Flooring is one of the few trades where the quality of the work is largely hidden once it is finished. That makes choosing the right fitter more important than choosing the right product. These are the checks worth making, written by fitters who are happy to be measured against them.
Insist on a site visit before a price
A price given over the phone from room dimensions is a guess. The fitter has not seen the subfloor, the door thresholds, the access, or whether the existing floor is glued down with bitumen. Those unknowns become extras on fitting day, when you have no leverage and no alternative.
A proper site visit takes twenty minutes. The fitter should check the subfloor with a straightedge, look at the state of the existing covering, measure properly rather than pacing out, check door clearances, and ask where you want thresholds.
If a company will not visit before quoting, that tells you how they intend to handle surprises.
What a good quote looks like
It is itemised. Materials, underlay or adhesive, subfloor preparation, labour, trims and thresholds, removal and disposal of old flooring, and VAT should each appear separately. A one-line total tells you nothing and cannot be compared with a competitor's.
It states the exact product. 'LVT' is not a specification; 'Karndean Knight Tile, 0.55mm wear layer, glue-down' is. Without the wear layer and the fitting method, you have no idea what you are buying.
It says what happens if the subfloor is worse than expected, with a rate for additional preparation. A fitter who has thought about this in advance will not spring a number on you mid-job.
- Itemised: materials, prep, labour, trims, removal, VAT
- Named product with wear layer and fitting method
- A stated rate for additional subfloor preparation
- Timescale, and who moves the furniture
- Guarantee on workmanship, in writing
Checks worth making
Public liability insurance. Ask to see the certificate — any established fitter will have one to hand. Fitting involves adhesives, power tools and other people's homes, and you do not want to discover the gap in cover after a problem.
Recent, local reviews with photographs. Reviews from the same area in the last few months are worth far more than a wall of older five-star ratings. Ask whether you can see a recently completed job of the same type; most good fitters can arrange it.
Manufacturer approval where it matters. For some premium products, a manufacturer's warranty is only valid if fitted by an approved installer. If you are spending significantly, confirm this before ordering.
How long they have been trading and whether they subcontract. Neither is disqualifying, but you should know who will actually be in your house.
Warning signs
A large deposit demanded upfront. A deposit covering ordered materials is normal and reasonable; a demand for 50% or more of the total before any materials are ordered is not.
Pressure to decide today, or a 'discount if you sign now'. Flooring prices do not expire in twenty-four hours.
A quote that is dramatically cheaper than the others. It is almost always cheaper because preparation has been left out, waste has been under-allowed, or the specification is thinner than what you asked for. Compare the itemisation, not the total.
Cash-only, no paperwork, no written quote. Without documentation you have no recourse if the floor fails, and no warranty position with the manufacturer.
Getting the best result once you have booked
Clear the rooms yourself if you can. It saves labour cost and removes any dispute about damaged furniture. Agree in advance who moves anything too heavy for you.
Let materials acclimatise. Wood and vinyl should sit in the room for 24–48 hours before fitting so they reach the room's temperature and humidity. A fitter who delivers and fits the same morning is inviting expansion problems.
Walk the floor with the fitter before final payment, in daylight. Check the edges, the thresholds, whether the doors open, and look along the floor at a low angle for lipping. Raising something on the day is straightforward; raising it three weeks later is much harder for everyone.
Finally, keep two or three spare planks or a carpet offcut. Products are discontinued surprisingly quickly, and a matching plank is worth a great deal if something is damaged in five years' time.
Want this priced for your own rooms?
We measure, check the subfloor and give you an itemised written quote — free, with no obligation, across South East London and Kent.
Frequently asked questions
How much deposit should a flooring fitter ask for?
A deposit to cover ordered materials is normal, often 20–30%. Anything approaching 50% of the total before materials are ordered is a warning sign.
Should a flooring quote include subfloor preparation?
Yes — it should either include the preparation the fitter has assessed as necessary, or state a clear rate for it. A quote that is silent on preparation is incomplete.
Do flooring fitters need insurance?
Public liability insurance is standard and any established fitter will provide the certificate on request. It protects you if something is damaged during the work.
Why is one flooring quote much cheaper?
Usually because it excludes subfloor preparation, underlay, waste removal or door trimming, or specifies a thinner wear layer. Compare itemised lines rather than headline totals.