Floor fitters can install a range of flooring types throughout your home, including laying new carpet if no amount of cleaning will get it looking brand new, or if it’s worn thin. They’re skilled at working with a range of materials, including laminate, linoleum, vinyl, rubber, polished concrete and wood – both solid and engineered. While they can be brought in to lay a new floor, they can also help out at the earlier stage of removing the old flooring (often for an additional cost) or as a one-off to sand and finish a floor.
A good fitter will be happy to suggest the best flooring materials for any given room in a home or commercial building. They’ll know what types are best avoided in wet areas like the bathroom, as well as which materials are within your price range and will suit your needs. For instance, they’ll know that rubber is quiet to walk on and shock absorbent making it a good choice for a child’s bedroom where you’ll want to get out of the room as quietly as possible once the little one(s) has fallen asleep.
Some floor fitters specialise in certain areas like laying carpets or fitting solid wooden flooring. You’ll also find floor fitters that will fit underfloor heating to help warm up your home during the colder months and keep it cool during the summer.
Costs for common floor fitting jobs
We surveyed our tradespeople to give you an idea of the amount you can expect to pay for common floor fitting jobs. The costs below are an approximate national average and do not include materials.
What are the different types of flooring?
Carpet
A carpet’s best quality is its softness. One of the most important things is the underlay as it’s this that gives you the cushioning effect, as well as insulation against heat loss and noise. Rubber/rubber waffle underlay is the most loved type – it’s springy, long lasting and breathable, while being affordable. Carpet should be avoided in wet areas because it doesn’t react well to moisture but it’s a great choice for the bedroom, where you can indulge in a deep-pile texture to give a luxurious feel.
Vinyl
This looks polished and is resistant to scratches and stains. It’s ideal for both wet and dry areas like the living room and bathroom and is quiet to walk on.
Rubber
One of the best things about rubber is that it’s humidity resistant. It’s also shock proof and even quieter than vinyl to walk on, making it a great choice for flooring in a children’s bedroom. The downside is that it can be slippery when wet, so spillages need to be cleaned quickly.
Bamboo
Not as common as other options, bamboo is a great choice for a pet-friendly home. It’s durable and is good for gripping. It’s also stain resistant and can’t be damaged by water so you can use it in bathrooms and other areas where you’d like the look of wood without the possibility of it warping.
Linoleum
Lino has hypoallergenic qualities, so mould and other bacteria can’t grow on top of it. It’s also fire resistant.
Polished concrete
Concrete floors are great for giving a stripped back, industrial feel to a home. Colour can be added to the mix so it doesn’t always have to be grey. It also works well with underfloor heating, being cool underfoot in summer and warm in winter.
Solid wood
Solid wood flooring is made from 100% natural wood, which is typically hardwood like timber, oat or walnut. Because the flooring’s made from slow growing trees, it’s more expensive than engineered wood. It has a long life and you can sand and recoat it multiple times without ruining it. It’s also suitable for most areas of the home with the exception of humid and moist environments like the bathroom and kitchen. If you’re planning on fitting underfloor heating, it’s best to avoid it as it can warp when it gets too hot.
Engineered wood
Each engineered floorboard contains natural wood but only as a top layer that’s roughly 3mm to 6mm thick. Because of this, it has the look of solid wood, but contains manmade materials underneath like plywood, MDF and softwood. It’s cheaper and is a better option for fitting over underfloor heating or in wet areas of the home.
Laminate
Developed as a cheaper alternative to real wood, today’s laminate flooring resembles a range of wood, from oak and pine to more unusual woods. The flooring can also be made to look like stone and metal. An image of the wood or other material is printed on to fibreboard which has a treated layer underneath to guard against water damage. The very top layer is clear and hard wearing to make it scratch resistant. Even the best laminate flooring isn’t perfect at defending against moisture damage so it might not be the best choice for the bathroom. It also can’t be refinished like solid wood so it’ll eventually wear out and need to be replaced.
Planning permission for flooring jobs
Planning permission isn’t normally required to replace a floor. However, if you live in a listed building, you should contact your Local Planning Authority (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/) before carrying out any work as different rules may apply.
Insurance for flooring work
There is no legal requirement for floor fitters to have insurance but it’s good practice for all tradespeople to have public liability insurance to cover themselves against any property damage and personal injury claims.
Questions you should ask a floor fitter
- How long have they been trading?
- Do they have public liability insurance and what does this cover?
- Can they show you examples of their previous work?
- Will it be themselves carrying out the work? If not, what experience does the person have and are they covered by insurance?
- Will they give a guarantee for the work and how long does that last?
See the latest questions that homeowners have been asking floor fitters.
Bamboo
