LVT and vinyl floor tile fitter in Twickenham and London
Alex fits LVT and vinyl floor tiles across Twickenham, London and up to 50 miles around, with the base made smooth and flat before installation.
9.97/10 from 118 Checkatrade reviews (opens in a new tab)LVT and vinyl tiles with Alex
LVT means luxury vinyl tile. It is a thin, layered vinyl floor printed to look like wood planks or stone tiles, with a clear wear layer on top. It copes with kitchens, bathrooms and busy hallways.
LVT shows every bump in the base under it, so the base matters more than the tiles. Alex levels and screeds floors before fitting. Send Alex photos of the floor and he'll tell you whether it needs levelling first.
Step by step
How the job runs
Look at the base
Before fitting day
Alex checks what your floor is made of, how flat it is and whether it is sound. That decides what happens before any LVT goes down.
Let the boxes settle
Before fitting day
Most makers ask for the boxes to lie flat in the room before fitting. The product's instructions give the time.
Prepare the base
Day 1
Old floor covering comes up where needed. Concrete gets levelling compound; old floorboards get ply boarding screwed over them.
Lay out and fit
Day 1 or 2
Planks or tiles are laid out dry first, so the cut pieces at the walls look balanced. The floor is then fitted to the maker's instructions, with neat cuts around pipes, units and doorways.
Finish the edges
Last day
Door bars and trims go in where the floor meets another room, then the room is cleared and left tidy.
Is click or glue-down LVT better?
Neither is better for everyone. Click LVT locks plank to plank and floats over the base. Glue-down LVT is stuck to the base with adhesive.
As buying advice, click is usually quicker to lay and easier to lift later. Glue-down feels more solid and suits busy rooms, but it is thinner and shows base faults more. Ask the shop which type your product is before you order.
Can LVT go over an uneven floor or old floorboards?
Not until the base is smooth and flat. LVT is thin, so it shows dips, ridges, board gaps and old tile joints through the surface.
On concrete, levelling compound (a runny mix that settles flat) fills the dips. Over old floorboards, ply boarding (sheets of plywood screwed down) gives an even surface. A concrete or screed floor must also be dry enough before any new floor goes down, and the floor maker's instructions set the limit.
Is LVT good for kitchens, bathrooms and underfloor heating?
Yes. LVT suits all three. It is water-resistant on the surface, warm underfoot and easy to wipe clean.
It is not a sealed tray, so water at the edges or round a toilet base can still get under it. Seal those joins well. Over underfloor heating, most makers set a top floor temperature and ask you to warm the floor up slowly, so check the instructions.
Is LVT or laminate better for a kitchen or bathroom?
Pick LVT for kitchens, bathrooms and any room where spills happen. It is water-resistant on the surface, usually quieter underfoot than laminate and works over underfloor heating.
Laminate suits dry rooms such as living rooms and bedrooms. Its thicker boards hide small base faults better, but standard laminate can swell if water reaches the edges.
See laminate flooringWhat affects the cost of fitting LVT?
- The size of the room and how many rooms are being done
- Whether the old floor has to come up first
- How much levelling, screeding or ply boarding the base needs
- The pattern: herringbone takes more setting out and cutting than straight planks
- Awkward shapes, such as bays, pipes and fitted units
- How many door bars and trims are needed
How to look after LVT
Sweep or vacuum, then mop with a damp mop and the cleaner the maker recommends. Avoid soaking the floor.
Fit felt pads under furniture legs and put a doormat at outside doors. Lift heavy items instead of dragging them, since grit and scuffs cause most wear.
Mistakes to avoid
- Laying LVT on an uneven base, so every dip and ridge shows through the surface.
- Fitting over gappy or springy old floorboards without ply boarding first.
- Skipping the gap the maker asks for at the walls, which lets the floor buckle.
- Laying onto a concrete floor that is still too damp for the product.
- Buying too few boxes, then finding a later batch is a slightly different shade.
Common questions
LVT and vinyl tiles: common questions
Is LVT the same as vinyl floor tiles?
LVT is a type of vinyl floor tile. It is thicker and layered, with a printed wood or stone design under a clear wear layer, so it looks more like the real thing. Plainer vinyl tiles are thinner and simpler. Both need the same flat, dry, smooth base to look right.
How long does it take to fit LVT?
It depends on the room size, the number of doorways, whether it is click or glue-down LVT, and whether the base needs levelling or ply boarding first. Alex gives you a realistic timeframe with his free estimate.
Can you get herringbone LVT?
Yes. Herringbone LVT uses short planks laid in a zigzag pattern. It takes more careful setting out and cutting at the walls than straight planks, so allow extra material for waste. A flat base matters even more, because the pattern draws the eye to any ridge.
Does LVT need door bars or trims?
Usually, yes. A door bar covers the join where LVT meets another floor in a doorway, and it hides the small gap the floor needs to move. Trims or beading finish the edges at the walls. Alex fits the ones that suit your doorways when the floor goes down.
What should you do before the LVT fitter arrives?
Clear the room of furniture and small items, and tell Alex about any pipes, uneven patches or damp history. Have the LVT delivered early and left flat in the room, as most makers ask. Check the heating is working normally, and keep pets and children out of the room.
Can LVT go over my existing floor tiles?
Sometimes, if the tiles are sound, flat and firmly stuck. Loose or cracked tiles need fixing first, and the grout lines usually need filling or levelling, because they show through thin LVT. Send Alex a few photos of the floor and he'll tell you what it needs.
Free estimate
Get a free quote
Tell Alex about the job and get one clear, written price. Free, and no obligation.