Floorboards Restoration
Original pine floorboards in Esher repaired, sanded and finished to bring out their character.
Lifting an old carpet often reveals pine boards with real character. Old pine has a warmth and depth that modern flooring struggles to copy, and with the right care they can look superb again.
Restoring floorboards is one of the most popular parts of our floor sanding work. It usually combines repairs, sanding and a finish that suits the age of the house. Our guide to restoring Victorian floorboards covers the process in depth.
Repairs come first
Over a century of use, boards get cut for pipes and cables, split or loosened. We replace damaged boards with matched reclaimed pine as part of our floorboards repairs. Loose boards are re-fixed to stop creaks.
What a floorboard restoration includes
Nails punched below the surface and old carpet gripper removed
Repairs with matched reclaimed pine
Several sanding passes with full extraction
Optional gap filling to reduce draughts
Your chosen finish in multiple coats
Dealing with gaps
Gaps between old boards are common and can cause draughts. Our gap filling service uses resin filler or pine slivers. Because wooden floors move with the seasons, gap filling is not covered by our guarantee.
Keep your period floor
Keeping the original floor preserves the character of a period property. 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 Esher, from terraces to large townhouses. A typical room takes one to two days and you can stay at home throughout.
Finishes for period floors
A natural hardwax oil keeps the honey tones of old pine, while a matt lacquer gives extra protection. The sanding and finishing comes with our 3-month service guarantee. See before-and-after examples in our projects.
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
Should I oil or lacquer my floor?
Oil soaks into the timber for a natural look and is easy to spot-repair. Water-based lacquer sits on top as a hard-wearing film that copes well with spills and busy households. We recommend the right one at the survey — or read our guide to oil and lacquer.
What is the best way to fill floorboard 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.
Why is gap filling not guaranteed?
Our 3-month guarantee does not cover gap filling. 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. Sample cards are only a rough guide, so testing on your own boards is the only reliable way to choose.
Will filling gaps stop draughts?
It usually makes a real difference. Open gaps between boards let cold air up from the void below. Filling them makes rooms feel warmer and helps keep dust out.
Can you restore boards that have been painted?
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
Exactly what we hoped for
“The hardwax oil finish in our dining room is beautiful. The only small thing was that they arrived a little later than planned on day one, but they kept us informed and still finished on time.”
Long Ditton
Great work at our school
“They completed our classroom floors in a single half-term week. The team were careful, safe and tidy, and staff were really impressed.”
Hersham
A transformed hall
“They worked around our services and events, finished on schedule and left the hall spotless. The hall feels bright and welcoming again.”
Hinchley Wood