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Flooring

Flooring estimate.

Flooring quotes depend heavily on subfloor condition, material choice, and preparation work. This guide covers the main flooring types and the costs that are easy to overlook.

Authored by Alexandr Vreme & Maksym Vasylkov
Published July 2026 — Next review July 2027

Who this guide is for

This guide is for flooring contractors, general builders, and estimators pricing floor finish installations across domestic and commercial projects.

Information needed

• Total floor area in square metres, room by room
• Subfloor type: concrete (screeded or green) or timber (joists, existing boards, ply)
• Existing floor covering and whether removal is needed
• Floor finish specification: engineered wood, LVT, ceramic tile, carpet, luxury vinyl sheet
• Underfloor heating system — electric mat or water-based
• Threshold levels and transitions between adjoining rooms

Flooring types and typical costs

All-in fitted rates per m² vary substantially by material:

• Engineered timber: £40–80/m²
• LVT (luxury vinyl tile): £35–65/m²
• Ceramic or porcelain tile: £30–60/m²
• Carpet (supply and fit): £20–50/m²
• Luxury vinyl sheet: £25–45/m²

Preparation costs

• Removal and disposal of old floor covering: £5–10/m²
• Screeding (new or remedial): £15–25/m²
• Self-levelling compound: £8–15/m²
• Plywood overlay on timber subfloors: £12–20/m²

Commonly missed costs

• Threshold strips and transition profiles between different floor finishes
• Underfloor heating insulation boards when laying over suspended timber floors
• Acclimatisation time for timber products (typically 48–72 hours on site)
• Additional beading, scotia, or quadrant to cover expansion gaps
• Waste allowance: 10–15% on tile, 5–10% on boards and LVT
• Removing and refitting kitchen units, or cutting around existing joinery

Miniature worked example

A 30 m² open-plan living area with LVT installation over a concrete subfloor:

• Subfloor preparation (self-levelling): £400
• Underlay: £200
• LVT supply (mid-range): £900
• Fitting: £750
• Total: £2,250 (£75/m² all-in)

Questions to ask

• Is underfloor heating being installed? If so, specify the system and its thickness.
• What is the moisture content of the concrete slab (required before any impermeable floor finish)?
• Are there any step changes or level differences between rooms?
• Who is removing and disposing of the existing floor covering?
• Does the floor need to meet any acoustic insulation requirements (flats, conversions)?