Location
Glasgow
Date
2018
Type
Historic timber floors
Nature of work
Repair, cleaning and refinishing of historic timber floors in several rooms and corridors
Role
Conservation specialist
Client
National Trust for Scotland
Context and aim
At Pollok House, we restored the historic timber floors of several rooms and corridors. Years of alterations had left the boards stained with adhesive, splashed with plaster, patched with mismatched timber and, in one room, coated with a later red wax. Many boards were loose, some were missing, and the joints between them had opened up.
The red wax and residues were removed and the loose boards refixed, replacing the old screws with stainless steel ones concealed under timber plugs. Missing boards were replaced, and the gaps between boards were filled with balsa strips glued into place. The floors were then cleaned, colour matched so that old and new boards read as one surface, refinished and waxed.
Gallery
Condition before treatment
Boards stained, splashed with plaster and paint, and in one room coated with a later red wax.
Photo: boards in a window alcove stained with adhesive and plaster
Photo: corridor boards splashed with plaster
Photo: later red wax covering the boards
During the works
Wax removal, refixing loose boards with stainless steel screws, replacing missing boards and filling gaps with balsa strips.
Photo: red wax being removed from the boards
Photo: loose boards refixed/screws replaced
Photo: timber plugs covering the new stainless steel screws
Photo: balsa strips glued into the gaps between boards
Photo: balsa strips fitted along the joints, before levelling
Photo: new boards and balsa strips among the original boards
After restoration
Cleaned, colour matched, refinished and waxed.
Photo: the corridor after restoration
Photo: restored floor between the window bays
Photo: refinished floor towards the door and hearth
Photo: refinished boards through a doorway
Photo: freshly refinished floor beneath the painted wallpaper
Photo: old and new boards toned together, on completion
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