New build flooring by developer or independent contractor

Joyful

I found it was much cheaper to get a company I had used before to install all flooring for me. They gained access a few  days before I moved in. They put carpets on the stairs and bedrooms. Once I was in my son in law  put down laminate in the downstairs.

CLHK

Megaross said:

CLHK said:

Thanks Comeandgo.

Just the developer's flooring options are quite expensive. Would like to know whether the sub floor preparation is needed if I get a contractor to fit LVT flooring. And will developer install skirting if I do not choose one of their flooring options?

Ask them? They may leave skirtings off if you're flooring after.

You could always quote up for a contractor to do it if you know one you would trust to do the work on time and to a satisfactory standard. Well fitted, quality flooring can be pricy still.

At that point you can compare options, is it worth getting it done before completion or is it worth waiting and having your contractor fit flooring after.

Thanks for advice

CLHK

Golden_Glow90 said:

If I was paying for them myself I’d have someone come in to do it - my friend did this and they were great, skirting was fine, they just took it off and put it back on afterwards.

We negotiated ours in the incentives so we didn’t have to worry about it when we moved in

Thanks. Unfortunately, I was unable to negotiate a better deal.

CLHK

Joyful said:

I found it was much cheaper to get a company I had used before to install all flooring for me. They gained access a few  days before I moved in. They put carpets on the stairs and bedrooms. Once I was in my son in law  put down laminate in the downstairs.

Good to know this. I will check with my developer if they allow third party to access earlier.

happyc84

If you do out source the flooring, just remember that the delivery driver may drop off outside the property, and you have to carry the packs to your property. Was worth it in the end, saved about £1k on 85m squared, remember to ask your installer for the safety margin, ie 10% on top of order.

CLHK

happyc84 said:

If you do out source the flooring, just remember that the delivery driver may drop off outside the property, and you have to carry the packs to your property. Was worth it in the end, saved about £1k on 85m squared, remember to ask your installer for the safety margin, ie 10% on top of order.

Thanks. I will remember the 10% margin. My developer charges about 12K to 15K (depends on product line) to install premium brand LVP for 115 sqm. I am in quoting to see how much I could save using an independent contractor and weighing the pros and cons. 

mclaren32

A good LVT fitter can but it up against skirting. There is no requirement for an expansion gap (like wood) so no need to have it running under the skirting.

CLHK

mclaren32 said:

A good LVT fitter can but it up against skirting. There is no requirement for an expansion gap (like wood) so no need to have it running under the skirting.

Thanks. I am not aware of this. I watched YouTube videos and DIY websites and thought expansion gap is a must.

trakky14

much cheaper to get someone in to fit it, if you can't get access before you complete its probably worth the few days of hassle living out of boxes till the independent fitter can come in and do it. Developers in general do a rubbish job in our experience anyway! We had ours fitted after we moved in...friends paid the developers who did an awful job (bubbles and grains of dirt under the lino flooring, carpet not fitted properly in doorways)

Megaross

Nah LVT is alright without as it's not prone to expansion/ contraction like laminate/ engineered/ wood.

The big problem with lvt is the tiles can seperate and I've seen it a lot, it's why I never recommend it especially not for DIY fitting. Admittedly a good fitter should guarantee against it