Wood type

Pine Flooring

Pine is a softwood full of warmth, knots and character. It's the most common floor in older homes across South London and Surrey, and it rewards careful, experienced sanding.

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Up close

Know your pine

Pine is softer than oak, so it marks more easily and needs sharp abrasives and a gentle hand. The big decision with pine is colour: modern finishes can keep it pale and fresh, whitewash makes it Scandinavian-light, and clear lacquers bring out a warm honey tone. Gaps are common, which is why we usually recommend pine slivers over filler.

Project highlights

Surbiton: ambered varnish taken back to pale, natural pine
Wimbledon: a pine staircase rescued from under the carpet
Putney: honey-toned pine in a period living room

Macro detail of a knot and growth rings in restored Victorian pine — Grain detail

Victorian pine floorboards with knots, cut nails and a pine sliver repair after sanding — Close-up

Pine slivers being glued and tapped into gaps between Victorian floorboards — Close-up

Characteristics

Softwood – marks more easily
Resinous knots and strong grain
Yellow to amber tones that deepen with age

Common problems

Orange, ageing varnish
Gaps between boards
Cupping, loose boards and nails

Restoration challenges

Resin clogging abrasives
Uneven stain absorption
Soft grain that gouges easily

Our methods

Sharp abrasives changed frequently
Nails punched before sanding
Pine slivers for gaps

Recommended finishes

Non-yellowing finishes to keep pine pale
Whitewash
Satin lacquer for a honey tone

Maintenance

Rugs in busy areas
Damp mop only – never soaking wet
Maintenance coats every few years

Restoration examples

Pine – before & after

After: Victorian pine living room, Putney

Before: Victorian pine living room, Putney

BeforeAfter

Putney · Victorian Pine

Victorian pine living room

Decades of dark stain and varnish sanded away to reveal warm, honey-toned pine.

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After: Pine bedroom with stained border, Putney

Before: Pine bedroom with stained border, Putney

BeforeAfter

Putney · Victorian Pine

Pine bedroom with stained border

The dark border left by an old rug removed for an even, natural floor.

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Gallery

Our pine flooring work

Full gallery

Surbiton pine floorboards sanded back to pale, natural timber — SurbitonPale, natural pine floorboards

Wimbledon pine staircase sanded back to clean natural timber — WimbledonPine staircase sanded back to natural timber

Pale, freshly restored pine floorboards across a Putney bedroom — PutneyEvenly restored pine boards across the bedroom

Surbiton pine floorboards with an ageing orange varnish before sanding — SurbitonBefore: ambered varnish on pine boards

Victorian pine floorboards in a Putney living room sanded and lacquered to a warm honey tone — PutneyVictorian pine living room, sanded and lacquered

Restored Victorian pine bedroom floor in Putney beside a tiled cast-iron fireplace — PutneyRestored pine bedroom floor beside a tiled fireplace

Dark, stained Victorian pine floorboards in a Putney living room part-way through sanding — PutneyBefore: dark stained pine, part-way through sanding

Putney bedroom pine floor before restoration, with a dark stained border around the edges — PutneyBefore: dark stained border around the bedroom

Wimbledon staircase after carpet removal, treads marked with paint, stain and gripper rods — WimbledonBefore: staircase after the carpet came up

Case studies

Pine Flooring projects

Victorian Pine Floors, Putney – Victorian Pine floor in Putney

Before

Victorian Pine

Putney · Period Floorboard Restoration

Victorian Pine Floors, Putney

Warm, honey-toned boards in the living room and clean, evenly restored boards in the bedroom – all the original character kept, the tired old finish gone.

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