Kookaburra Carpentry

12/09/2026

Another return visit to this Douglas fir gazebo we completed earlier this year.
Some interesting shapes, hipped slate roof, funky braces and bespoke benches and coffee table all made by us to the customers specifications. Beautifully decorated and looking lush with the greenery. My client is super happy with it and says it is used daily as a perfectly fitting addition to their garden.

10/09/2026

Nice to head back to a job from last year and see how it's ageing. All looking rather lovely with the lush garden around it.
Oak framed garden room with covered outdoor seating area. Larch cladding, metal roof, Doug fir internal framing.

22/08/2026

03/06/2026

A little flat roof porch over the grand entrance way into this barn conversion in Croyde. Simple oak frame structure with braces and oak ceiling joists on granite staddle stones.
Fixed back into the concrete in the ICF construction the roof above has a hidden gutter next to the building and has been finished with a zinc caping over the oak fascias and a thermowood Ayous Louvre screen to one side that matches the extensive timber cladding.

03/04/2026

Two lovely Douglas fir timber frames all finished in this garden ready for summer.

It's a real pleasure to build such lovely structures for nice people. We quite often end up discussing how we'd like one ourselves!

It's also so nice to have clients that appreciate the work and craft that goes into making bespoke buildings, listening to their ideas and needs and styles and then creating something from a pile of wood that they love and exceeds their expectations.

Looking forward to popping back to this one for a b**r and a BBQ in the summer!

30/03/2026

Two bay oak frame garage collected, delivered installed.

Fair bit more work to do on this one but nice to have the frame up and together with no framing issues.

😎

20/03/2026

Two frames and a bench.

I rather lovely job in some much needed spring sunshine.

Two Douglas fir timber frames with custom shaped braces and a cedar bench seat to fit.

A complete garden makeover has taken place with my client having a clear vision for a timber framed gazebo in this awkward corner.

Budget and style and some tricky angles meant we decided to compromise on traditional framing techniques and get some big stainless bolts in there to hold it all together. I'd always prefer a mortice and tenon joint but having morticed some funky angled braces before it was quite a relief to put this together with fixings.

We still used some simple but effective lap joints and housings to connect the beams and hand cut the "one and two halfs hipped roof" 😐

Sandstone staddle stones and finished in natural slate and my first attempt at a lead roll ridge on the hip. Reckon it turned out pretty sweet.

The second frame was a less complex lean to roof to house a BBQ, pizza oven and out door kitchen prep space. Matching slate roof and curly braces.

And then finally (but actually not quite finally) a custom made bench to fit the internal corner of the space. I ended up making this out of doug fir and slatted it in cedar.

Super happy with the end result as is the client. Couldn't ask for better weather this time of year.
Awesome work as always by my man Oli and all the timber was from Will . 🙌🏻

Got a week of workshop next and then back to a new site for a big one. 🤙🏻

✌🏻

30/01/2026

Remember when Instagram was just posting pictures of what you'd been up to that week?

No algorithm games, trending themes, viral audio and catchy hooks, rehashing the same s**t all the other influences are doing while continuously selling the latest s**t a brand has told you to sell. Mmm, good times.
Well this was the week before last because this week I've been ill and maybe a bit grumpy. ✌🏻

16/01/2026

When there is no real work on while I wait for oak delivery and I hate painting so much I'll find anything else to do than paint my house...find a nice piece of UK grown air dried oak leftover from another job and make some cool s**t for my house.

02/12/2025

Packing up the essential framing hand tools for a couple days of oak framing out the workshop.

No need for lots of fancy stuff. Here's what went in the box:

Robert Sorby 1 1/2" and 2" framing chisels
Thor no. 3 raw hide mallet
Home made plumb bob
Record no.010 rebate plane
3/4" and 1" augers and offset prickers
Shinwa ink line
Belt pouch with tape, pencil, ruler, knife, combi square
Digital bevel and wooden bevel
Ear defenders
Framing pins
Framing square (my Japanese one as it fits in the box)

Morticer, circular saw, drill and a few other general bits already in the van and we are good to go.