Common Flooring Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Practical advice to help you choose the right flooring, avoid costly errors, and get a long-lasting, professional finish in your home.
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5* reviews | Over 25 years experience
Choosing New Flooring is Exciting...
...but small mistakes during the planning or fitting stage can lead to costly problems later!
From uneven finishes to premature wear, many issues we see could have been avoided with the right advice and preparation.
Here are some of the most common flooring mistakes homeowners make (and most importantly), how to avoid them.
1️⃣ Choosing the Wrong Flooring for the Room
Not all flooring types are suitable for every space. A floor that works perfectly in a bedroom may struggle in a kitchen or hallway.
Common issues include:
🚫 Carpets in moisture-prone areas
🚫 Laminate in rooms with temperature changes
🚫 Flooring that can’t handle heavy foot traffic
How to avoid it:
Match your flooring to how the room is used. Kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways need durable, moisture-resistant options like vinyl or LVT, while bedrooms and lounges benefit from warmer, softer carpets.
See our guide on choosing the right flooring for each room.
2️⃣ Skipping Proper Subfloor Preparation
A new floor is only as good as what’s underneath it. Uneven or damaged subfloors are one of the biggest causes of flooring failure.
Problems this can cause:
🚫 Lifting or movement
🚫 Visible bumps and dips
🚫 Reduced lifespan
How to avoid it:
Always inspect and prepare the subfloor before installation. This may include levelling, repairing damaged areas, or removing old adhesive. Professional fitters ensure the base is smooth, stable, and ready before fitting begins.
2️⃣ Skipping Proper Subfloor Preparation
A new floor is only as good as what’s underneath it. Uneven or damaged subfloors are one of the biggest causes of flooring failure.
Problems this can cause:
🚫 Lifting or movement
🚫 Visible bumps and dips
🚫 Reduced lifespan
How to avoid it:
Always inspect and prepare the subfloor before installation. This may include levelling, repairing damaged areas, or removing old adhesive. Professional fitters ensure the base is smooth, stable, and ready before fitting begins.
3️⃣ Using the Wrong Underlay (or No Underlay)
Underlay plays a crucial role in comfort, insulation, and durability - but it’s often overlooked.
Common mistakes include:
🚫 Choosing underlay based on price alone
🚫 Using the wrong type for the flooring
🚫 Skipping underlay completely
How to avoid it:
Use an underlay matched to your flooring type and room usage. The right underlay improves comfort underfoot, reduces noise, and helps your flooring last longer.
4️⃣ Poor Measuring and Planning
Incorrect measurements can lead to wasted materials, visible joins, or delays during installation.
This often results in:
🚫 Ordering too much or too little material
🚫 Awkward joins in doorways
🚫 Pattern misalignment
How to avoid it:
Professional measuring ensures the correct amount of flooring is ordered and laid efficiently, with joins placed discreetly for a clean finish.
4️⃣ Poor Measuring and Planning
Incorrect measurements can lead to wasted materials, visible joins, or delays during installation.
This often results in:
🚫 Ordering too much or too little material
🚫 Awkward joins in doorways
🚫 Pattern misalignment
How to avoid it:
Professional measuring ensures the correct amount of flooring is ordered and laid efficiently, with joins placed discreetly for a clean finish.
5️⃣ Rushing the Installation Process
Flooring installation is not something that should be rushed. Taking shortcuts can affect both appearance and longevity.
Rushing can lead to:
🚫 Poor finishing around edges
🚫 Movement or gaps
🚫 Reduced durability
How to avoid it:
Allow enough time for preparation, fitting, and finishing. Professional installers follow proven methods and allow materials to settle correctly for a long-lasting result.
6️⃣ DIY Fitting When the Job Needs Experience
If we had £1 for every floor we've had to rip up and re-install because of unprofessional DIY'ers, we'd be millionaires. Some flooring projects are more complex than they appear.
DIY fitting is especially risky for:
🚫 Stairs
🚫 LVT and patterned floors
🚫 Large or open-plan spaces
🚫 Uneven subfloors
How to avoid it:
These projects benefit from professional experience, specialist tools, and trade-standard adhesives to achieve a safe, precise finish.
6️⃣ DIY Fitting When the Job Needs Experience
If we had £1 for every floor we've had to rip up and re-install because of unprofessional DIY'ers, we'd be millionaires. Some flooring projects are more complex than they appear.
DIY fitting is especially risky for:
🚫 Stairs
🚫 LVT and patterned floors
🚫 Large or open-plan spaces
🚫 Uneven subfloors
How to avoid it:
These projects benefit from professional experience, specialist tools, and trade-standard adhesives to achieve a safe, precise finish.
Why Professional Fitting Makes a Difference
Professional flooring installation helps avoid costly mistakes and ensures:
✅ Correct material choice
✅ Proper subfloor preparation
✅ Neat, long-lasting results
✅ Reduced disruption to your home
Learn more about our installation process or get in touch to arrange a free quote.
Free Home Visit & No-Obligation Quote
Not sure which option is best? That’s exactly what we’re here for.
We’ll visit your home, take accurate measurements, show samples, and recommend the best
flooring for your space - all with clear pricing and no obligation.
We’ll visit your home, take accurate measurements, show samples, and recommend the best flooring for your space - all with clear pricing and no obligation.
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