Preparation before installation matters as much as the installation itself. Done poorly, or by an amateur, it leads to an untidy floor and wastes all the work and expense that follows.
- Make sure the base is solid to prevent creaking
- Carry out the required leveling
- Fill remaining pores
- Get the concrete mix design right
- Decide on placement methods
Most flooring problems that show up months after handover trace back to a subfloor that wasn’t properly prepared. A slightly out-of-level slab, an uncured screed, or pores left unfilled don’t always cause visible issues on day one, but they show up later as hollow sounds underfoot, telegraphing through the finished surface, or adhesive failure at the joints.
Preparation work also has to match the flooring type going on top of it. A resin system needs a different surface profile than carpet tile, and a floating vinyl click floor tolerates minor imperfections that a fully bonded sheet vinyl won’t. We assess the subfloor and the intended finish together, rather than treating preparation as a generic step, so the base we hand over is actually right for what’s being installed on it.
On renovation projects, preparation often includes removing the existing floor covering and dealing with whatever condition the original substrate is in underneath, which can include old adhesive residue, cracks, or moisture issues that weren’t visible until the old floor came up. We factor that possibility into the programme from the start rather than treating it as a surprise once work begins.