The Original Architectural Antiques Co.Ltd Company Profile
The Original Architectural Antiques Company has been operating in the Cotswolds for 25 years. Today a major part of the business is supplying the finest quality, steady state, air-dried oak and reclaimed oak through its oakbeamuk.com website. All beams can be cut as required and a full finishing service is available. The company also offers antique oak doors, oak flooring and exceptional antique limestone troughs and planters.
Products
Reclaimed oak beams
The company holds many hundreds of steady state oak beams that have been salvaged from houses, barns, and in some cases castles in both Britain and France. Some of the stock is over 200 years old. These beams have three advantages; they are dry and stable and therefore less prone to any movement; the tone of the oak has matured to a rich, highly desirable colour and they have real character with knots, twists and evidence of their previous lives. The vast stock includes Reclaimed oak beams, oak joists, oak purloins and kingspan beams in lengths from 1.8m (6ft) to well in excess of 5m (16ft).
Air dried oak beams
A constant stock of relatively new oak beams that are machine sawn and then slowly ‘dried’ in the open air to become stable. Most air-dried beams are between three and 10 years old, but there is limited stock of 25-year-old beams. Air-dried beams are straight, so can be easily cut to suit precise dimensions and be profiled to clad RSJ’s. In lengths from 1.8m (6ft) to well in excess of 5m (16ft).
Green oak
Green oak is cut from newly felled trees and is generally about one year old or less. Green oak is suitable for new construction and is consistent in colour, dimension and grain. It is younger and therefore less expensive than air-dried oak, but its moisture content is usually about 30 percent and therefore it is prone to movement. Oakbeamuk.com will only work to specific cutting lists to minimise waste. Green oak is a traceable product.
Fireplace beams
Fireplace beams have been hand-picked in almost all cross-sections, in lengths of between 0.3m (1ft) and 2.14m (7ft). This range of beams comes in both reclaimed and air-dried oak so there is a choice of both traditional and contemporary looks.
Profiled oak beams
Profiled oak beams, hollowed out in order to camouflage RSJs, are generally to order only, although a limited stock is held of both reclaimed and air-dried beams which are already profiled. The beam must be at least 7cm (2.5in) wider and deeper than the RSJ so that it retains its strength once hollow.
Finishing service
Oakbeamuk.com provides a finishing service that includes power-wash cleaning, de-nailing and a variety of clear and tinted wax polishes. Customers can request a light, rubbed oil finish or traditional whitened and blackened looks. Newer air-dried beams can be aged by softening their edges or even by chamfering the length of the beam. Scalloping, or the creation of random dips on edges can be specified. There are a variety of optional finishing services available to turn raw beams into prepared beams ready for installation.
Costs are fully detailed on the website and an online beam cost estimator allows customers to input their chosen sizes and finishes.
Oakbeamuk.com operates a national delivery service. Local deliveries weighing less than two tonnes are free within a 15-mile radius of Cirencester. Indicative costs of other deliveries are available on the website but staff will happily supply a firm quote via telephone or email.
Other products
The Original Architectural Antiques Company also sells reclaimed products including oak flooring; antique doors in oak and elm; and limestone antique troughs. Flooring stocks can include chateaux style and rustic. A wide range of doors is available, some of them medieval. The troughs include rare examples, the company specialises in very large, unusual shapes and hand carved circular pieces. These are sourced from the Cotswolds or from selected areas of France. Delivery of troughs is free within 15 miles of Cirencester or all over the world by individual quotation.
To find out more about the full range of beams and reclaimed products, contact The Original Architectural Antiques Company using the buttons above.