Expertly Crafted Bespoke Solid Oak Lean-Tos

At Oak Timber Structures, our skilled artisan's produce every oak framed lean-to from scratch. To boot, we only use the highest grade European solid oak available (QPA and QP1).

A lean-to is a simple yet effective design. By leaning against an existing building, lean-to's create extra space you can use for many purposes. Lean-tos can rest against buildings such as houses, garages or other outbuildings.

When opting for rear posts, they'll support themselves. Without, a lean-to needs fixing to an existing wall. If there are no mono trusses, the headplate is the part to attach, similar to the rear of a canopy style porch.

Our lean-to verandas offer a similar aesthetic to pergolas. But there’s one fundamental distinction, the gradient of the roofing crossmembers/rafters. This allows for installation of roofing which offer additional protection from the elements, and with battens and shingles attached, rainwater can run off the structure.

Such shaded areas offer an exquisite spot for outside dining. We've even known clients use their lean-to for a stylish carport.

What's more, we can also supply oak feather edge cladding to enclose the lean-to further. While common to leave them open-sided, there are choices to create a lean-to bespoke to your every need.

We make lean-to’s in any size or shape. There is no design out of bounds. For designs outside the capabilities of the 3D designer, get in touch and we'll make your visions become a reality.

Receive our detailed PDF

We've put together a booklet of detailed answers to our most commonly asked questions. A perfect in-depth read about buying your oak structure from us.

Click here for our booklet

How Your Oak Lean-To Will Arrive

Your Lean-to / Veranda will arrive in kit form packaged like the following:

Once our expert craftsman have created your bespoke solid oak lean-to / veranda, we'll deliver it on a pre-arranged date either on a flatbed/curtain side lorry, or, if you opt for assisted delivery, we’ll deliver and offload for you.

We deliver the lean-to / verandas flat-packed in kit form for you or your builder to put together.

The kit form lean-to is ready for assembly. All mortise and tenon joints are in place, with pre-drilled holes for the oak pegs that hold the frame together. The only extras you’ll need to source are the stainless steel screws to attach the rafters or stainless steel bolts to mount to your existing wall if you choose to exclude rear posts from your design.

At this point, we must mention never to use iron screws or nails. Oak has a high tannin content and reacts to the iron eventually eroding the nails, so make sure you use stainless steel screws.

Because all woodwork is complete, it's common to hire a general builder to assemble it.

Solid oak is heavy timber, so builders may suggest hiring a Genie Lift aswell.

Oak Lean-Tos in All Shapes and Sizes

Load more Oak Timber Structures Lean-To Photographs...

How To Use The 3D Oak Veranda Designer

Lean-to Size

Adjusting the size allows for a lean-to to correspond with existing buildings. Here's how to alter the size of our solid oak lean to's.

Bays

The standard bay size is 3x3m, yet by using the custom button, bay dimensions are adjustable to suit. When using the customisation feature, you can specify both the length and width of the bay.

The width stipulates how far the lean-to measures away from the conjoining building and must measure between 2 and 4m.

Length is the overall lean-to measurement. This is how long the lean-to runs parallel to the existing building.

The length of a one-bay lean-to must be between 2 and 4m. Restrictions in bay measurements protect the structural integrity.

By increasing the length, the 3D designer adds the suggested amount of bays.

You can still specify the number of bays as long as it falls within a certain range. The amount of bays available depends on the overall lean-to size. Once an amount outside the range is selected, the 3D designer will highlight the minimum and maximum bays available.

Size

The size controls adjust the front clearance and the rear height of the lean-to.

Altering the rear height enables the structure to lean against a specific part of the building. So you can make height adjustments to avoid windows, for example.

With the rear height set, the front clearance determines not only the front clearance height but the angle of the roof. Increasing the front clearance results in a shallower decline. Whereas lowering causes a steeper gradient.

Post Settings | Mono Trusses

Rear Posts

This feature adds or removes rear posts from the design. Including rear posts means the lean-to will be freestanding, so there are few limitations on placement. Without rear posts, the lean-to can be fixed to the wall of a current building. Remember, oak is heavy and it's important to ensure the building you are mounting to can support the additional weight - consult your builder or structural engineer for guidance.

Thickness

The 'Thickness' feature allows for three sizes: 150mm, 175mm and 200mm. These measurements relate to the thickness of upright beams and headplates.

The thickness of the post is a matter of personal taste. Often customers choose thickness depending on the size of the lean-to. Larger lean-tos appear more proportionate with thicker posts. Similarly, thinner thicknesses are appropriate for smaller lean-tos.

Footings

For footings, there's the choice of 'Normal Posts', 'Staddle Stones' and 'Into Ground'. The selection depends on what components, if any, feature where upright beams meet the floor.

Select 'Normal Posts' for no footings. Oak beams will last upto 25 years untreated on average. However, while it's not a necessity, lifting oak beams above standing water can improve their lifespan.

If you want to pick your own structure footings, select 'Normal Posts'. For example, there are metal shoes that tighten around the base of beams, adding protection from the environment and stability to the lean-to. Likewise, the simpson strong tie concealed post base is a popular choice to prevent direct contact with the foundations whilst having minimal aesthetic impact.

Another option selectable through the 3D designer is ‘Staddle Stones’. Staddle stones are pleasing to the eye, are easy to install and help increase the lifespan of a lean-to.

These non-porous stone blocks measure 9" tall and fit all post thicknesses. Tapered to protect against rainfall, they guard oak beams from damage caused by the environment.

Our staddle stones have a steel protrusion on the top. By drilling a hole into the oak posts, the lean-to rests on top adding to both the durability and aesthetics. The addition of the steel rod to the staddle stone is designed not to hold the structure to the staddle stone but to prevent the posts from kicking out.

Another choice is 'Into Ground'. This option adds length to oak posts. Select this for placing the oak beams into the ground or planting them into concrete footings. Please note going into ground will require a solid concrete block beneath the posts. It's worth considering that, exposure to the soil will reduce the lifespan of the oak significantly.

Mono Truss

The 'Mono Truss' feature adds horizontal trusses on top of each upright beam. Extra trusses add the structural integrity of the lean-to while adding another aesthetic to the mix.

Rafters & Plates

The 3D designer sets the recommended number of rafters based on your custom sizing. Rafters are the sloped oak beams on top of the lean-to. Increase or decrease the number of rafters using the + and - buttons.

Profile

The profile is the shape at the end of the rafters. Choices are square, chamfered, round or ornate.

Square profiles are the most common with ends cut straight and square.
Chamfered profiles feature a 45-degree angle cut on the the bottom side of each end.
Rounded profiles have a soothing curve on the bottom part of the lean-to ends.
Ornate profiles are the most ornamental profile with stylings comparable to decorative elements of Eastern architecture.

Which profile is down to preference. Whatever selection, our skilled team mould and shape the profiles with attention to detail complete with a smooth finish.

Overhang

Overhang relates to how far the wallplates and headplates extend from the end posts. This can be 0m or up to 1m on each side. Overhang adds to the decorative appeal while increasing the space for extra rafters.

Boarding | Battens | Roofing

Because the top of a lean-to has a decline, it's possible to add roofing to the frame.

Unlike a pergola which has a flat roof, you do have the option with these structures to have a roof on your frame.

Boarding

When opting for roofing, battens and the underside of shingles are visible from below. Boarding sits above the rafters but below the battens, offering a uniform look so battens and shingles are no longer visible.

We supply either larch, cedar or oak boarding. Whatever the timber, boarding has tongue and groove joints for smooth looks and easy connection.

Battens

Battens run at a right angle to the rafters and present a fixing point for shingles or your roof tiles. We'll calculate the number of battens needed depending on the size of the lean-to.

There are two choices here, either softwood or oak battens. If the lean-to has boarding, we suggest softwood as they won't be visible. Without boarding, the battens are visible so oak battens offer a premium aesthetic.

Roofing

We provide both treated and untreated cedar shingles. Our untreated cedar shingles have an approx 20-year lifespan. Treated cedar shingles provide an extra 5-years, so will last about 25 years.

Treated shingles have a deeper colour from the outset. However, exposure to the sun’s UV rays causes both treated and untreated shingles to develop a silver hue over time.

If you'd prefer to supply your own tiles, select 'No Shingles'.

Why Buy Your Leanto / Veranda From Oak Timber Structures Ltd

Here at Oak Timber Structures, our team has accumulated over 100 years of experience in the timber industry. Such knowledge is indispensable for creating a bespoke oak lean-to/veranda. Furthermore, we use our years of experience to help customers accomplish any oak lean-to. We are here at every step.

• High Quality oak products
• High Quality customer service

We are proud of the quality of our oak structures. From the grade of the European oak to the intricate detail in craftsmanship. We strive for the best in both product quality and customer relations.

The strongest and most elegant oak structures start with the best timber. But that's just the beginning. Working with timber, especially oak, requires skills and expertise. Bespoke to order we craft each oak lean-to to the highest standards.

Our passion for oak is at the heart of our inspiration. As Steve Jobs once said, "...the only way to produce great work is to love what you do".

Our innovative lean-to / Veranda 3D designer and pricing matrix offers a tailored buying experience designing a bespoke oak lean-to. Watch your new timber veranda/lean-to design take shape as you alter dimensions and specs.

Kiss goodbye to random quotes. With instant and transparent pricing, you can watch the cost change as you alter the design. It's yet another way we strive to innovate and establish a tailored buying experience for our clients.

Our 3D Oak Lean to / Veranda Designer

We're proud of the world's first web-based 3D oak lean-to designer. There's no software download or high-tech computers needed.

Embedded into our website, all that’s needed are an internet connection and web browser. So, on a smartphone, laptop, or any other device, you can design an oak leanto in the comfort of your own home.

The innovative 3D oak leanto designer makes designing easy. By specifying all aspects, your oak lean-to takes shape in real-time. As the oak leanto evolves to specific needs, the pricing updates.

Why not create a bespoke oak leanto with our online designer located at the top of this page?

Go to the lean-to designer.

How To Order Your Oak Framed Lean-to

All major cards
securely accepted

Ordering from Oak Timber Structures is straightforward. Nevertheless, our team is on hand to help throughout the process. Here are the simple steps to order a bespoke oak leanto:

1. First, create the oak leanto using the designer or send drawings to contact@oaktimberstructures.co.uk.
2. For online orders, click ‘Add to Basket’.
3. Navigate to your shopping basket where you can checkout securely online. We accept all major credit cards excluding American Express (as image). If you run into any checkout issues, please contact us using the online chat or call us and we’ll talk you through the process. Alternatively, you can order over the phone.
4. We then produce technical drawings for you to sign off and gain approval from a structural engineer if needed. CAD drawings take between 2 - 5 working days to produce.
5. If you are unhappy with an aspect of the drawings, we encourage you to call and seek advice from our helpful and friendly staff. They’ll revise the drawings accordingly and send them back to you for re-approval.
6. Once signed off, we add your structure to the production queue and create it according to the stated lead times. During this time, many people use the approved drawings to get their groundwork in place if required.
7. Our skilled team assembles the oak leanto to make sure there are no issues. This also allows us to code all components for seamless assembly. We then dismantle the leanto and organise it into transportable kit form.
8. If you're running behind schedule, we're happy to store your structure for up to 2 to 3 weeks at no extra charge. Please note that we limit storage to this time. As green oak dries, it shrinks. Shrinkage is normal. In fact, our skilled staff prepares your structure for shrinkage to fuse joints, making them tighter and more robust. Yet, after 2 to 3 weeks, joints can become misaligned and harder to assemble, so it's important to limit storage time.
9. We schedule delivery by liaising with you once your bespoke oak leanto is complete.