Holt & Co Hardwood Stories

What was the challenge?

For a domestic client, Holt & Co were challenged to install at the client’s residence a strip hardwood flooring using timber sourced from the sea bed. Aye aye captain.

How did you make this happen?

Sourced from the depths of the ocean, the beautiful ipê and greenheart woods installed for this job underwent quite a journey before they arrived at their final destination in London’s East End. A friend of our client makes furniture from dredged-up timber and so, having seen how great it looks, he was keen to have this sustainably-sourced, seafaring wood in his home. After being dried out, this timber was given a new lease of life when it was expertly installed by Holt & Co Hardwood Flooring.

What was the hardwood flooring challenge?

Holt & Co restored the original maple strip floor of the Grade II listed Walthamstow Assembly Hall – part of the borough’s town hall complex.

What did we do to make it amazing?

Built during WWII, this iconic Art Deco hall remains a popular events venue. However, its maple floor had not been treated for several decades and, with so much footfall to endure, it was looking tired. 

Holt & Co Hardwood Flooring was part of the restoration team which – in just ten days at the beginning of 2018 – helped to restore the hall’s floor to its former glory. This was achieved using a Hummel belt sanding machine, which was applied over the flooring some four or five times to strip off the old varnish. The floors were then buffed (or screened) to prepare them for varnishing. Three coats of a two-part varnish containing a hardener were then used to make the floor more hard-wearing and ready for many more decades of festivities.

What was the hardwood flooring challenge?

Our team were challenged with the restoration of the original oak floor of the 400m²main hall and the 90m² original pitch pine floor in the Mayor’s Parlour, in the Grade II listed Brixton Town Hall.

This was a hardwood flooring masterclass!

As part of the team implementing the successful rejuvenation and redevelopment of Brixton’s famous town hall (which features the iconic clock tower), Holt & Co Hardwood Flooring – from November 2016 to January 2017 – restored the oak floor in the main hall by using a Hummel belt sanding machine. This was used over the flooring some four or five times to strip off the old varnish. The floors were then buffed and varnished. Moreover, the parquet floors in the Mayor’s Parlour were uplifted and sent away to be cleaned. Meanwhile, Holt & Co Hardwood Flooring re-levelled the Mayor’s Parlour’s floors before the parquet flooring was returned, re-installed (with a two-block border incorporated) and refurbished. Hard work, but one of the most satisfying jobs we have ever completed. Go take a look for yourself, and visit Brixton Pop for a beer afterwards, we did!