We are specialists in the production of traditional solid oak board and parquet flooring. We source this from both English oak grown here on Exmoor and from French oak grown in the Cote d'Or region of Burgundy.
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| Oak woodlands in the Haddeo Valley,
seen from Lady Harriet's drive |
Oak from Exmoor
Bernard Dru is a specialist oak producer in West Somerset. Unusually,
the oak is sourced from his own woodlands and is seasoned following traditional
methods to produce oak flooring. This allows control of all stages of production
from growing to the final machining.
About English Oak
English oak is generally regarded as the prettiest of the varieties on
offer and oak from the Exmoor region is notable for its wild flowery grain
and rich texture and colour.
We have four different grades of oak flooring to most other mills' two and
these are described textually and photographically on this website.
About French Oak
Clearer grades are often sourced out of French oak imported from a traditional
family run mill in the Cote d'Or region in northern Burgundy. This wood
is bought 'en boule' - in other words it is the first better quality part
of the log which is stacked for drying in its original 'tree' formation.
This part of the tree is normally reserved for joinery and cabinet making
while most French oak flooring on the market is taken from the upper inferior
part of the tree. We source this oak in two grades: Classic (belle menuiserie
ebenisterie) and Classic/Exmoor (belle menuiserie) which is somewhere
between the English Classic and Exmoor grade [see grading specifications]
although knots are more widely spaced apart. We carry out the final drying
and machining ourselves.
Other Products
Bernard Dru also produces oak skirting and other architectural mouldings,
boarded oak doors such as ledged and boarded and ledged boarded and braced
'cottage' doors, and oak to a cutting list such as for steps and risers
on stairs or shelving. We also have a good stock of weathered character
beams which may be used, for example, as lintels.
For grades, grains, finishes and textures, please refer to the menu.
