Finding a flooring fitter?

mlaf

Very beginner question, but my wife and I are first time buyers and will be putting in flooring (new build). Frankly, we're confused. Are flooring fitters usually independent contractors that you just find on gumtree or through word of mouth? I was reading the thread about mybuilder.com and it seems very hit and miss, both in terms of trusted reviews and whether the guy even shows up! What's the alternative? Is there a trusted way of finding reliable individuals or companies?

More specific info: we are in Edinburgh and will be fitting laminate, LVT and carpet.

SuzieSue

Find a flooring shop which does their own fitting. There are usually good independent shops in most towns. Ensure that they will be giving you a quote for both supply and fitting of the flooring and that they do not expect you to pay the fitters separately.

I would only use a contractor to fit flooring if I had a personal recommendation from someone I trusted.

mlaf

Thank you Suzie.

We were hoping to use Flooring Superstore which appeared to have good prices, but they told us we'd have to find our own fitter. Perhaps we will have to look for a company that offers it included. When we spoke with Carpetright, they appeared to suggest they would use a indepedent contractor as well, which we would then negotiate with separately. It all seems rather odd to us!

Silvertabby

We're nowhere near you, so can't help with a fitter, but we're just about to have engineered oak flooring fitted. We bought the flooring from a local supplier - who hold a list of recommended (self-employed) fitters. It just so happened that a neighbour had similar flooring fitted 3 years ago, so we have gone for the same fitter. I'd have thought that any decent flooring suppliers would operate a similar system.

Annie1960

Try Which Trusted Traders website, as they have an ADR if anything goes wrong.

Ebe_Scrooge

Most of the big carpet stores don't employ fitters, they just have a list of self-employed contractors who they use. So you could try asking one of them for a couple of phone numbers.


Failing that, try the usual methods - ask friends/neighbours, or post on a local community Facebook page for recommendations.