Things to consider when buying new flooring

Deciding to buy new flooring for your home is a massive step to take, but go about it in the right way and you will have made a sound investment that will last for years to come. If you don’t know where to start, follow our top tips for some help with the process.

What type of flooring do I need?

This partly depends on which room it’s for, as well as on personal preference and budget. Wood flooring is great throughout the home, although caution should be taken if installing it in the kitchen or bathroom due to the amount of moisture these rooms attract. Tiles may be better for these spaces.

If you do opt for wood flooring, you’ll have to decide between solid or engineered wood if you want the real thing, or laminate if you like the look of wooden floors, but not the relatively high cost. The former is best if you’re prepared to spend more to get a high quality finish, but laminate flooring can be extremely good value and will last a surprisingly long time if proper care is taken of it. You can also choose from more colours/patterns than with real wood. More.

Another factor to consider is installation. Click-lock flooring is much easier to fit than tongue-and-groove products, and the former method is most common among laminate floors. So, if you want a real wood floor, you may find it takes longer to lay due to the complications of the tongue-and-groove system. Vinyl flooring is generally pretty easy to lay, while tiles require a bit more skill, but aren’t that difficult to cope with, either.

How much flooring should I buy?

Accurate measurements are the key to ensuring you don’t buy more flooring than you need – or, even worse, not enough. Measure each room for width and length and write down all of the figures, rounding them up to the nearest square metre to stay on the safe side.

You will then need to compare your measurements with those on each pack of the flooring (planks or tiles) you want to buy. The amount of flooring contained in each package should be clearly stated on the box (or on the website, if you’re buying online from retailers such as UK Flooring Direct).

It’s worth purchasing an extra pack if you intend to lay the floor yourself, as professional fitters are much more efficient at reducing wastage than less qualified people.

Is it worth paying for a professional fitter?

If you’re new to laying flooring or don’t have much confidence in your DIY abilities, it’s well worth paying for an expert to come round and fit your new floors for you. As mentioned above, they will normally use the minimum number of planks needed, allowing you to return any unopened packs for a refund.

You can find a local fitter in your area’s phone directory, online or via the shop you buy your flooring from. Try to get quotes from a few people so you can make sure you get a good deal.

However, if money is a concern and you think you can do it yourself, by all means go for it. Just make sure you carefully follow the instructions on the package and do some online research to find out what’s the best way to go about laying the type of flooring you’ve bought. As already suggested, click-lock planks are the easiest to fit, so try to avoid putting down tongue-and-groove floors by yourself unless you already have some experience of this, or are really good at DIY!