Restoring History: Hemmings Floor Restoration at Heanor Grammar School

At Hemmings Floor Restoration, we take immense pride in breathing new life into historic spaces. One of our most cherished projects has been the restoration of the wood floors at the Grade II listed Heanor Grammar School.

A Brief History of Heanor Grammar School

Established in 1912, Heanor Grammar School served the community until 1976. Afterward, it became an annex of South East Derbyshire College and was later taken over by Derby College in 2010. The building remained vacant from 2013 until Amber Valley Borough Council acquired it in April 2022, aiming to rejuvenate this historic landmark.

Our Restoration Journey

Upon our initial survey of the first floor, we encountered significant challenges:

• Damaged and Missing Blocks: Many areas had suffered from dry rot and water damage, leading to missing parquet blocks.

• Variety of Parquet Styles: The 400+ square meters encompassed four distinct sizes and styles of pitch pine parquet, complicating the sourcing of replacement blocks.

Our Approach

1. Sourcing and Preparing Blocks: We salvaged usable blocks from the site and repurposed sections from the ground floor. Each block was meticulously cleaned to remove old bitumen, ensuring a solid foundation for relaying.

2. Relaying the Parquet: Using Sikabond 5500s adhesive, we relaid the parquet, taking care to match patterns and maintain the floor’s historical integrity.

3. Sanding and Smoothing: We employed large belt sanders, starting with 24-grit abrasives to level the blocks and remove old finishes. Progressing through finer grits, we achieved a smooth, scratch-free surface.

4. Filling Gaps: Collected sanding dust was mixed with Pall X Filler to address gaps, a process we repeated multiple times to account for the building’s changing conditions.

5. Finishing Touches: After thorough sanding, we applied Bona Classic primer followed by three coats of Bona Traffic HD in matte, enhancing durability while preserving the floor’s natural beauty.

The Result

After approximately 8 weeks of dedicated work over a few months, the once-deteriorated floors of Heanor Grammar School were transformed into stunning features, honoring the building’s rich history.

Preserving Heritage Through Craftsmanship

This project underscores our commitment to preserving historical structures through expert floor restoration. If you know of an old property that could benefit from our expertise in restoring wood and stone flooring, we’d be honored to assist.