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.
Every enquiry is read personally, and we reply within one working day. We keep it personal.
Our Process
Every Sevenoaks project starts with a home visit: we assess the subfloor, measure up, and talk through the brief. We brought candidates to compare.
The floor was delivered to the Sevenoaks property and left to acclimatise for the full period before any board went down. This step is non-negotiable.
Our own team carried out the full Sevenoaks job — subfloor prep, installation and on-site finishing. One team throughout.
Why Clients Choose LIGNORA
Own team only
We never subcontract a LIGNORA installation — the people who quote are the people who lay. That is the whole point.
Acclimatisation without exception
Every floor acclimatises in the property before installation — it is what determines long-term performance. It is built into every schedule.
Seasonal installation warranty
Every project carries a seasonal warranty through its first full temperature cycle, and we follow up after fitting. Support doesn't stop at handover.