A UK couple went from rugs to riches after discovering a $30,000 wooden “diamond parquet” floor underneath their carpet, as detailed in a TikTok video with more than 2 million views.
“We were blown away,” Josh Brooks, 37, told Jam Press about the literal hidden gem.
He and his wife Emily, 38, had been renovating their property in Walthamstow, London, when they happened upon the nearly 30-year-old ritzy floor underneath the rug.
“We had a flooring specialist come round to have a look and told us it’s some of the best type of oak he’s seen and in excellent condition,” gushed Josh Brooks.Jam Press/@brooks_renovation
Josh and Emily Brooks after striking gold.Jam Press/@brooks_renovation
Accompanying footage shows the Brit half peeling back the carpeting to unveil the harlequin-patterned hardwood floor.
“We’d seen a tiny corner when we visited the house, but when we found out it was diamond parquet in perfect condition, we were blown away,” exclaimed Josh while describing the ornate floorboards.
“We are going to keep it and do a fine sand throughout then finish with either a varnish or stain,” said Josh.Jam Press/@brooks_renovation
He was referring to a special type of decorative wood inlay, which is pricey due to the expensive hardwood it’s comprised of.
The more wood the floor contains, the more expensive it is.
“We had a flooring specialist come round to have a look and told us it’s some of the best type of oak he’s seen and in excellent condition,” gushed Josh.
He said they estimated its value to be between £20,000 and £25,000 ($25,000 to $32,000).
In other words, these aren’t the type of floorboards you want to hide cash beneath.
Josh said they plan to keep the parquet and maybe sand it before finishing it with “either a varnish or stain” so it gleams more brightly.
TikTok viewers were floored by the find.
“You hit the floor lottery!!!!” fawned one fan, while another wrote, “That is exquisitely phenomenal!!!”
“I would never stop crying,” gushed a third. “They’re so beautiful.”