Location
Isle of Arran
Date
2018
Type
Historic timber floors
Nature of work
Cleaning, stabilisation and refinishing of historic timber floors
Role
Conservation specialist
Client
National Trust for Scotland
Context and aim
At Brodick Castle, we cleaned and restored the historic timber floor of the Duke’s Room. For years the boards had been hidden under fitted carpet: when it was lifted, the floor was found coated in old carpet adhesive, with a dark varnished border around the edges of the room, heavy staining, open joints and split boards.
Following the same approach as at Culzean Castle, the adhesive and later coatings were removed and the timber cleaned and stabilised. The boards were then colour matched to the original tone, refinished and waxed, bringing back the warmth and character of the historic floor while protecting it for continued use.
Gallery
Condition before treatment
Boards hidden under carpet, stained by adhesive and later dark varnish.
Photo: the Duke’s Room as the carpet was lifted
Photo: dark varnished border and adhesive-covered boards in the window corner
Photo: carpet adhesive residue on the boards
Photo: stained and worn boards after carpet removal
Photo: varnished border meeting the adhesive-covered centre of the floor
Photo: detail of floor during cleaning
During the works
Removal of adhesive and old coatings, cleaning and stabilisation.
Photo: window bay during cleaning
Photo: cleaned boards along the skirting
After restoration
Colour matched, refinished and waxed.
Photo: the restored floor towards the door and fireplace
Photo: refinished boards along the wall
Photo: the Duke’s Room with its floor refinished and waxed
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