AL2 · A405 / M25 J21a · 21 mi from central London
Floor Restoration & Sanding Installers Serving How Wood
Lift the carpet, see what's underneath. Nine times out of ten it's a restorable floor worth keeping. We work weekly in How Wood (AL2), roughly 2 miles from St-albans town centre, with easy access via A405 / M25 J21a. Abbey Line station to Watford Junction.
From £28/m² · 1–2 weeks lead time · 10-year workmanship warranty
The restoration brief in How Wood
In How Wood the recurring brief is long-life, well-finished, photographable — and that's exactly what a properly-fitted restoration floor delivers.
Materials & finish notes
For 1930s semi-detached homes like much of How Wood's How Wood pocket, we'd usually spec Victorian softwood in a matte 2-pack lacquer finish.
Bona Traffic HD is our default for high-traffic family homes — 2-pack lacquer, 10-year warranty.
Whitewash + hardwax oil is the most-requested finish for period homes — keeps the grain visible.
Materials we stock
Original pitch-pine boards · Edwardian oak parquet · Victorian softwood · Reclaimed strip oak
Finishes we offer
Hardwax oil (Bona, Osmo) · Whitewash & UV oil · Smoked & oiled · Matte 2-pack lacquer
Install methods
Dust-extracted belt sand · Edge-and-corner sand · Gap-fill with resin/sliver · Stain + 3-coat finish
Realistic lifespan
10–15 years between refinishes, board life often 100+ years
How Wood — local facts that shape the spec
Postcode
AL2
Ward / area
How Wood
Nearest station
How Wood
Distance to central London
21 miles
Distance to St Albans
2 miles
Main road access
A405 / M25 J21a
Council
St Albans City and District Council
Typical stock
1930s semi-detached homes
- Quiet residential village along the Watford branch
- Abbey Line station to Watford Junction
Our restoration process in How Wood
- 01
Survey — board thickness, species, paint history, joist condition.
- 02
Furniture and skirting protection, dust-extraction setup.
- 03
Nail punch-down across the full floor.
- 04
Belt sand 40g → 60g → 80g → 120g, with edge sander into corners.
- 05
Gap-fill with resin and sliver where gaps exceed 4mm.
- 06
Optional whitewash, smoke or stain — sampled in-room first.
- 07
2–3 coat hardwax oil or lacquer finish, 24-hour cure between coats.
How Wood restoration FAQs
- Can you fill the gaps?
- Yes — resin and slivers for gaps over 4mm, fine fill for hairline cracks. Result is seamless.
- Will the house smell?
- Hardwax oil has a low-VOC odour for 48 hours. We use water-based lacquers where smell-sensitivity is a concern.
- Is restoration cheaper than a new floor?
- Typically 40–60% cheaper, and you keep the original timber. Greenest option by far.
- How messy is the job?
- Almost dust-free — Bona dust-extracted sanders capture 95%+ of debris. The floor finishes cleaner than it started.
- Can I stay in the house?
- Yes — we work room-by-room. You'll need to avoid the freshly-finished room for 24 hours per coat.
- Can you match a board that's broken?
- Yes — board replacement with reclaimed matching pitch-pine or oak. Common on Victorian terraces.
- Can my old floor be sanded?
- If boards are 18mm+ and joists are sound, almost always yes. We measure on the survey before we quote.
Why How Wood clients choose us
- Board-replacement and bespoke matching available where needed
- How Wood surveys booked within the same working week
- Sample patches in-room before any finish goes down
- Board-replacement and bespoke matching available where needed
Common pitfalls we plan around
Boards too thin to sand
Pre-1900 boards may be sanded to <14mm — we measure before quoting. Some jobs are board-replacement, not restoration.
Lead paint
Pre-1980 painted boards may carry lead. We bag, test and dispose properly — written into the quote.
Hidden nails and screws
Every restoration starts with a punch-down. A missed nail destroys a sanding belt.
Nearby AL areas we also cover
We're regularly on the A405 / M25 J21a route — these neighbouring pockets sit within a few miles of How Wood:
Summary
How Wood (AL2) is on our regular St-albans schedule. Floor Restoration & Sanding from £28/m², 1–2 weeks lead time, one team, one warranty, one finish date. Nothing fancy — just done properly.
Original parquet hiding under carpet? — How Wood, AL2
We'll lift a corner, assess and tell you what you've got. Covering How Wood and nearby Park Street, Jersey Farm.
More How Wood flooring guides
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