Flooring, laid
the way it should be

It depends entirely on the covering you choose and how much preparation the subfloor needs. Carpet, laminate, vinyl, bamboo and solid wood sit at very different price points, and a floor needing self-levelling costs more than one that is already flat. Herringbone adds labour and offcut waste on top. We measure and quote in writing, free.

You need it when the subfloor is out of tolerance — and we check with a straight edge rather than guessing. It matters most under glue-down vinyl and carpet, where the covering follows every contour of the base. Skipping it is the most common reason a new floor looks wrong within months.

Stretch carpet over underlay is softer, warmer and more comfortable, which is why it suits bedrooms, living areas and hotel rooms. Glue-down is flatter and more stable, holds up better under office chairs and heavy traffic, and is the standard for commercial floors.

Laminate gives you the timber look at the lowest cost and installs fastest. Bamboo is harder underfoot than most hardwoods and very stable. Solid wood costs the most but can be sanded and resealed decades later rather than replaced. We will talk you through the trade-offs on site rather than pushing the dearest option.

Usually yes, if the tiles are sound, level and dry — it saves the cost and mess of lifting them. Where tiles are drummy, cracked or badly out of level we will say so. Laying over a bad base hides the problem rather than solving it.

Yes to both. We lift and dispose of old carpet, laminate, vinyl or tiles and move furniture as part of the job. Mention it at the measure and it goes into the quote instead of appearing as an extra later.

A three-bedroom home in straight-lay laminate or vinyl is typically two to four days once the subfloor is ready. Carpet is often quicker. Herringbone roughly doubles laying time, and self-levelling needs curing time before we start — all of which we allow for in the programme.

Both move with temperature and humidity. Without a perimeter gap the floor has nowhere to go and lifts or peaks in the middle of the room. Skirting or quarter round covers the gap so you never see it, but leaving it out is a guaranteed callback.