Flooring Installation Costs in the UK
reading time: 6 minutesWhat to Expect
Correct fitting of your flooring is essential in guaranteeing the best durability and look. While some may prefer to install the flooring themselves, many others do not possess the knowledge or skills to be able to install it. This is where professional fitters come in to play to fit the flooring for you ensuring the perfect durability and aesthetics. However, within the UK, Flooring Installation Costs can vary between fitters/fitting companies due to a number of factors such as flooring costs and labour costs.
Factors Affecting Flooring Installation Costs
There are many factors which can influence the cost of Flooring Installation within the UK. It is important to consider each of these factors carefully to understand the price of an installation and what actually constitutes that price.
Type of Flooring Material
Different Flooring materials can vary massively in price due to their manufacturing process and what they are made up of. For example, Solid Wood is far more expensive than Luxury Vinyl (LVT) as Solid Wood is made up entirely of real wood while LVT is made using synthetic materials.
Floor Size & Area
Simply put, the larger the room, the more it will cost to install the flooring. This is because more flooring materials are required and it will take a longer time to install the flooring.
Subfloor Preparation & Additional Costs
There may also be some additional costs that you are unaware of in regards to installing flooring in your home. These include repairing the subfloor if damaged or levelling an uneven subfloor to ensure correct stability when the flooring is installed. While it is a necessary procedure, these additional costs can raise the price of your installation without even realising.
Labour Costs
Within the installation price is the cost of the actual installation process. This requires a lot of time and effort from the fitters which can of course affect the price. Additionally, more experienced fitters may charge more as they are able to complete the job quicker and more efficiently. Finally, some fitters may charge more depending on the area in the UK. Busier, more populated areas tend to cost significantly more than quieter, less populated areas.
Average Flooring Installation Costs in the UK
Laminate
Laminate Flooring tends to be cheaper to install due to its click-lock system which makes it very easy to install. Additionally, the planks tend to be lighter which makes them easier to move around.
Average Price per m2 (fitting only) – £10 – £15
Engineered
Engineered Flooring can lean more towards the expensive side as it can only be installed using the glue down or nail down method. These not only require more time and precision but also additional materials. As well as this, the planks are heavier in comparison to LVT which makes it more difficult to manoeuvre.
Average Price per m2 (Fitting only) – £15 – £25
Solid Wood
Solid Wood generally tends to be the most expensive to install because of the installation methods required. It does not feature a click-lock system and can only be installed via the glue down or nail down method which ultimately requires more time, precision and materials. Additionally, the planks tend to be heavier which makes them harder to manoeuvre around.
Average Price per m2 (Fitting Only) – £20 – £30
Luxury Vinyl Tile
Luxury Vinyl Tile is another flooring option which can be rather inexpensive to install. This is due to the click-lock system which makes it very easy to install. However, the cost can also lean more towards the expensive side depending on the size of the room thus requiring more planks.
Average Price per m2 (Fitting Only) – £15 – £25
Carpet
Carpet is very inexpensive to install because of the fact it can be done very quickly. The process of stretching and gluing the carpet is quite effortless for many professional fitters.
Average Price per m2 (Fitting Only) – £5 – £10
How to Save on Flooring Installation Costs
Flooring Installation Costs in the UK are unfortunately far from cheap and tend to lean very much into the expensive side. However, in spite of this, there are many ways in which you can save some money to prevent spending above your budget. These can include, waiting for items to go on sale or to consider DIY options.
Consider DIY Installation
DIY Installation completely eradicates the cost of a professional fitter which can help you save a lot of money in the long run. However, DIY installation does require extensive knowledge and potential experience in order to ensure correct installation.
- Pros: Saves a lot of money, gives you greater freedom to customise your home further
- Cons: Time Consuming, Easy To Make Mistakes, Requires a lot of Knowledge
Get Multiple Quotes from Installers
Every Flooring store will have different labour costs and material costs which will affect the overall price they charge for installation. It is important to contact multiple flooring stores to inquire about their installation flooring costs so that you find the best price for your budget.
However, you should consider how reputable the company is, check a lot of different options and measure your room/s properly.
Look for Sales & Discounts on Flooring
Sales and discounts on Flooring can massively help to reduce the cost of the materials and it happens more often than you think. By waiting some time for your desired flooring to go on sale, it can help to save you a lot of money in the long run. Another way to go about it, is to take advantage of other flooring options instead whilst they are on sale if your desired flooring is not yet on sale but you are desperate to renovate your home.
Hidden Costs of Flooring Installation in UK
Installing the flooring itself is not the only cost as there are many other hidden costs which can raise the price indefinitely. While some companies will include these costs as part of the price itself, other companies will simply add it on to the initial quote or won’t make it as apparent. This can be very misleading and may throw you off. Therefore, it is crucial to bear these potential costs in mind.
These hidden costs may include:
- Waste Removal
- Cleaning
- Subfloor Preparation
- Levelling
- Additional Materials (Adhesive, Nails etc)
- Removal of Old Flooring
- Delivery of Flooring
How To Choose The Right Flooring Installation Service In The UK?
With the sheer number of professional fitters available within the UK it can be very overwhelming to not only choose one but also know if they’re the right one for you. Therefore it is important to consider the following factors to ensure that you are able to choose the correct fitter for you.
Check for Qualifications and Experience
It is very important to ensure that your fitter is well qualified and experienced to give you greater peace of mind knowing that your floor will be fitted correctly. Hiring a fitter with less experience can ultimately result in a poorly fitted floor.
Ask for References and Reviews
Checking reviews online or requesting references can be a great way of gaging how the fitter chosen has performed in the past. It will give you a brief overview of what to expect and see how well they have fitted the floors.
FAQ
What is the average cost of flooring installation in the UK?
On average, the cost of flooring installation in the UK is around £15 per m2 to £30 per m2.
What affects the cost of flooring installation?
Type of Flooring Material, Room Size & Additional Costs can all affect the cost of flooring installation.
How can I reduce the cost of flooring installation?
Sales, Quotes from Multiple Fitters & DIY Installation can all help to reduce the cost of flooring installation significantly.
Is Flooring Installation cheaper in certain areas of the UK?
Flooring Installation can actually vary depending on which area you live in. For example, busier areas like London tend to have higher installation costs compared to quieter areas like Wrexham.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Flooring Installation Costs in the UK can be very costly and if you possess the skills to install the flooring yourself then you should as it will save you a lot of money in the long run.
However, not everyone is going to be able to install the flooring themself and will thus require an expert fitter. It is therefore important to choose the correct floor, measure the room/s correctly and check for any additional hidden costs. Additionally, once you have found the fitter for you, it is good to check their reviews and credibility online to see if they are truly the right choice.
Contact Us
To enquire or learn more about our expert fitting services, contact us or visit one our showrooms and speak to one of our friendly Flooring Surgeons.
Halesowen
214A Dudley Road. Halesowen, Birmingham, B63 3NJ
0121 274 8575
Monday – Friday: 9AM – 6PM | Weekends: 10AM – 4PM
Wolverhampton
317 Penn Rd, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV4 5QF
01902 836666
Monday – Friday: 9AM – 6PM | Sat: 10AM – 4PM | Sun: Closed
info@flooringsurgeons.co.uk
fitting@flooringsurgeons.co.uk
customerservices@flooringsurgeons.co.uk