Do you buy the flooring or does the tradesperson? 6 December 2022 at 2:31AM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 10 replies 342 views

snowqueen555

Cannot find this info anywhere.

Looking to get LVT flooring for a new flat, no idea whether I buy the tiles myself or does the tradesman do it?

Thanks

Mutton_Geoff

Does your lease permit this type of flooring?

What does your tradesman say about supplying yourself? Are you able to calculate coverage/pattern match/wastage yourself?

casper_gutman

You can do either. I've done both. In general though, better to get the installer to supply and fit as it's clear who is responsible in the event of problems 

Ebe_Scrooge

casper_gutman said:

You can do either. I've done both. In general though, better to get the installer to supply and fit as it's clear who is responsible in the event of problems 

I agree with this.  It's similar with anything you're getting installed - if you supply the materials and something goes wrong a few weeks down the line, there's always the question over who's responsible for any faulty materials.  It usually makes life easier to get the installer to supply and fit.

Added to which, for a lot of things, the installer may very well (not always) be able to get the materials cheaper than you can because they'll get a trade discount.

Mutton_Geoff said:

Are you able to calculate coverage/pattern match/wastage yourself?

Another important consideration - odds on the installer will be able to calculate the volume of materials a lot more accurately than you can.

diystarter7

Hi OP

You or builder can buy but some want you to buy so you chose,

It is important that you store the flooring as per advice on the packs as real wood flooring can warp  (Not sure re LVT) before and just after fitting if not stored properly and as per instructions.

NB: Engineered floors do look as the real thing and have a thin layer of real wood on top and less prone to warps etc.

Chose the best underlay you can afford.

NB: Should you stick to LVT flooring. My inlaws had their new extension and masses of LVT flooring. Not sure how much they paid per sq meter etc but it looks the business.  An excellent base is required to get a really good finish.

Are you getting new skirting as it makes the floor look better?


Good luck

Mistral001

Many one-man installers will want you to buy the tiles if they are not VAT registered as that means for VAT purposes they will only be charging you for their time and overheads hence can keep their annual income down below the VAT threshold and not have to register for VAT.  You will pay VAT on the tiles in the end whether he is VAT registered on not, but you will not pay VAT on his time if he is not registered for VAT.  Thus many non-VAT-registered tradesmen can often undercut the bigger, VAT-registered firms and you get the benefit of that very often. 

gwynlas

We viewed LVT K'dean at a local barn then went to a supplier fitter who insisted that he install the ply base as necessary to validate warranty. Looks fantastic but was not cheap. Definetly prefer it to the engineered wood I have used elsewhere.

greensalad

Buy yourself = save money.
Get them to supply it = more expensive but more likely to be covered if there is a problem.

horsewithnoname

I had LVT downstairs, I told the fitters which one I wanted and they supplied it. I had vinyl upstairs, the fitter couldn’t get it cheaper than I could, so I supplied it. 

See who can get the best price!

TELLIT01

Agree with the tradesperson exactly what you want.  Ideally go with them to see the options, and then let them make the purchase.

snowqueen555

Thanks for all of the advice everyone. I'll get a quote from a shop and also from a couple of smaller sole traders and see how it goes.

I Have looked online a lot of the delivery say that they will not deliver into your property that in some cases it will be left outside on a pallet that you have to take it to the house yourself but you are expected to check that their everything is in good order? Sounds like a headache but I'm guessing there is a workaround.

The ones I'm looking at are £25sqm.