A TRADITIONAL flooring company from York is to appear on Channel 4’s Beeny’s Restoration Nightmares in November.

Jim Sanderson, of Eco Flooring and Restoration UK, which specialises in recycling old parquet floors, has laid the flooring in Rise Hall, a huge Georgian property in Hull owned by presenter Sarah Beeny, who is restoring it to use as a wedding venue.

Jim, who also works at Acomb and York fire stations, set up the business about 16 months ago, after 20 years working for himself in the flooring industry.

He said he found more people were doing it themselves or joiners and handymen were diversifying to fit flooring, so he changed his strategy to provide something different, specialising in recycling and fitting reclaimed parquet flooring and solid wood floors.

He said: “We went back to basics and returned to the old-fashioned technique of parquet flooring. I use old products and do everything traditionally and find I get the best results that way.”

He has since won a number of big contracts, fitting out a bus that will tour the athletes’ villages at London’s 2012 Olympic Games; Stoneleigh Abbey, in Wales; and projects in London, which led him to be recommended to Sarah Beeny.

Sarah said: “Eco Flooring UK started in one room at Rise Hall and did such a beautiful job that they are now rather rapidly working their way around most of the house.

“A friend in London told me about Eco Flooring and how 170 trees were saved last year by them using reclaimed rather than new wood floors. I have to admit I was a bit sceptical that anyone could really save the floors at Rise Hall. I am happy to say Jim has exceeded my expectations and they now look truly amazing.”

Jim said it was an honour to do the work, which has been made possible by North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s flexible approach, allowing him to take a sabbatical from part of his duties to get his business, which employs five people, off the ground.

Jim is now talking to Sarah about filming the restoration of his Victorian passenger boat, S L Belle, which he hopes to return to York’s waterways and use for events.