A Victorian semi-detached house in Dulwich with original pine boards under carpet in all three ground-floor reception rooms. The client had assumed the boards were beyond saving — they had been covered for at least twenty years. The reality was very different.
On lifting the carpet and underlay, the boards were found to be largely intact: slow-grown Baltic pine, 140mm wide, with natural gaps that had settled and stabilised over a century. There were areas of staining, a small number of damaged boards requiring replacement, and surface grime accumulated over decades. Nothing that restoration could not address.
Fourteen boards were replaced with matching pine sourced to complement the originals. The floor was then sanded in three passes using dustless sanding equipment — coarse, medium, fine — to bring back clean, fresh wood across all three rooms. The client chose a natural oil finish that would allow the character of the aged pine to remain visible rather than neutralising it with a stain.
The floor looks as it might have looked when the house was built — warm, slightly uneven, full of the natural variation that slow-grown pine carries. The natural oil means it can be spot-repaired and re-oiled without a full sand-down. The client saved considerably over the cost of a new floor and ended up with something that genuinely cannot be bought.
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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.