For homeowners · Tiling & flooring
Choosing flooring and getting it fitted
Choosing the covering is the easy part. The subfloor underneath it, and who is responsible for getting it flat and dry, is what decides whether the floor still looks right in five years.
Matching floor to room
- Engineered wood — warm and repairable, good over underfloor heating, not ideal in bathrooms.
- Laminate — hard wearing and inexpensive, but cannot be sanded and dislikes standing water.
- LVT and vinyl — waterproof and quiet, excellent in kitchens and bathrooms, needs a very flat subfloor.
- Tile — the most durable and the best partner for underfloor heating, but cold underfoot without it.
- Carpet — warmest and quietest for bedrooms and stairs, least suited to wet or high-traffic entrances.
Subfloor preparation
Timber floors may need overboarding to stop movement and squeaks. Concrete floors usually need a self-levelling compound, and sometimes a damp-proof membrane. Thin floor coverings such as LVT telegraph every lump underneath them, so preparation is not an optional extra. Ask each fitter what preparation they have allowed for and whether it is included.
What a fitting quote should include
- Lifting and disposing of the existing floor covering.
- Subfloor preparation, levelling and any membrane or underlay.
- Fitting, including the pattern or direction of laying.
- Trims, thresholds, beading and scotia.
- Removing and refitting doors if they need trimming.
- Whether skirting is removed and refitted or the floor is scribed to it.
Acclimatisation and underfloor heating
Wood and LVT normally need to sit in the room for a period before fitting so they settle to its temperature and humidity. Over underfloor heating, the system must be commissioned and then turned down before fitting, and brought back up slowly afterwards. Follow the manufacturer's instructions — ignoring them is the most common cause of gapping and lifting, and it usually voids the warranty.
Measuring and ordering
Give the fitter the room dimensions and let them calculate quantities including wastage. Order all of it in one batch, and keep a couple of spare planks or tiles for future repairs.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I fit flooring over existing tiles?
- Often yes for LVT or laminate, provided the tiles are sound, flat and the extra height works at doors. Loose or hollow tiles must come up first.
- Who is responsible if the floor lifts later?
- It depends on the cause: a fitting or preparation fault sits with the fitter, a product fault with the manufacturer, and ignoring acclimatisation guidance usually sits with whoever chose to skip it. Keep the paperwork.
Post your flooring job with room sizes and photos of the existing floor.
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This guide is general information for UK readers and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Where a decision depends on your circumstances, speak to a suitably qualified professional.