Epsom · Herringbone
1930s herringbone parquet
A tired orange finish taken back to clean, even herringbone blocks.
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Wood type
Parquet Flooring
Woodblock parquet is common in 1920s–1960s homes across Surrey and South London. With blocks running in different directions, it needs a specialist approach.
Up close
Know your parquet
Parquet is usually tough, good-quality hardwood – often oak – that has simply been hidden under carpet or a tired orange finish for decades. The secret is in the sequence: sanding across the pattern to flatten the blocks, then fine sanding with multi-disc and buffing machines to remove the cross-grain scratches that poor sanding leaves behind.
Project highlights
- Epsom: 1930s parquet taken from orange to clean, even blocks
- Pattern-aware sanding to avoid cross-grain scratches
- Bay windows and borders detailed by hand and edger
Characteristics
- Small hardwood blocks in geometric patterns
- Often oak, sometimes iroko or merbau
- Usually laid in bitumen adhesive
Common problems
- Loose or rattling blocks
- Missing blocks
- Old orange or dark finishes
- Cross-grain scratches from poor sanding
Restoration challenges
- Multi-directional grain
- Levelling uneven blocks
- Sanding into bays and alcoves
Our methods
- Re-fixing loose blocks
- Sanding across the pattern
- Multi-disc fine sanding
Recommended finishes
- Matt lacquer
- Hardwax oil
- Natural clear finishes
Maintenance
- Avoid excess water
- Doormats to stop grit
- Periodic maintenance coat
Restoration examples
Parquet – before & after
Gallery
Our parquet flooring work
FAQs
Parquet Flooring questions
Is parquet worth restoring?
Absolutely. Original parquet is hard-wearing and highly desirable, and restoring it costs a fraction of replacing it.
Free quotes · Merton, Sutton, South West London & Surrey
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