The building interior underwent extensive alterations and was fully renovated over 5 floors.The gallery houses some of the finest artwork across many styles and mediums you could possibly find and the gallery is a wonderful addition to the market town of Stamford.

The flooring that was chosen is aged and finished with a pigmented hard wax oil which has a satin finish.The planks are mixed width and are made from French Oak of a light character grade.

Old buildings present their own unique challenges to renovation work and with the wood flooring element of the project these were presented by very uneven subfloors and unusual shaped rooms but with a methodical and careful approach to setting out the challenges were overcome.

Needless to say Heritage Wood Floors were delighted to be used for the wood flooring of the Gladwell and Patterson Art Gallery and it was pleasure to work and meet the owners.

Reclaimed flooring presents several challenges when it comes to fitting and the main one is removing the existing adhesive which is normally bitumen.Needless to say the removal of the bitumen from each and every parquet block is not particularly pleasant and can be extremely time consuming.Thankfully the home owner volunteered to clean the blocks which we were extremely thankful for to say the least. Over and above the removal of existing adhesive and general grime the fitting and sanding of reclaimed flooring is much more involved and time consuming compared to new parquet blocks which to reclaimed parquet blocks being inconsistent in their width, length and thickness.However with patience and a methodical approach decent results can be achieved.

The parquet floor was very to the homeowners as although it is a very small part of this project.the parquet floor was one of the original features of the house which is getting close to 100 years old and hope fully the parquet floor will last another 100 years.

A mention should be made to the architectural redesign of the house by MSquare of Market Harborough.The south facing aspect of the building is pretty amazing to say the least.

This particular parquet was made from solid French Oak and had been distressed.The method of sanding removed the existing hard wax oil using dust containment systems which minimised airborne dust making the project cleaner and quicker achieving better results. The floor was finished with Bona Traffic HD Naturel.

Apethorpe Palace was originally called ‘Apethorpe Hall’ and is a Grade 1 listed country house in Northamptonshire and is notable for its connections to the Tudor and Stuart royalty.

Apethorpe Palace was a favourite residence of King James I and was used by him often as a base for hunting and was in later times also often visited by Charles I. The Palace was also once owned by Henry VIII and Elisabeth I. It has been suggested by historians that the warrant for the execution of Mary Queen of Scots was signed at Apethorpe Hall although there is no actual proof of this being the case. However records from the Hall during the days leading up to the execution of Mary Queen of Scots at nearby Fotheringhay show a lot of activity at the Hall in the days preceding her execution.

Apethorpe Palace contains some of the most complete examples of Jacobean plasterwork and fire surrounds in existence and reputedly the oldest surviving Lebanese Cedar in Great Britain.

As is the nature with such projects the desired outcome is that all work requires a sympathetic approach to ensure that the finished results are in keeping with the feel and fabric of the building and although in comparison to the incredible architecture and and ornate interiors I believe that we managed to achieve this to great affect with our methods and materials.

Our work included plank flooring throughout the Northern Apartments,The North Tower, kitchen (new) and adjoining lobby with parquet de Versailles in the Library.An incredibly interesting building steeped in history and quite a privilege to be asked to work on such a prestigious and exciting project.

The space
This project of remodelling a home built 1950’s was to completely transform a home that for all intents and purposes sat comfortably in its location surrounded by the beautiful Leicestershire countryside with quite impressive if not remarkable views to the horizon and back.

The building has undertaken a complete transformation and captured an Identity based on the principles of minimalism perfectly. Simple geometry, strong lines and natural materials are the core elements which make a remarkable contrast with this buildings beautiful surroundings.

The flooring
300mm wide engineered oak planks where specified for this project with the boards of the cleanest grade possible.The project involved finishing the flooring with an ‘invisible’ style lacquer to give the flooring an unfinished appearance which compliments the unfinished cedar cladding inside and outside of the building. The finish of the flooring and square edged detail of the boards ensured that the flooring, whilst being an integral part of the building, creates a calm and subtle platform for the space above.

Remit
The wood floor chosen for our client had to main requirements.The first was to reflect the overall architectural style of The Old Rectory that the floor was being chosen for and the other was that the floor had to be suitable in terms of wear and tear for a very busy family kitchen.

Design
Mixed width boards varying from 140mm-260mm were chosen to add interest and coupled with the light distressing of the boards gives the room the relaxed feel and impressions of a country home set in the idyllic countryside of Leicestershire.

Colour
The colour of these boards has greenish hue to them and this to some degree reflects colours which have endured from the Georgian period.A great benefit to this choice of colour is that this colour is ideally suited to busy spaces as even when the floor is being pushed to its limit in terms of footfall, children doing children things and a puppy doing puppy things the floor somehow still looks amazing and with a quick hoover and clean with a Bona Spray mop the floor looks as good as new.

Method
These boards were bonded onto a screed which contained a warm water underfloor heating system with Lecol MS260 wood floor adhesive. The flooring, thresholds and custom made steps were all finished with three coats of pigmented hard wax oil and and one coat of clear hard wax oil.

Remit
As part of a major renovation with additional space added to an 18th century farmhouse in Biddenham we were asked to supply,fit and finish a distressed engineered oak plank floor in mixed widths throughout the bedrooms and landings on the first and seconds floors.

Design
The colour of these boards are to some degree dark ,however as the building has a lot of natural light coming through the south facing aspect of the building the warm tones of the oak are brought to life to create a very refined and sophisticated vibe.

Colour
Essentially a deep and dark brown very similar to the colours to Chestnut to a lesser or greater degree.

Method
The engineered planks were fully bonded with Lecol MS260 adhesive with steps, thresholds and all trims made to measure and finished to the exact same colour as the flooring.The oak boards were fumed for several hours with three coats of pigmented oil and one clear coat of satin hardwax oil was applied once fitted.

Design
A very elegantly designed interior requires a similarly elegant floor and this fine example of Chevron parquet or Pointe d’Hongrie is the perfect platform for the fine finishes and furnishing which accompany this floor. The parquet was made from engineered oak to ensure that it would be suitable with the warm water UFH system in the concrete subfloor.

Style
The colour of these boards are to some degree dark, however as the building has a lot of natural light coming through the south facing aspect of the building the warm tones of the oak are brought to life to create a very refined and sophisticated vibe.

Choice
Style and functionality were prerequisites for the choice of floor for the family of this particular Bedfordshire home. Many young families choose to make their new home a lasting one and as such additions to the home in respect of the choice of furnishings etc are long term decisions. Choosing this solid oak parquet floor means that the clients have a wood floor that is beautiful, practical and one that can be rejuvenated in the future when required ensuring the initial investment retains its value and offers great value over the decades.These parquet floors are designed and fitted to last a very long time and their longevity can span at least half a century and possibly double that in many cases.

Style
Single block herringbone is a timeless classic which works in a variety of interior design schemes. The layout of the room spaces was open plan and to some degree minimalist therefore a two block border was fitted which followed the perimeter through the rooms. The border design was brick bond with internal and external corners mitred with a symmetrical layout to accentuate detail, craft and good design.

Finish
Durability of the floor finish in a busy and energetic family home is of the utmost importance so the choice of lacquer was a priority. Of course the look and feel of the floor is vitally important as well therefore for this project we chose Bona Traffic HD Raw which is a commercial grade finish which gives an almost unfinished appearance and has excellent usability qualities.

Renovation of The Wedding Barn wood flooring
The White Hart Inn is a 16th century Coaching Inn set in the beautiful countryside of North Essex just outside the village of Great Yeldham.

Not many public houses has a jail but the White Hart Inn is the exception.In bygone years prisoners in transit were detained overnight in the White Hart Inn which had a purpose built cell before recommencing their journey in the morning to attend court ,prison or possibly worse.

We fitted an engineered oak floor in the then new Wedding Barn venue and after 17 years and many thousands of guests celebrating their very special day the poor floor wasn’t looking it’s best. It was time for the true beauty of the oak to be once more revealed.

Time is of the essence
With the White Hart Inn Wedding Barn being a very popular choice for weddings due its accompanying beautiful 16th century coaching inn and wonderful hotel and restaurant we had a limited window of time to carry out and complete the work. This involved sanding the wood floor to remove the existing damaged finish, water popping the sanded floor, staining and application of a commercial grade lacquer to ensure the wood floor looked beautiful but just as importantly the renovated oak floor had enough lacquer applied onto it to meet the demands of offering high protection and minimum maintenance for a very busy wedding venue.

Renovation specification
Our remit was to mix a stain to meet the clients colour scheme. On this occasion we used a 1-3 ratio of Bona Craft Oil 2K Pure and Bona Craft Oil 2K Dark Brown. The ease of which colours can be created and the easy application of the oil to colour the floor really does offer a wide range of affects and also ensures a  beautiful and consistent finish.

The floor was then sealed with 60 litres of Bona Traffic HD Matt sheen. BonaTraffic Hd is one of the most durable floor finishes on the market with exceptional ease of application.

End result
The project was finished in time for the upcoming wedding and the client (the very esteemed Mr Matthew Mason) was delighted with our work and his newly renovated oak floor and more importantly the threat of being incarcerated in the White Hart Inn jail had been avoided!

The Space
Greystones is a Grade II listed building in the village of Nassington near Peterborough in Cambridgeshire. Parts of the building date back to the early 17th Century and through the centuries the building has grown. Our work was part of an extensive renovation project carried out by its present owners to breath new life and modernise the property bringing it inline with the requirements of modern living and a very busy household.

Function and form
The wood floor specification for this project was chosen as the requirements were simple. A light cool colour on fairly wides boards which had a micro bevel to distinguish each row of planks and finished with an ultra durable water based lacquer that could withstand an energetic family and accompanying pets! The boards also had to be guaranteed to be suitable with a warm water underfloor heating system and also a 6mm solid oak wear layer engineered plank.

Planks
Micro bevelled engineered FrencH Oak planks suitable for UFH systems.

Minimilist architecture meets the raw beauty of nature.

The Space
Cubis Bruton, a new residential development at Cuckoo Hill in Bruton, Somerset. The landmark contemporary scheme provides a striking contrast to the Bruton architectural vernacular, presenting homes that are at once bold, inspiring and practical, in addition to being ‘in-tune’ with their environment and environmental thinking.

Contrast
Space and light are the key components which imbue a sense of calm in this Somerset home. These attributes are perfect for the addition of one of the most striking wood floors you could wish to see. This simplicity of the space above compliments the raw and natural beauty of these amazing French oak planks and although there is contrast there is also great synergy connecting the space and the base of this remarkable home.

Planks
French oak engineered planks. Knots, splits and plenty of quarter sawn are in abundance.These boards are a visual and tactile joy to behold. The true beauty of Oak on display in all her magnificence.

Light Grey Campagne engineered planks for a residential project in the village of Orlingbury near Kettering,

The Space
Part of a significant remodelling project these heavily brushed boards created a platform for the newly introduced elements above floor level. The reason that this floor works so well is that in all the rooms it has been introduced in there is plenty of natural light which accentuates the variation in the grey tones present in the wood floor and also the texture created by the deep brushing of the flooring.

Aspect
The fitting of this floor had a few obstacles which had to be overcome. The leading step of the marble staircase was misaligned or wonky in plain English and as such we had to straighten by cutting the stone in situ without error and also without creating clouds of dust which with care and application we managed. Also the balcony railings had to be removed and the existing wood nosing had to be replaced to match the colour of the new flooring. A patient methodical approach resulted in a successful outcome thankfully!

Planks
Engineered planks have been used for this project due to the greater stability and resilience they offer and their ability to retain their shape and size over time.

This is a project we supplied and fitted and finished for a private residence just outside Billesdon in Leicestershire.

The Space
The high ceilings and large floor areas of each room required the parquet floor to compete with the grander scale of its intended space. 4 rooms, 200 square metres.

Geometry
The parquet is also micro bevelled to enhance the geometric impact of the herringbone pattern therefore giving a contemporary feel to a traditional style of parquet which also enhances a sense of texture on the floor.

Colour
The floor in essence is very similar in appearance to a chestnut brown with red tones and to some degree quite a formal colour. This may be a colour choice subconsciously arrived at by the fact that the property is surrounded by many Horse Chestnut trees!

The parquet flooring was in the style of single herring bone and strip flooring. Curved corridors and varying subfloor levels added to the challenges which were overcome resulting in one of the most beautiful floors to grace the Montpelier district of Cheltenham.

Of the utmost importance was the absolute necessity to ensure that the sanding of the wood was carried out as efficiently and cleanly as possible to protect the world famous 6000 pipe organ. Utilising dust containment systems which minimise air borne dust from sanding machines to 99.99%, Heritage Wood Floors ensured that the magnificent work of art that are the Stephen and Sons Ltd pipe organs were protected for future generations to enjoy.