Two quotes for the same luxury vinyl tile (LVT) can describe quite different jobs. One may include preparing the floor underneath. The other may assume it is already ready to fit. Ask both fitters what they expect to find under the old covering and what they have allowed for if that assumption is wrong.
Find out what is underneath
Tell the fitter what is down now, where the floor moves or creaks, and whether there has been a leak. If you know there is timber in one room and screed in another, mark the change on the plan. Ask what they can inspect at the survey and what will only become clear once the old covering is lifted.
A floor can slope gently and still be flat across the area where the planks will sit. A ridge or hollow is a different question. Ask the fitter to check local unevenness against the instructions for the exact product you want. Quick-Step’s vinyl preparation guide explains why its products need a stable base and gives specific flatness limits for Alpha Vinyl.
Price the preparation separately
Click and gluedown vinyl each have their own requirements. Ask what the proposed floor needs over your particular base. For example, Karndean’s gluedown instructions distinguish between timber boards and screed, and call for moisture checks. A fitter may need to secure loose boards or specify a suitable smoothing system, depending on the floor they find and the product being installed.
Ask for a separate line for lifting and disposal, another for the preparation the fitter can already identify, and a written note of what is still provisional. If moisture is a concern, ask who will measure it and what happens to the fitting date if the base fails the product’s requirements. Agree who will show you any unexpected work and obtain your approval before going ahead.
Check where the new floor meets the old
In a Tooting terrace, you might want the same vinyl through the hall and kitchen, with carpet staying in the front room. Ask the fitter to show the proposed finished heights at both doorways, including any preparation layers. Then agree the transition to the carpet and check that doors will still open freely. If kitchen units are also being replaced, agree the flooring and cabinet sequence before booking either trade.
For a South West London refurbishment, send OSPM your postcode and project details. Include the rooms involved, the covering currently down and the vinyl product you are considering. That gives us a useful starting point for discussing the preparation and fitting as one job.
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