 01937 580580 or why now visit http://www.oakbydesign.co.uk/

Experience staff will be on hand to answer your questions.

Opening in early March, we will launching the new venture with a Grand Opening including the press!

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Thank you