Reclaimed Parquet Flooring: A Buyer's Guide
Reclaimed parquet flooring occupies a unique position in the UK flooring market. Old solid oak or pitch pine herringbone blocks, salvaged from Victorian schools, office buildings, hospitals and country houses, carry a material character that genuinely cannot be replicated in new products. The blocks bear the history of previous use in their colour, texture and patina, and installing them produces a floor that looks as though it has been there for generations. Sourcing and working with reclaimed parquet requires more effort than buying new, but the results often justify it.
Where to Find Reclaimed Parquet
Architectural salvage yards are the primary source of reclaimed parquet in the UK. Yards that specialise in period building materials, such as LASSCO in London, Salvo in Scotland and various regional salvage dealers, regularly have old parquet blocks available. Prices and availability vary considerably; a salvage yard visit rather than an online search gives a better sense of the quantity and quality available.
Demolition contractors sometimes sell parquet directly from specific buildings. Following demolition news in the local property sector and contacting contractors when older institutional or commercial buildings are being stripped out can yield large quantities of consistent material at reasonable prices.
Assessing Reclaimed Parquet
Before purchasing, assess the blocks for consistency of thickness, remaining timber depth (after previous sandings), the condition of the undersides (old bitumen adhesive is expected; broken-out or damaged undersides are more problematic), and the overall colour consistency of the batch. Considerable colour variation within a batch is normal and adds to the character; missing blocks, very thin blocks or significant rot or damage are problems to identify and factor into the quantity calculation.
Check that sufficient quantity is available for the floor area, with a 20 per cent waste allowance for the sorting and cutting process. Reclaimed blocks are rarely perfectly consistent, and more waste than with new blocks should be expected.
Preparation and Installation
Reclaimed blocks need thorough cleaning before installation. Old bitumen adhesive on the block undersides should be scraped as clean as possible; a heat gun softens old bitumen for more effective removal. Any nails or fixings embedded in the blocks must be removed. The blocks should be stored flat in the room where they will be installed for at least 48 hours to acclimatise.
Lay on a flat, primed concrete subfloor using MS polymer adhesive. The same set-out and laying process applies as for new parquet. After installation and adhesive cure, sand using the diagonal approach described in the parquet sanding guide. Old blocks often need more sanding than new ones to achieve a level surface given the variation in the original material.
- Salvage yards and demolition contractors: primary sources for reclaimed parquet
- Allow 20% waste when calculating quantities for reclaimed material
- Assess thickness and condition of each batch in person
- Remove old adhesive and fixings before installation
- Acclimatise in the installation room for 48 hours minimum
- Osmo Polyx Oil natural tone: an ideal finish for reclaimed oak character
Reclaimed parquet in the right setting produces a floor that is simply not achievable with new materials. The effort required to find, assess and prepare old blocks is real, but the result, particularly in a period property where authenticity matters, is fully worth it.
