Solid Wood Restoration
Solid oak, maple and hardwood floors sanded back to fresh timber and refinished to last.
One of the great advantages of solid hardwood is that it can be restored again and again. Even floors that look beyond help — grey, deeply scratched or patchy — usually have plenty of life left.
Our Cobham team restores solid oak, maple, beech, walnut, ash and exotic hardwoods with dust-free machines and finishes matched to the species. It is one of the core parts of our floor sanding service.
Signs your floor needs restoring
Deep scratches from furniture, pets and grit
Worn, grey traffic lanes through doorways
Peeling or yellowed old varnish
Water marks and dark stains
Boards that have cupped or lifted slightly
From survey to final coat
After a free survey and fixed quote, we protect the room and fix any loose boards. Where boards are split or rotten, we replace them through our solid floor repairs service. Multiple sanding passes level the floor and remove every trace of the old finish.
Choosing the finish
You can choose a natural oil for easy upkeep, or a tough lacquer for busy family rooms. For a change of colour, wood floor staining can be added before the protective coats. Our guide on oil or lacquer helps you decide.
Hardwoods we work with
Oak is the most common solid floor we see, but every hardwood behaves differently under the sander. Dense maple needs careful final sanding to avoid visible marks. Exotic species such as merbau need finishes that bond well with their natural oils. Our products and process are matched to the timber in front of us.
Solid floors in schools, offices and halls get the same careful treatment, scheduled around your timetable. Ask us about weekend and holiday working for commercial sites. With good care, a restored hardwood floor can go many years before its next full sand.
Most rooms are finished in one to two days, with light foot traffic possible after a few hours. Furniture can return after 24–48 hours.
After the work is done
You get written care instructions and our 3-month service guarantee. Oiled floors can be refreshed with a simple re-oil rather than another full sand. See our prices for typical costs.
Guide prices
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Floor sanding & oiling
Dust-free sanding back to fresh timber, finished with two coats of hardwax oil.
from £22 per m²
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Floor sanding & lacquer
Full sand and three coats of hard-wearing water-based lacquer.
from £24 per m²
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Parquet sanding & finishing
Multi-direction sanding for block and herringbone floors, with your choice of finish.
from £28 per m²
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Gap filling
Resin filler or reclaimed pine slivers between floorboards.
from £6 per m²
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Floor staining
Colour samples on your floor and an even stain before finishing.
from £5 per m²
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Stairs stripping & restoration
Paint and varnish removal, repairs and finishing of treads and risers.
from £45 per step
Guide prices — we confirm a fixed price after a free survey.
Questions about solid wood restoration
Can you sand an engineered wood floor?
In most cases, yes — as long as the top wear layer is 3 mm or more. We check the wear layer during the free survey, often by lifting a threshold strip or a floor vent. Our guide to sanding engineered floors explains more.
Do I need to empty the room?
Empty the room where possible and take down curtains that reach the floor. If you need help with heavy pieces, let us know when booking. Our preparation checklist has more tips.
How many coats does a floor need?
We usually apply two coats of hardwax oil or three coats of lacquer. Busy hallways and commercial floors can have an extra coat for added protection.
Can you stain a floor darker or lighter?
We do. After sanding we apply test patches on your timber so you can see how each shade looks in the room before we commit. Find out more about wood floor staining.
Will sanding wear my solid floor out?
A solid wood floor can be sanded many times over its life. Each sand removes only a fraction of a millimetre when done properly, which is why period floors are still going strong after a century.
Should I oil or lacquer my floor?
Oil soaks into the timber for a natural look and is easy to spot-repair. Water-based lacquer sits on top as a hard-wearing film that copes well with spills and busy households. We recommend the right one at the survey — or read our guide to oil and lacquer.
What our customers say
Floorboards transformed
“From the survey to the final coat the team were punctual, tidy and genuinely cared about the result. There was virtually no dust and the floor looks incredible.”
Weybridge
Professional from start to finish
“The team fitted the work around our weekly bookings, finished on schedule and left the hall spotless. The hall feels bright and welcoming again.”
Stoke d'Abernon
Herringbone hallway looks stunning
“Our 1930s herringbone hallway had years of grime and old varnish. Three days later it is flat, smooth and glowing. Visitors always comment on it now.”
Claygate