North Devon's cob cottages, stone farmhouses and converted barns call for oak with real character. RPG Carpentry & Joinery supplies and fits solid, engineered and wide-board oak flooring across Barnstaple and the Taw valley — from Pilton and Newport to Fremington, Braunton and Bideford — matching the timber to the building.
Barnstaple is North Devon's ancient market town, sitting where the River Taw widens towards the coast. The housing around it tells the story of the land: cob and stone cottages in Pilton and Newport, working farmhouses out towards South Molton, and barn conversions dotted across Fremington, Braunton and down to Bideford. These are buildings with thick walls, generous proportions and a great deal of history — and they suit characterful, wide-board oak far better than a uniform modern floor.
We work across the whole area, taking the time to read each property before we specify. A rustic farmhouse kitchen, a barn-conversion living space and a cottage hallway all want a slightly different board, grade and finish, and we tailor the oak accordingly.
Wide-board character oak is the signature North Devon floor. In rustic (CD) grade it shows knots, sapwood and natural colour variation, and in widths up to 220mm it echoes the scale of a barn or farmhouse beautifully. Brushed and smoked finishes deepen the character further. Where the look matters most and the subfloor allows it, solid wide-board oak gives the most authentic result and can be sanded for generations.
Engineered oak is the steadier choice for cooler, damper rooms and over any underfloor heating in a renovated barn. Its cross-bonded core stays stable where a solid board might move, and it is available in the same wide, rustic formats, so you keep the characterful look with added reliability. We help you weigh character against stability for each room.
The floors beneath North Devon's older homes are rarely flat and rarely dry by modern standards. Cob and stone cottages around Pilton and Newport often have undulating bases and need to breathe, while barn conversions may combine new screed with original stone. We survey the base carefully, measure moisture, and level using methods that respect the building's breathability rather than sealing it up and trapping damp in the walls.
Where readings call for it we fit a suitable moisture barrier, and we always acclimatise the oak in the room for several days so its moisture content settles to a property that may be cooler and damper than a modern house. Getting the base right is what keeps a characterful wide board flat and gap-free for the long term.
Oak flooring is priced per square metre, supplied and fitted. The figures below are a 2026 guide for Barnstaple and North Devon; your final quote depends on board choice, subfloor condition and access.
| Option | Price (supplied & fitted) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Engineered oak, prime grade | £45 – £65/m² | Steady choice for cooler rooms & underfloor heating |
| Solid oak, prime grade | £60 – £80/m² | Drier first-floor rooms in cottages & farmhouses |
| Wide-plank / rustic character grade | £75 – £90/m² | The North Devon favourite for barns & cottages |
| Subfloor prep & damp work | Quoted separately | Levelling cob & stone bases, breathable methods, DPM |
North Devon's cob, stone and barn properties catch out fitters who are used to flat, dry, modern floors. We are not. We have laid wide-board oak across cottages, farmhouses and conversions throughout the Taw valley, and we know how to level an uneven base, respect a breathable building and choose the grade that lets the timber do justice to the house. With more than 200 projects behind us, the preparation matters to us as much as the boards.
Every quote is free, written and itemised, and we are happy to bring wide-board samples to your North Devon home so you can see the grain, knots and finish in your own space before committing.
For converted barns and farmhouses around Barnstaple, Fremington and Braunton, wide-board rustic-grade oak is the natural choice. The knots, sapwood and colour variation of a character grade suit the scale and history of these buildings, and wide planks up to 220mm echo the original timberwork rather than fighting it.
Oak flooring in Barnstaple costs roughly £45 to £90 per m² supplied and fitted in 2026. Engineered prime grade is the most affordable, solid oak is mid-range, and the wide-board character oak popular in North Devon barns and cottages sits at the top. Levelling uneven cob or stone subfloors is quoted separately.
Yes. Cob and stone cottages around Pilton, Newport and South Molton often have uneven, undulating floors. We survey the base, level it where needed using suitable methods that respect the building's breathability, address any damp, then lay the oak so it sits flat and stable without losing the cottage's character.
Always. The cob, stone and barn properties of North Devon can be cooler and damper than a modern house, so we leave the oak in the room for several days to let its moisture content settle to the building before fitting. This avoids gaps and movement once the heating cycles through the seasons.
Get a free, no-obligation quote with wide-board samples brought to your home anywhere across Barnstaple and North Devon.
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