A period farmhouse outside Sevenoaks with flagstone on the ground floor and a need for warmth and character in the first-floor bedroom wing. The clients wanted something that felt original to the building — not a new floor, but a floor that looked as though it belonged to the history of the house.
Reclaimed European oak boards — sourced from dismantled French farm buildings — were selected. The boards vary in width from 160mm to 240mm and carry the natural patina of their previous life: saw marks, small checks, the variation in colour that comes from decades of exposure. Each board is unique. The floor, once laid, will not look like anyone else's.
Reclaimed boards require more preparation than new material. Each board was checked for structural integrity, cleaned, and moisture-tested. The first-floor timber subfloor was inspected and reinforced in two areas before installation. The boards were secret-nailed at irregular intervals appropriate to the varied widths. The hand-applied oil finish was worked into the boards on-site to even out the variation in absorption between older and newer areas of each plank.
The floor looks as though it has been there for a long time — which is, of course, exactly right. The character that reclaimed timber carries cannot be manufactured. The clients described the result as the single most successful element of the renovation.
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Our Process
Every LIGNORA project begins with a home visit — we assess the subfloor, measure the space, discuss the brief, and bring sample candidates before writing a quote. This project was no different. The subfloor was assessed, moisture tested, and prepared before the floor was delivered to site for acclimatisation.
The floor was delivered to site and acclimatised in the property for the full required period before a single board was fixed. All LIGNORA floors are acclimatised in the actual conditions of the property — not in a van or garage. This is the single most important step in ensuring the floor performs across its lifetime.
Our installation team carried out the full job — subfloor preparation, installation, and on-site finishing — without subcontracting any element. The client received a seasonal installation warranty, written aftercare guidance, and a follow-up visit to confirm the floor had settled correctly.
Why Clients Choose LIGNORA
Own team only
No subcontractors on any LIGNORA installation. The people who quote the job are the people who lay it. Accountability from start to finish.
Acclimatisation without exception
Every floor is acclimatised in the property before installation. This is the step that determines long-term performance. We build it into every project schedule — it is never skipped.
Seasonal installation warranty
Every project comes with a seasonal warranty covering the installation through its first full temperature cycle. We follow up after installation to confirm the floor is performing as expected.