Laminate flooring fitter in Twickenham and London
Alex is Quick-Step accredited and fits laminate flooring across Twickenham and London, from a flat base and the right underlay to a neat finish at every wall and doorway.
9.97/10 from 118 Checkatrade reviews (opens in a new tab)Laminate flooring with Alex
Laminate is a wood-effect floor with a hard-wearing printed surface over a fibreboard core. It clicks together and floats over the subfloor (the surface under your new floor) without being fixed down, which makes it quick to fit.
The same few details decide how long any laminate floor lasts: a flat base, the right underlay and a gap left at every wall. Send Alex photos of the floor and he'll tell you which underlay it needs.
Step by step
How the job runs
Check the base
Before fitting day
Alex checks the subfloor for dips, high spots and movement. Uneven concrete is levelled or screeded first, and uneven floorboards are usually ply boarded, because a floating floor needs a flat base.
Lay the underlay
Day 1
The underlay goes down to suit the subfloor and the room. In a flat, acoustic underlay can cut the footstep noise carried to the neighbours below.
Plan the layout
Day 1
Alex plans the board direction and starting row so the floor looks right from the doorway and the last row is not a thin sliver.
Click the boards together
Day 1 or 2
Boards click together row by row, leaving a gap at every wall and pipe. A typical room usually takes about a day; larger areas take longer.
Fit the trims
Last day
Scotia, skirting or door bars cover the gaps and neaten each doorway.
Which laminate thickness and AC rating is best?
For most homes, choose an AC3 wear rating, or AC4 for hallways and busy family rooms. The AC number scores how well the surface resists wear, and a higher number means a tougher top layer.
Thicker boards usually feel firmer and quieter underfoot, but thickness does not rescue an uneven base. The click joint matters as much, so ask to see one.
Does laminate need underlay, and what about flats?
Yes. Laminate floats on underlay, which cushions the boards, evens out tiny flaws and softens footsteps. A few laminates have underlay attached, and the floor maker's instructions say which.
In a flat, acoustic underlay reduces the thud heard below, and many leases set rules, so check yours first. Over concrete or screed, the base must be dry enough before anything goes down, and the maker's instructions set the limit.
Why does laminate need expansion gaps, and what covers them?
Laminate swells and shrinks slightly with the seasons, so it needs a small gap at every wall, pipe and threshold. Leaving it out is the most common reason a floor peaks or buckles.
Scotia (a thin curved trim) or refitted skirting hides the gap at the walls. In a doorway, a door bar covers it and lets the floor move between rooms. Long runs often need a bar part way across too.
Is laminate or vinyl better for a living room, bedroom or hallway?
Laminate suits dry rooms such as living rooms, bedrooms and hallways. It feels firm underfoot, looks convincingly like wood and resists scratches well. Its weak point is standing water, which can swell the core at the joints.
LVT (luxury vinyl tile) is vinyl all the way through, so it copes far better in kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms, and it feels softer underfoot. Many homes use laminate in the living areas and LVT in the wet rooms.
See LVT and vinyl tilesWhat affects the cost of fitting laminate?
- Room size and shape, including cuts around alcoves, pipes and doorways
- The laminate you choose, including thickness, wear rating and pattern
- Whether the base needs levelling or screeding first
- The underlay, with acoustic underlay for flats a step up from standard
- The trims you want, such as scotia, skirting and door bars
How to look after laminate
Sweep or vacuum regularly and clean with a barely damp mop and a cleaner the floor maker recommends. Avoid steam mops and soaking cloths: water is laminate's weak point.
Wipe up spills straight away. Felt pads under furniture legs and a doormat at each entrance cut the grit that scratches the surface.
Do not screw heavy units through the floor, because it needs room to move slightly. If a board lifts or a gap opens, tell Alex early.
Mistakes to avoid
- Leaving no expansion gap at the walls or doorways, so the floor peaks as it expands.
- Laying over an uneven base and expecting the underlay to hide it.
- Choosing laminate for a bathroom, or assuming water-resistant means waterproof.
- Fitting over a new concrete or screed floor that is not yet dry enough for the maker's instructions.
- Skipping acoustic underlay in a flat.
Common questions
Laminate flooring: common questions
Can laminate go in a kitchen or bathroom?
Standard laminate is not ideal in wet rooms, because standing water can seep into the joints and swell the core. Water-resistant ranges exist and cope better with splashes, but water-resistant is not the same as waterproof. In a kitchen, wipe up spills quickly. In a bathroom or shower room, LVT is usually the safer choice.
Can laminate be laid on an uneven floor?
Not as it is. Underlay hides tiny imperfections but not real dips or humps, so the boards flex over them, the click joints work loose and the floor sounds hollow or creaks. Alex levels or screeds uneven concrete first, and uneven floorboards are usually ply boarded, so the laminate goes onto a flat, stable base.
Can you get herringbone laminate?
Yes. Herringbone laminate comes as short planks with angled ends, laid in a zigzag from a centre line to give the look of a parquet floor. It takes longer to fit than straight boards because there are more pieces and more cuts at the walls, and it needs an especially flat base.
Does laminate in a flat need acoustic underlay?
Usually, yes. Laminate is a hard floor, so footsteps carry to the flat below, and acoustic underlay reduces that noise. Many leases and building rules ask for it, so check yours before you buy. Alex lays the underlay your lease and the floor maker's instructions call for.
How long does it take to fit a laminate floor?
A typical room is usually fitted in about a day. Larger open-plan areas, herringbone patterns, awkward shapes and floors that need levelling first take longer. Alex confirms a realistic timeframe once he knows the room size and the state of the base.
Can laminate go over underfloor heating?
Often, yes, if both the laminate and the underlay are rated for it. The maker's instructions set the maximum surface temperature and how the heating is brought up before and after fitting. Tell Alex about the heating when you ask for a quote.
Is Alex Quick-Step accredited for laminate?
Yes. Alex is Quick-Step accredited. Quick-Step is a flooring brand making laminate, vinyl and engineered wood. Whichever brand you choose, the same rules apply: a flat base, the right underlay and an expansion gap at every wall. Alex is fully insured and covers London and up to 50 miles around.
Free estimate
Get a free quote
Tell Alex about the job and get one clear, written price. Free, and no obligation.