CM17 · M11 J7 · 22 mi from central London
Herringbone & Parquet Flooring Installers Serving Old Harlow
Chevron or herringbone? Both are on the table. Both are stunning. Both need a perfectly flat subfloor. We work weekly in Old Harlow (CM17), roughly 1 mile from Harlow town centre, with easy access via M11 J7. Conservation area around the High Street.
From £89/m² · 3–5 weeks lead time · 10-year workmanship warranty
The herringbone brief in Old Harlow
In Old Harlow the recurring brief is long-life, well-finished, photographable — and that's exactly what a properly-fitted herringbone floor delivers.
Materials & finish notes
For period properties like much of Old Harlow's Old Harlow pocket, we'd usually spec Solid oak parquet blocks in a site-finished hardwax oil finish.
Smoked herringbone is reactive ammonia-treated oak — the colour is uniform top to bottom.
Reclaimed pine parquet is a beautiful 1930s-restoration option but takes 6 weeks to source.
Materials we stock
Engineered oak herringbone 600×120mm · Engineered oak chevron 600×90mm · Solid oak parquet blocks · Reclaimed pine parquet
Finishes we offer
Smoked & oiled · Brushed natural · Reactive stained · Site-finished hardwax oil
Install methods
Full glue-down to latex screed · Glue-down over UFH (thermal adhesive) · Glue-to-ply on suspended floors
Realistic lifespan
25+ years with one re-sand at year 12–15
Old Harlow — local facts that shape the spec
Postcode
CM17
Ward / area
Old Harlow
Nearest station
Harlow Mill
Distance to central London
22 miles
Distance to Harlow
1 mile
Main road access
M11 J7
Council
Harlow District Council
Typical stock
period properties
- Historic village pre-dating the 1947 new town
- Conservation area around the High Street
Our herringbone process in Old Harlow
- 01
Survey — moisture, flatness check (±2mm over 2m), pattern direction planning.
- 02
Latex screed where needed, 48-hour cure before lay.
- 03
Full dry-lay of the pattern from the room's focal axis outward.
- 04
Glue-down install with thermally-conductive adhesive over UFH.
- 05
Border and threshold detailing — we mitre, we don't ramp.
- 06
Optional site-finish: 2-coat hardwax oil for a joint-free top layer.
- 07
Aftercare brief and one-bottle starter kit handed over.
Old Harlow herringbone FAQs
- Will my floor be uneven?
- Not when we fit it — flatness is the first survey check. If it's not ±2mm over 2m, we latex it.
- How much extra does herringbone cost vs straight plank?
- Typically 30–40% more — material is the same; the labour is the cost. Worth it.
- Can you fit herringbone over old floorboards?
- Only after we lay 6mm ply over the top — herringbone needs a flat substrate, full stop.
- Is solid parquet still done?
- Yes — 22mm solid oak blocks, secret-pinned or bitumen-bedded. Beautiful, but engineered is more practical for modern builds.
- Will my floor be uneven?
- Not when we fit it — flatness is the first survey check. If it's not ±2mm over 2m, we latex it.
- How much extra does herringbone cost vs straight plank?
- Typically 30–40% more — material is the same; the labour is the cost. Worth it.
- Can you fit herringbone over old floorboards?
- Only after we lay 6mm ply over the top — herringbone needs a flat substrate, full stop.
Why Old Harlow clients choose us
- Thermal-conductive adhesive as standard over UFH
- Hand-fit by our own parquet team, never subcontracted
- Old Harlow surveys booked within the same working week
- Thermal-conductive adhesive as standard over UFH
Common pitfalls we plan around
Blocks wider than 120mm over UFH
Wide blocks over UFH cup. We cap herringbone at 120mm wide for any UFH build-up.
Skipping the dry-lay
Every herringbone job we do gets a full dry-lay first — alignment errors are visible from across the room.
Underestimating prep time
Herringbone needs a perfectly flat subfloor. Latex screed and 48 hours cure are non-negotiable.
Nearby CM areas we also cover
We're regularly on the M11 J7 route — these neighbouring pockets sit within a few miles of Old Harlow:
Summary
Old Harlow (CM17) is on our regular Harlow schedule. Herringbone & Parquet Flooring from £89/m², 3–5 weeks lead time, one team, one warranty, one finish date. Nothing fancy — just done properly.
Speak to a parquet specialist — Old Harlow, CM17
Direct line to the fitters who'll be on your job. Covering Old Harlow and nearby Church Langley, Harlow Town.
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