Berend flat roof veranda review: Douglas fir or oak

Our verdict point by point

Point	Our verdict
Durability	Oak is durability class 2, Douglas fir class 3 to 4. Both suit heavy beams above ground, not ground contact.
Appearance	Heavy posts, gently curved braces and a flat roof with an overhang of about 30 cm. Oak looks richer, Douglas fir is lighter in colour.
Assembly	Numbered kit with a construction drawing and 3D animation. The frame is joined with timber pegs, no screws.
Maintenance	Timber under a roof lasts longer than timber that keeps getting wet. Always store unassembled timber covered.
Price	Douglas fir £3,691.90 (15 x 15) or £4,430.28 (18 x 18). Oak £6,718.90 or £7,974.32. Price for the 3.30 x 6.00 m frame.
Lead time	About 8 weeks after your order.

See the Berend flat roof veranda

What convinces us

• Traditional joints. Mortise and tenon and half lap, secured with timber pegs. Not a single screw goes into the frame.
• Heavy sections. Posts of 15 x 15 or 18 x 18 cm and roof beams of 7 x 18 cm. It looks and feels solid.
• Clean roof edge with overhang. The flat roof projects about 30 cm at the front, giving a calm, modern line.
• Drawing first. After you order, you get a digital construction drawing and a 3D animation to check. Only then does it go into production.
• Always made to measure. 3.30 x 6.00 m is a starting point. Any size is possible.
• Easy to extend. Roof boards, walls, sliding glass doors or steel doors can be added later.

The downsides

• Lead time. About 8 weeks, because everything is made for you.
• Price covers the frame. Roof boards, roofing and walls are priced separately in the calculator.
• Build it promptly. Put the frame up within 1 to 2 weeks of delivery if you can, and keep the timber covered, or it may distort as it dries.
• Douglas fir has limits. Class 3 to 4, and resin pockets occur. Do not set it in the ground.
• Oak needs care. Oak costs more, and its tannin stains blue black with iron. Use stainless fixings.

Questions about sizes or your garden? Call us on +49 2821 7483051.

Who it suits, and who it suits less

A good fit for

• Anyone after a roomy freestanding veranda or lean to with a flat roof.
• Fans of heavy beams and visible timber joints.
• Self builders, or their builder, who like a numbered kit and a clear drawing.

Less suitable for

• Anyone who needs the veranda within a few weeks.
• Buyers who want one all in price including roof and walls without working it out.
• Anyone planning to set the posts in the ground.

Comparison: overhang or dovetail

The flat roof Berend also comes as the Berend with dovetail. That gives you an overhang not only at the front but on both sides as well.

Version	Overhang (this review)	Dovetail
Douglas fir 15 x 15	£3,691.90	£4,922.53
Douglas fir 18 x 18	£4,430.28	£5,907.03
Oak 15 x 15	£6,718.90	£8,860.54
Oak 18 x 18	£7,974.32	£10,597.10
Overhang	Front, about 30 cm	Front and both sides

Prices on 28 October 2026. Douglas fir is cheaper and easier to work. Oak is slightly more durable, heavier and looks richer.

More on flat roofs in flat roof timber veranda made to measure. A smaller model is covered in our timber veranda kit review, and all models are on verandas.

Frequently asked questions

Douglas fir or oak for the Berend?

Oak is slightly more durable (class 2), heavier and looks richer. Douglas fir (class 3 to 4) is cheaper and easier to work. Both belong above ground.

What does the price include?

The price covers the frame: posts, beams, roof beams and braces, as a numbered kit with a construction drawing. Roof boards, roofing and walls are worked out in the calculator.

Flat roof veranda with or without an overhang?

The flat roof Berend has an overhang of about 30 cm at the front as standard. If you want an overhang on the sides too, choose the dovetail version.

Work out your veranda in the calculator

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