FOR HOMEOWNERS, DESIGNERS, ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS
We Craft Exceptional Timber Structures Throughout Ireland
Heritage conservation, artistic timber framing, post and beam, vaulted ceilings, trusses, garden structures, eco-builds and architectural timberwork, crafted in Ireland.
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Spaces That Bring
People Together
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Sustainable Design,
Timeless Form
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Structures That Grow
in Value and in Meaning
Richard Mulligan, Dublin
The team are very talented woodworkers, honest, reliable and trustworthy. They offer great value for a standard of work which is very hard to find these days.”
Join our 4.7-Star Clients from private modern homes to heritage restoration estates.
Good timberwork begins long before anything is raised.
From modern timber frames to heritage conservation work, we build structures that respect proportion, material and setting, working collaboratively with artists, designers, architects, schools, international training programmes, forestry experts and specialist engineers where each project calls for it.
Our work includes post and beam, timber framing, vaulted ceilings, bespoke trusses, fully weathertight Passive House shell structures, heritage conservation, restoration, listed buildings, garden pavilions and sculptural timber pieces.
Some projects call for clean modern lines. Others call for patience, restraint and respect for centuries of existing fabric. In every case, the aim is the same: to bring the right people, the right timber and the right craft together around the work.
We understand the discipline behind good timberwork. Material choice. Load paths. Joinery. Grain direction. Weathering. Movement. Collaboration. The quiet details that decide whether a structure merely stands, or stands well.
Every beam is chosen with care. Every joint is cut with purpose. Every frame and structure is built to carry weight, meaning and time.
Designed, cut and fitted by the same hands, with the support of trusted specialists where the project demands it. Made in Ireland. Rooted in Wicklow. Serving the entire island of Ireland and beyond with pride.
The Difference Is in the Work Before the Work
The best timber structures are never improvised in the workshop or on site. They are discussed, adjusted, drawn properly, ordered correctly, cut carefully and fitted with patience.
A timber structure becomes part of a home, a garden, or a historic building for decades, often centuries. It should be made with proportion, care, respect for the material and the right hands behind it.
From the first conversation to the final lift, we keep the process clear and the craftsmanship honest. We bring the same care to a small porch as we do to a castle roof. The scale may change, but the standard does not.
* This observations are gathered from public industry reviews across Ireland.
A PROPER PLAN
We take time to understand the space, scope, structure, client needs and purpose before anything is priced or made.
A WORKSHOP STANDARD
We work to realise the vision properly. Joints are cut, checked and prepared with care so installation is smoother and the finished work feels right.
A STRUCTURE WITH INTEGRITY
Every beam, truss and frame is built to carry weight, weather well and sit naturally in its setting. Whether modern or historic, every structure must belong to its place.
How We Work Differently
Timberwork leaves very little room for guesswork. A joint either sits right or it does not. A frame either belongs in its setting or it does not. That is why we invest in talented craftspeople and work carefully at the beginning, so the build feels right at the end.
A CLEAR SCOPE
We explore the brief to find the best balance of design, structure, efficiency and budget for your project. Preliminary costings are offered for consideration before the work moves forward.
CUT, FITTED AND PREPARED
Every frame is prepared with the care needed for a smooth lift and a long life.
Prefabricated Post & beam Systems & Trusses
Precision-made off-site for faster, cleaner installation on-site. Built to last generations, not just pass inspection.
For homeowners, architects, engineers and builders, we bring the same steady standard. Good timber choices, proper preparation, and craft we can all stand over.
Meet Vault & Beam
A team of carpenters, designers, timber framers and makers with a deep respect for timber, structure and proper craft.
“I’m James Grace, founder and managing director of Vault and Beam. Timber has been at the centre of my working life for decades. Through Grace Design, and now through Vault and Beam, I’ve worked on everything from heritage restorations and castle roofs to vaulted ceilings, trusses, post and beam structures and bespoke architectural pieces.
This company is built around the kind of work I believe in. Work that is measured properly, cut carefully and fitted with care, craft and passion.
Most importantly, Vault and Beam is built around people. An experienced, skilled team with shared values, pride in the work, and genuine care for what we deliver.
We are not trying to be the biggest or the fastest. We are here to do honest, proper timberwork, with the right hands behind it, for clients who care about quality.”
— Founder and Director
Good Timberwork Is Won in the Details
Marked by Hand
Accuracy begins at the bench. The marking, measuring and setting out decide how cleanly a joint will sit and how well a frame will come together.
A Lasting Frame
Our frames, roofs and trusses are built to do more than stand. They carry weight, shape space and grow more beautiful as the timber settles and ages.
A Steady Hand
Good craft has a calmness to it. Drawn, cut, checked and fitted with care, so what arrives on site feels organised, solid and ready to last.
Trusted for the Work and the Way We Work
Words from homeowners, architects and clients who have trusted us with homes, gardens, drawings and historic buildings.
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Join our 4.7-Star Clients, from private modern homes to heritage restoration estates.
How it works
From first chat to final lift, the process is simple. Understand the project, respect the timber, and prepare the work properly.
Start with a Conversation
Tell us what you have in mind. A porch, pavilion, vaulted roof, truss, frame, workshop, heritage repair or full timber structure. We listen, ask the practical questions and shape a clear brief before moving forward.
Drawn, Cut and Prepared
Once the details are agreed, the work moves to the bench. Timber is marked, shaped, checked and prepared in the workshop so every joint has a reason and every piece has its place.
Raised and Built to Last
Installation is calm and organised. Because the work has been properly prepared, the structure comes together cleanly, sits true and stands with quiet confidence.
Questions We’re Often Asked
1. Will I know the real price before the work begins?
Yes. We price properly from the start.
Once the scope and drawings are agreed and aligned, that is the number. If the brief or scope changes, we price the change clearly in writing before moving ahead.
No drifting costs. No quiet surprises.
2. How long does it take from first conversation to final lift?
It depends on the scale, scope and complexity of the work, but the process is clear.
First conversation. Drawings and sign off. Workshop preparation. Then installation on site.
A smaller structure can move quickly. Larger roofs, heritage work and full HOMLI shells need more time and coordination. We give you a realistic programme, not a hopeful one, and we stand over it.
3. Can you work from our architect’s or engineer’s drawings?
Yes. In most cases, proper drawings are essential, and we respect the design intent fully.
For smaller, simpler projects, we can help shape the brief and provide a basic concept drawing for clarity. If you do not have an architect, engineer or designer yet, we can introduce the right professional or work with whoever is already involved.
If any adjustment is needed for structure, fabrication or installation, we raise it early and coordinate properly before timber is ordered or cut.
Nothing changes in the workshop, programme or on site without agreement. The drawings matter, and so does every detail.
4. Do you prepare drawings and details before cutting timber?
Yes. Before timber or materials are bought or cut, we review the drawings and confirm they are clear enough to work from.
If more detail is needed, we can prepare workshop drawings before procurement or fabrication begins. Every important joint, junction and connection is checked and agreed with you, your architect or designer, and your structural engineer where required.
It keeps the project tight, protects the design and avoids guesswork on site
5. What timber do you use, and where does it come from?
We work with a wide range of national, heritage and locally suitable timbers, including Irish Oak, Douglas Fir, Larch, Pine and Sweet Chestnut, along with others depending on the scope and needs.
Where the project calls for it, we also work with engineered and mass timber materials such as GLT and CLT. For longer spans or specialist requirements, we can source high grade solid or engineered timber from trusted suppliers abroad when suitable material is not available in Ireland.
That flexibility is part of the value of working with us. We can advise on what best suits your budget, scope, structure and finish.
All structural timber is strength graded and responsibly sourced. We build for longevity first. Sustainability follows naturally when something is designed, detailed and made to last for generations.
Have something in mind? Let’s talk it through properly.
We’ll start with a free design and scope call. No pressure, just a proper conversation about what you want to build.