Floorboards Restoration
Original pine floorboards in Barnet repaired, sanded and finished to bring out their character.
Original floorboards are one of the best features of a period home. Victorian and Edwardian pine boards have a warmth and grain that new flooring rarely matches, and they respond beautifully to careful sanding.
Floorboard restoration is a specialist area within our floor sanding services. We combine repairs, dust-free sanding and finishes that suit period properties. For more background, read our guide to restoring Victorian floorboards.
Making the boards sound
Over a century of use, boards get cut for pipes and cables, split or loosened. Our floorboard repairs service replaces damaged boards with reclaimed timber of the same age. Creaking boards are secured to the joists.
Our process
Old gripper rods, staples and tacks removed; nails punched down
Loose boards fixed and damaged boards replaced
Several sanding passes with full extraction
Optional gap filling to reduce draughts
Two or three coats of oil, lacquer or stain
Dealing with gaps
Many period floors have gaps between boards that let in draughts. We can close them with gap filling using pine slivers or resin. Please note that floors move with the seasons, so gap filling sits outside our guarantee.
The case for original boards
Original boards are part of the history of your home, and reclaimed pine of the same age is hard to match with new timber. Restoration is also usually much cheaper than replacing the floor, and far less disruptive. Slow-grown period pine is often harder wearing than new boards. Original floors are a popular feature with buyers.
Our team works in period homes all over Barnet, from terraces to large townhouses. A typical room takes one to two days and you can stay at home throughout.
Choosing a finish
A natural hardwax oil keeps the honey tones of old pine, while a matt lacquer gives extra protection. Your sanding and finishing is covered by our 3-month service guarantee. Browse our projects for examples of restored boards.
Guide prices
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Floor sanding & oiling
Dust-free sanding back to fresh timber, finished with two coats of hardwax oil.
from £22 per m²
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Floor sanding & lacquer
Full sand and three coats of hard-wearing water-based lacquer.
from £24 per m²
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Parquet sanding & finishing
Multi-direction sanding for block and herringbone floors, with your choice of finish.
from £28 per m²
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Gap filling
Resin filler or reclaimed pine slivers between floorboards.
from £6 per m²
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Floor staining
Colour samples on your floor and an even stain before finishing.
from £5 per m²
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Stairs stripping & restoration
Paint and varnish removal, repairs and finishing of treads and risers.
from £45 per step
Guide prices — we confirm a fixed price after a free survey.
Questions about floorboards restoration
Will filled gaps stay closed?
Gap filling is excluded from our service guarantee. Wooden floors expand and shrink with the seasons and with movement in the building, which can open small cracks in the filler. We use the most suitable method for your floor to keep this to a minimum.
Why do you test stain colours on my floor?
Oak, pine and other woods all react to stain in their own way. A colour that looks warm on a card can turn out much darker on pine, so testing on the sanded floor is the only reliable way to choose.
Resin or slivers — which is better for gaps?
Smaller gaps are filled with resin mixed with fine sanding dust, so the colour matches. Wider gaps get thin pine slivers glued in and sanded flush. Our gap filling guide compares the two.
Do you offer floor staining?
We do. After sanding we apply test patches on your timber so you can see how each shade looks in the room before we commit. Find out more about our staining service.
Will filling gaps stop draughts?
Yes, noticeably. Gaps between floorboards let draughts rise from under the floor. Filling them makes rooms feel warmer and stops dirt collecting between boards.
Can old pine floorboards be restored?
Usually, yes. Period pine boards sand up beautifully. We punch down nails, replace split boards and sand back to fresh timber. Read our guide to Victorian floorboards for the full process.
What our customers say
Quick, clean and professional
“We had the hallway and living room sanded and lacquered over two days. They protected the skirting and doors, and they hoovered up before leaving each evening.”
High Barnet
No more draughts
“Our front room was always cold because of the gaps in the boards. They filled them with pine slivers blend in perfectly and we have felt the difference already. They were upfront that filled gaps can move with the seasons, which I appreciated.”
New Barnet
Lacquered floor looking fresh
“Our lacquered oak had lots of fine scratches from the dog. A light abrade and new coat of lacquer has made it smooth and shiny again. Useful advice on felt pads and mats as well.”
East Barnet