Flooring Installation Guide

While choosing the right pile and colour is essential, the secret to a perfect finish lies in the preparation and the quality of the underlay. This guide covers everything from current UK market rates to the technical steps required for a flawless fit.

What Does the Work Involve?

• Site Assessment: Measuring the area accurately to minimise waste and checking the subfloor for dampness or unevenness.
• Preparation: Removing old floor coverings and ensuring the subfloor is clean, dry, and level (this may involve fitting plywood or a self-levelling compound).
• Gripper Installation: Nailing or Gluing "gripper rods" around the perimeter of the room to hold the carpet in tension.
• Underlay Fitting: Laying and taping high-quality underlay to provide cushioning and soundproofing.
• Carpet Stretching: Using a "knee kicker" or power stretcher to tension the carpet over the grippers, ensuring no loose areas.
• Trimming and Finishing: Precision cutting around skirtings and door frames, and installing door threshold bars to join different rooms.

Typical Costs

Prices vary significantly based on your location in the UK, with London and the South East typically seeing a 15-20% premium. The complexity of the job, such as winding staircases or the need to trim doors, will also add to the final invoice.

How Long Does It Take?

• Single Standard Room: 1–2 hours (assuming the room is clear).
• Stairs and Landing: 3–5 hours (due to the intricate cutting and bolting required).
• Full 3-Bedroom House: 1–2 days (depending on the number of fitters).
• Subfloor Preparation: Add 24 hours if a screed or levelling compound needs to dry.

DIY or Professional?

While you can buy carpet online, fitting it is a specialist skill that requires expensive tools like power stretchers and carpet shears. A poorly fitted carpet will shift, ripple, and wear out twice as fast as a professional installation.

Professional fitting is highly recommended for stairs and large rooms where seams (joins) are necessary, as these are difficult to hide without experience.

In the UK, there are no mandatory "licences" like Gas Safe for carpet fitters, but look for those following BS 5325 (the code of practice for installation of textile floor coverings).

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

• Check Accreditations: Look for members of the NICF (National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers).
• Verify Insurance: Ensure they have Public Liability insurance to cover any damage to your property or skirtings.
• Waste Licence: If they are taking your old carpet away, they must hold a valid waste carrier’s licence.
• Questions to Ask:
  • Does the quote include underlay, grippers, and door bars?
  • Will you trim the bottom of the doors if the new carpet is thicker?
  • How do you handle joins in large rooms?
  • Is there a guarantee on the fitting (usually 12 months)?

UK Regulations

• BS 5325: The British Standard that outlines how textile floor coverings should be installed to ensure safety and longevity.
• Fire Safety: Carpets sold in the UK must meet BS 4790 (the "hot metal nut" test) for flammability.
• Waste Disposal: Under the Environmental Protection Act, the tradesperson must dispose of old carpet at a licensed commercial waste site.

Common Problems

• Rippling: Usually caused by insufficient stretching or using an old underlay that has collapsed.
• Visible Seams: Poorly executed joins in the middle of a room can be a trip hazard and look unsightly.
• Gaps at Edges: If the carpet is trimmed too short, it will pull away from the skirting boards.
• Wrong Underlay: Using a "cheap" underlay with a premium carpet will make the floor feel hard and reduce the carpet's lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to buy new underlay?

Almost always, yes. Underlay wears out at the same rate as the carpet; reusing old underlay will make your new carpet feel flat and may void its warranty.

Can carpet be laid over underfloor heating?

Yes, but you must ensure the combined "Tog" rating of the carpet and underlay does not exceed 2.5 to allow heat to pass through efficiently.

Will the fitters move my furniture?

Some fitters include this in their price, while others charge a "per item" fee. It is always cheaper and safer to clear the room yourself before they arrive.

Why does my new carpet smell?

This is known as "off-gassing" from the latex backing and new fibres. It is perfectly normal and usually disappears within 48-72 hours with good ventilation.

What are "door bars" and do I need them?

Door bars (or thresholds) secure the carpet at the entrance of a room and transition it to the next floor type. You should replace them when getting a new carpet for a clean finish.