Georgian Floorboard Restoration — Islington

When our clients pulled back the carpet in their Islington Georgian terrace, they found wide-plank pine boards that had been hidden since the early 1980s. The boards were in remarkable condition — 200-year-old heart pine, broad and close-grained, with a natural variation that no modern engineered product can replicate. With proper preparation, they had the potential to be extraordinary.

Dustless Sanding

We use a Bona belt-sanding system connected to a high-capacity dust extractor — a closed-loop system that captures over 99% of dust at source. This matters particularly in a Georgian terrace, where dust infiltrates every crack and crevice and would take weeks to fully clear if allowed to spread freely through the house.

The main field was belt-sanded through five grades: 24 grit to remove the old surface treatment and level minor undulations, then progressively finer through to 120 for the final pass. Perimeters, the alcoves, and the area around the original fireplace hearth were hand-sanded to achieve the same result without machine marks.

Gap Filling

Three of the boards had shrinkage gaps of up to 4mm — typical for Georgian timber that has experienced decades of central heating. We filled these with flexible wood filler, tinted by hand to closely match the adjacent grain colour. The flexibility is essential: rigid filler cracks within months as the wood continues its seasonal movement.

Rubio Monocoat

The final finish was Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Pure — a zero-VOC, single-coat penetrating oil that bonds chemically to wood fibres and creates a completely matte, natural surface. It enhances the grain colour and texture without adding a layer above the wood. The result looks as though the floor has simply always been clean and cared for.

The Reveal

Our clients were visibly moved when they saw the finished floor. Two hundred years of hidden grain, character, and craftsmanship — uncovered in two days.