Preserve the beauty, history and craftsmanship of your parquetry with expert restoration backed by 30+ years of heritage flooring experience.
Heritage parquetry requires precision, technical knowledge and a deep understanding of period-correct methods. We restore historic parquet floors the right way — protecting fragile patterns, stabilising aged adhesives and ensuring every block is preserved with complete authenticity.
Heritage parquet flooring represents some of the finest timber craftsmanship ever installed in Australian buildings. Unlike modern engineered or click-lock parquetry, these floors were hand-cut, individually laid, and often sourced from timber species that are now protected, rare, or no longer milled. This makes restoration highly specialised work requiring historical knowledge, technical precision, and an understanding of how century-old timber behaves under stress, moisture and movement.
Heritage parquetry flooring is an irreplaceable part of Australia’s architectural history, found in historic buildings, heritage-listed homes, and public landmarks. Over time, these intricate timber floors can suffer from wear, loose blocks, water damage, and structural deterioration due to aged adhesives and environmental exposure. Glen Gilbertson Floor Sanding specialises in heritage parquet flooring restoration, repairs, and installation, ensuring that these historical features are preserved for future generations.
With over 30 years of experience and Australasian Timber Flooring Association (ATFA) certification, we restore original herringbone, chevron, and basket weave parquetry using traditional techniques. Whether it’s repairing bituminous adhesive deterioration, stabilising floating parquet blocks, or refinishing century-old hardwood, our expert craftsmanship maintains historical accuracy while reinforcing the floor’s durability.
In heritage buildings, parquetry was often chosen not only for aesthetics but also for its structural purpose. The geometric arrangement of blocks created stability across large rooms, distributing weight more evenly across joists and improving acoustic performance. These floors were built to last a lifetime — but only when maintained correctly. Restoring parquetry is a meticulous process, and using incorrect adhesives, sanding methods or finishes may permanently damage the pattern and weaken the timber.
Parquetry flooring became popular in Australia in the early 1900s, particularly in government buildings, heritage homes, and historic public spaces. Unlike modern timber flooring, heritage parquet consists of small hardwood blocks arranged in intricate patterns, often secured using bituminous adhesive or tongue-and-groove systems.
Some heritage parquet floors also incorporate contrasting timbers such as Walnut, European Oak, or Mahogany, particularly in premium government buildings and historic estates. These combinations create spectacular visual depth but require precise colour-matching during restoration to ensure all blocks blend seamlessly.
Heritage parquetry flooring is commonly found in government buildings, historic churches, museums, libraries, and period homes. These floors are an integral part of Sydney’s architectural history, showcasing the craftsmanship and durability of traditional timber flooring. Many of these historic sites feature intricate parquetry patterns that require expert restoration to maintain their original character.
✔ The Art Gallery of NSW
✔ The State Library of NSW
✔ Sydney Town Hall
✔ The Commonwealth Bank Building
✔ St Mary’s Cathedral
✔ St Vincent’s College Chapel
✔ St Stephen’s Uniting Church
✔ Sydney Grammar School
✔ The Capitol Theatre
✔ The State Theatre
Restoring parquetry in historic settings often requires working within strict heritage guidelines. Our team collaborates with conservation architects, heritage consultants, and building managers to ensure all restoration meets compliance requirements and preserves the building’s historical significance. We also document the restoration process — including materials used, original block patterns, and any structural findings — allowing property owners to maintain accurate heritage records.
Heritage Parquetry patterns were traditionally laid with contrasting timber inlays, creating decorative borders and feature panels that require expert restoration to preserve.
✔ Herringbone Parquetry – A zigzag design found in Federation homes and historic public buildings.
✔ Chevron Parquetry – A refined pattern that creates a seamless, angular aesthetic.
✔ Basket Weave Parquetry – An interlocking design used in early 20th-century commercial spaces.
✔ Versailles Parquetry – A highly intricate panel-style design, originally seen in European estates.
✔ Brick Bond Parquetry – A staggered layout often used in Sydney’s early apartment buildings.
Restoring these patterns is far more complex than modern parquetry installations. Each block must be refitted with perfect alignment to avoid disrupting the visual rhythm. Even a 1mm shift may cause misalignment across the pattern. This is why heritage parquet floors must never be repaired using modern pre-glued blocks or mismatched materials — doing so risks visible irregularities that compromise the authenticity of the floor.
Wear and Surface Damage
Loose or Missing Parquet Blocks
Over-Sanding and Structural Weakness
Water and Moisture Damage
Many heritage buildings have subfloors that have shifted over decades, causing movement in parquet blocks. Our team evaluates the subfloor structure and reinforcement needs before any restoration begins.
We often see heritage floors patched with engineered boards, incorrect adhesives, or mismatched timber species. Part of our restoration work involves reversing these errors and reinstating traditional methods.
Historic timbers age differently based on exposure to sunlight, humidity, and wear. We use advanced colour-blending techniques to ensure replaced blocks blend invisibly with surrounding aged timber.
Parquetry Floor Restoration
Our restoration method prioritises timber preservation. Rather than sanding aggressively, we use fine abrasive sequences and controlled pressure techniques to prevent unnecessary material removal. This protects the remaining timber depth — a critical factor in heritage conservation.
Parquetry Repairs & Replacement
Heritage Parquetry Installation
Polishing & Finishing for Heritage Parquetry
We also offer custom finishing solutions that replicate the sheen, warmth, and tactile characteristics of flooring from different eras. For example, Federation-era floors often used shellac or tung oil, while 1930s commercial buildings leaned toward waxed finishes. Our expertise ensures these details are preserved accurately.
Restoring heritage flooring requires a careful balance of craftsmanship, authenticity, and modern techniques. Here’s how we bring heritage timber and parquet flooring back to life with expert care and period-accurate methods.
✔ On-Site Inspection & Floor Assessment – Analysing wear, damage, and adhesive stability.
✔ Custom Restoration Plan – Selecting materials and methods to maintain period authenticity.
✔ Precision Repairs & Block Replacement – Strengthening the parquet while preserving original craftsmanship.
✔ Sanding & Refinishing – Restoring the timber surface without excessive material loss.
✔ Final Sealing & Polishing – Applying protective finishes to enhance durability.
✔ Maintenance Recommendations – Advising on long-term care to prevent future deterioration.
During restoration, we also conduct structural moisture testing, adhesive stability assessments, and detailed mapping of loose or lifted blocks. This allows us to create a restoration plan that preserves as much original flooring as possible while addressing long-term stability.
✔ ATFA-Certified Heritage Flooring Specialists – Experienced in historic floor restoration.
✔ 26+ Years of Experience – Trusted for restoring heritage-listed buildings and historic sites.
✔ Traditional Restoration Methods – Using authentic techniques for period-accurate results.
✔ Expertise in Parquetry & Decorative Inlays – Skilled in repairing complex timber patterns.
✔ Minimal Disruption & Dust-Free Sanding – Protecting interiors during restoration.
✔ Competitive Pricing & Free Consultations – Transparent pricing with no hidden costs.
Our reputation in heritage restoration has been built through decades of work across Sydney’s most iconic buildings, where precision and authenticity are essential. We source reclaimed heritage timber, use traditional restoration methods, and prioritise structural longevity — ensuring every restored floor becomes a durable and historically accurate feature of the building.
Heritage parquetry floors are a vital part of Australia’s architectural legacy. Whether you need sanding, polishing, repairs, or full restoration, our specialists provide expert craftsmanship to preserve these historical floors.
Heritage parquetry is more than flooring — it is a living piece of architecture. Whether your floor requires intricate inlay repairs, stabilisation of bituminous adhesives, or full restoration, our team ensures every detail respects the building’s historical value.
We use gentle sanding techniques, authentic adhesives, and period-correct finishes to maintain structural integrity while strengthening the floor.
Yes! We source matching heritage timbers and recreate historic patterns to ensure seamless restoration.
Natural oils, waxes, and low-sheen coatings preserve authenticity while protecting the timber.
Most projects take 3-7 days, depending on the restoration requirements and floor condition.
Yes! We install authentic parquetry using traditional methods and high-quality timbers.
Yes. We specialise in correcting past restoration mistakes, including mismatched timbers, uneven sanding, and incorrect adhesives.
Absolutely — we frequently restore parquetry in museums, galleries, churches, theatres, and government buildings where durability and historical accuracy are essential.
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