Finding a fitter for carpet and wood flooring installation

rentalforever

Trying to help my parents get their floors refreshed for their modest sized 3-bed terraced house with engineered wood in the lounge and hallway, carpets on stairs, landing and bedrooms. Lots of options available for getting the carpet and infinite choice of price points. Not looking for anything fancy so something on the budget to mid-range price point will do. The issue is trying to find someone willing to do the fit seems to be next to impossible.

Reasons for refusing the job from various people I've called:

• Job isn't worth it because I'm not buying the materials from them
• If I buy online, the carpet will arrive in a massive roll and it's very difficult to cut from inside the house - buy from them and we will get it cut to exact or approx size before bringing over
• I don't do engineered wood/laminate install but if you buy XYZ brand of flooring then I'll consider it
• I won't do the skirting board so you'll need to get someone else to do that or use beading but it won't look great

Carpetright quoted £3.5k for the job in West Midlands, and that's using beading for the wood floor. Are the issues above valid ones or are they just excuses for being picky about which job to take?

theonlywayisup

rentalforever said:

 Are the issues above valid ones or are they just excuses for being picky about which job to take?

Does it really matter?  If they won't do the job or quote ridiculous prices then you aren't going to have them fit it. 

Have you tried a local facebook group?

rentalforever

theonlywayisup said:

rentalforever said:

 Are the issues above valid ones or are they just excuses for being picky about which job to take?

Does it really matter?  If they won't do the job or quote ridiculous prices then you aren't going to have them fit it. 

Have you tried a local facebook group?

It matters to know if I'm being unreasonable in the way I want to work or if I just happen to be calling the wrong people. For instance, maybe those online carpet stores are for those who are willing to fit themselves or tradespeople buying supplies for their customers.

GDB2222

You could ask a builder what he would charge to remove and refit the skirting. 

TELLIT01

rentalforever said:

Trying to help my parents get their floors refreshed for their modest sized 3-bed terraced house with engineered wood in the lounge and hallway, carpets on stairs, landing and bedrooms. Lots of options available for getting the carpet and infinite choice of price points. Not looking for anything fancy so something on the budget to mid-range price point will do. The issue is trying to find someone willing to do the fit seems to be next to impossible.

Reasons for refusing the job from various people I've called:

• Job isn't worth it because I'm not buying the materials from them
• If I buy online, the carpet will arrive in a massive roll and it's very difficult to cut from inside the house - buy from them and we will get it cut to exact or approx size before bringing over
• I don't do engineered wood/laminate install but if you buy XYZ brand of flooring then I'll consider it
• I won't do the skirting board so you'll need to get someone else to do that or use beading but it won't look great

Carpetright quoted £3.5k for the job in West Midlands, and that's using beading for the wood floor. Are the issues above valid ones or are they just excuses for being picky about which job to take?

1.  Is simply an honest answer to your question of why won't the do the job.  2,3 and 4 are valid reasons.  Removal and refitting skirting boards and architraves to get a clean finish the the flooring is not a small job.  Skirting etc can be damaged when removed, paintwork and plaster on walls likewise.

Most good contractors seem to have work coming out of their ears due to the periods where they couldn't, or wouldn't, work indoors due to Covid.

bris

I'm yet to see a carpet retailer not have any fitters to lay their carpets. Are you trying to buy the carpets/ flooring separate or online or something? 

it really doesn't make any sense, these places need fitters and don't expect their customers to do it themselves.

If it's the first one the you will find it very difficult as every one who can do the job works for the retailers.

rentalforever

The fitters I called who weren't keen on the job or would only work in a certain way were all listed on checkatrade.com. I noticed that one of the sites I ordered samples from has a directory that fitters are listed on: https://www.flooringsuperstore.com.

They're not in any way vetted or associated with the online store but they've obviously listed themselves on there because they're happy to do the job for those who want to purchase the materials themselves. Gave one of them a call this afternoon and they're now scheduled to pop out on Monday to measure up. Fingers crossed it works out. If it does, then it's a great idea!

Silvertabby

The (local) firm we bought our engineered wood from had a list of approved fitters we could choose from.  He removed the old skirting boards and fitted new ones.

Are you trying to buy your flooring on line?  

rentalforever

Silvertabby said:

The (local) firm we bought our engineered wood from had a list of approved fitters we could choose from.  He removed the old skirting boards and fitted new ones.

Are you trying to buy your flooring on line?  

Yes, the thinking being that I can get samples online and decide what to get and have it delivered for the fitter to sort out. My elderly parents aren't up to the job of sorting it themselves and I don't want either them or the fitter to randomly decide what to put down.

Grumpy_chap

Why not get the samples online and then find a local stockist to supply and fit?

Silvertabby

rentalforever said:

Silvertabby said:

The (local) firm we bought our engineered wood from had a list of approved fitters we could choose from.  He removed the old skirting boards and fitted new ones.

Are you trying to buy your flooring on line?  

Yes, the thinking being that I can get samples online and decide what to get and have it delivered for the fitter to sort out. My elderly parents aren't up to the job of sorting it themselves and I don't want either them or the fitter to randomly decide what to put down.

By trying to get the best value/ cheapest on line, you are making a rod for your own back by then trying to find someone willing to fit an unknown (to them) product.  

I know that you have mentioned that you are looking at the budget end of the market, but really cheap engineered flooring is likely to have a very thin layer of real wood and be liable to warping - making it more difficult to fit.

We had our engineered oak fitted 4 years ago, so prices will have gone up - but if it helps we paid (in round figures) £2K for the wood, skirting board, fittings etc and £1K for the fitting.  That was small hall, living room and dining room approx 35 square metres.  The oak layer is 6mm, so thick enough to stand up to a fair amount of wear and tear and can be sanded down and re-oiled in the event of a major drama.

The local wood supplier we used loaned us large samples of various options - it was surprising how the colours looked different at home.