Heanor Grammar School

Restoring a distinctive heritage floor

The original Heanor Grammar School building in Derbyshire is a significant local landmark. Its first-floor timber parquet required substantial attention before the space could be presented at its best. Hemmings' original project account describes repairs and finishing across more than 400 square metres, with different sizes and patterns of pitch-pine blocks.

The condition of the floor

Sections had suffered deterioration linked to moisture and missing blocks. A large area with mixed parquet patterns presented challenges for finding appropriate replacement pieces and maintaining visual continuity.

Repair before refinishing

The team reused suitable blocks recovered on site, prepared them for rebonding and relaid where necessary. The floor was then sanded through successive stages, with gaps filled as appropriate. The documented finish includes a Bona Classic primer and a matt Bona Traffic HD lacquer system.

The finished result

Restoring the existing material helped retain the character of a building with a strong local history, while creating a more usable and consistent timber surface.