Oak has been the primary timber floor in Britain since the medieval period. It is not nostalgia — it is performance. Oak is hard enough to withstand heavy domestic use, stable enough to behave well in centrally heated homes, and porous enough to accept a wide range of surface treatments. No other commercially available timber combines these properties as reliably.
European oak (Quercus robur) is the species in almost every floor we supply. Its grain is distinctive — long, clear medullary rays that catch the light, natural figure that varies between boards, and a warmth in colour that other species do not match. American oak (Quercus alba) has a slightly tighter, more uniform grain and works particularly well in the paler, oiled finishes of the Prime Grade collection.
The combination of oak's natural qualities with engineered construction — a real oak wear layer over a stable multi-ply core — produces a floor that performs better in the conditions of a modern centrally heated London home than any solid alternative.
Our primary specification. Warm, characterful, with visible grain and medullary ray figuring. Available across our oak collections in grades from Rustic to Prime AB. The most versatile timber for London residential work.
Tighter grain, slightly paler base colour. Works exceptionally well in pale oiled and invisible finish treatments. Our Prime Grade collection features American oak in both plank and herringbone formats.
Old-growth European oak salvaged from demolition. Wider boards, natural silver patina, medullary ray exposure not found in new-growth timber. Sourced to order for period and country house projects.
