Coppice and Crown revisit our solid heritage oak flooring for a 16th century farmhouse near Dulverton, Somerset. The 340mm boards run across the landing and into the main bedroom, finished in Osmo Oil to sit naturally alongside the original beams and joinery. In the three videos below, I walk you through the finished floor and explain why heritage oak suits an older home.
What strikes you most as you walk up the stairs and onto the landing is how much this flooring looks as though it was laid 200 years ago. It’s full of character and stories and fits into this home like it’s always been here.
The project: a Somerset farmhouse that needed a floor with history
The owners wanted a floor that looked as though it had always been there, not a new floor laid into an old house.
The house. At least 16th century. Local stone farmhouse which was originally part of the Carnarvon Estate. The upstairs floor was a mix of species in mixed widths with boards up to 340mm wide. Most of the boards were in a poor state.
The brief. The owners wanted a floor that looked the part in their home, but was highly practical too. It needed to be a low maintenance floor and ideally match the widths of the boards that were previously there. It needed to be a floor that could cope with dogs walking up and down it a lot.
Why we chose heritage oak. Heritage Oak is a distressed looking oak board which we have specifically chosen to have a higher level of character and undulation. The boards are hand chosen and planed in a particular way to allow for a smooth underside, but a rolling and characterful top side. The boards are available in any width up to 300mm wide (sometimes wide on request) . We are one of the only workshops in Britain that can supply boards of this width made using British grown oak. The boards come in lengths up to 4.3m long, and most often, we supply these as mixed length.
Video tour: the landing and main bedroom. Part 1 – The landing
In this first video we walk from the outside of this gorgeous Somerset farmhouse into the home and onto the landing. We talk about how it looks 5 years after it has been laid. Come with us and discover the widths of the boards that we have used, up to 340mm wide, matching some previous boards that had been laid.
Part 2 – Along the landing
Part two shows us explaining the need for using sympathetic building materials when renovating your home. This is where our Heritage Oak is so important- adding a story into your home. Unlike a carpet or lino, or even an engineered board that has a lifespan of less than 50 years, our Heritage Oak lasts for over 200 years, giving your home something that will last.
Part 3 – Into the bedroom
The reveal: follow us into the bedroom to see how our Heritage Oak looks in this beautiful south facing room. You get a lot more light in this room which allows you to fully appreciate the knots, grain and character of this flooring. Our Heritage Oak brings warmth, character and history into your home.
Why heritage oak suits a period farmhouse
Heritage oak looks authentic in an old house because its colour, texture and natural variation match the timber already in the building.
- It ages with the house. Solid oak can be sanded and refinished several times over its life, so it can last as long as the building itself. Our boards can be sanded and refinished over 10 times without any change in their structural integrity or wear.
- Wide, long boards look right. Older homes were traditionally floored in wider boards than most modern flooring. Our flooring is available in boards up to 300mm wide. We’re one of the only places in the UK that produce these boards and have the knowledge and expertise to advise on fitting them.
- Character grade fits character homes. Knots, character and grain variation look natural next to old beams and stone. We select these boards using years of knowledge and experience to make sure the boards have character, but also maintain structural purpose.
- The finish matters as much as the wood. A matt oil or hardwax oil finish looks closer to an old floor than a glossy lacquer. This floor was finished with Osmo Oil in clear Matt for a durable finish that looks authentic.
- It forgives uneven walls and floors. wobbly walls and uneven joists are all part of an older home. Packers were used to make some of the joists more even, but with such a forgiving floor, you don’t need to worry about every mm as the flooring suits the uneven subfloors of this home.
- Sourcing and sustainability. All of our Oak is grown in the UK and we predominantly source it from the south west of England. Every board is certified with Grown in Britain and we’re able to trace your flooring back to the woodlands in which it was grown.
Solid oak flooring: questions buyers ask us
What is heritage oak flooring?
Heritage oak is solid oak flooring finished to look aged, as though it has been walked on for generations. We do this through a specialist planning technique and through years of expertise we can select the right boards for this particular flooring.
Is solid oak or engineered oak better for an old house?
Solid oak suits many period homes because it can be sanded many times and feels authentic underfoot. Engineered oak can a quicker option for laying and can easily offer wide sizes. We’d really recommend using authentic solid oak flooring in an older home to achieve warmth and thermal mass.
How much does solid oak flooring cost per m²?
From £125.00 per m² for this grade, plus a typical fitting cost. Fitting cost can dramatically range from £30-200.00 per sqm, but remember this is something you can do yourself.
How long does solid oak flooring last?
Looked after properly, solid oak flooring can last for decades and often outlives the people who fit it. We have customers who had our floors over 30 years ago and still enjoy them today. We’d expect our Heritage Oak to last at least 300 years.
Do you supply and fit in Somerset and the South West?
Yes, we supply all across the UK. We have regular deliveries across the South West and South East of England. We know of floor fitters across the UK who can help lay your floor.
About Coppice and Crown
We’re a flooring company who produce floors using British grown oak and other hardwood species. We’ve been doing this for nearly 40 years and are still a family run business. We’re different because we carry out the whole process, from tree to floorboard. We are experts in the kiln drying of solid wood flooring and in using solid wood flooring over underfloor heating. We’re based in North Devon in a town called South Molton.
Thinking about heritage oak for your own home? Order free samples or get in touch via email.
