Flooring

36 articles

• Acoustic Underlay and Soundproof Flooring: A Trade Guide
  Acoustic underlay/soundproof flooring guide: Part E legal requirement on separating floors only (L'nT,w targets), vs comfort choice within a single dwelling.
• Carpet Fitting Guide: Gripper Rods, Underlay & Stretching
  Carpet fitting: gripper rod spacing 50–75mm from skirting, underlay selection (PU foam, felt, rubber), power stretcher across width, seam placement away from high-traffic areas, hot-melt tape seaming
• Composite Decking: Hidden Fixing Systems Compared
  Compares hidden-clip vs top-down-screw fixing systems for composite decking, covering gap tolerances, joist doubling, and warranty implications
• Engineered Wood Floor Installation: UK Methods & Moisture Guide
  Acclimatise 48-72h; moisture test subfloor (BS 8201/8203, ≤75%RH or surface DPM); floating vs glue-down vs secret nail; expansion gaps; UFH compatibility; complements screed-types and laminate articles
• Epoxy Floor Coatings: Surface Prep & Primer Selection UK
• Floor Levelling Compounds: Feather-Edge vs Deep-Fill Guide
• Floor Screed Types and Drying Times: Sand-Cement vs Liquid
  Sand-cement vs calcium-sulfate flowing screed to BS 8204; drying rule (1 day/mm to 50mm, then 2 days/mm); hygrometer test ≤75% RH per BS 8203 / ≤65% RH for timber over UFH; commissioning cycle
• Floor Screed Types: Depths & Drying Times Guide UK
  Floor screed types: sand/cement (minimum 65mm unbonded), anhydrite/liquid screed (minimum 30mm over UFH), fibre-reinforced, drying rates (1mm/day sand/cement), hygrometer moisture testing before flooring
• Floor Slip Resistance: Pendulum Test & PTV Values UK
• Herringbone vs Straight Lay Flooring: Comparison Guide
  Herringbone vs straight plank lay: wastage 10–15% vs 5–8%, labour 1.5–2×, centreline setting-out, full glue-down vs floated/nailed; BS 8201:2011 installation, 75% RH subfloor limit, SR1 flatness, LVT herringbone to BS 8203:2017
• How do you choose the right floor levelling compound?
  Levelling compound types: self-smoothing vs feather finish, SBR/PVA priming, BS 8204-7 SR1/SR2 tolerance, walking time 2-4h, anhydrite primer requirements
• How do you fit carpet professionally to UK standards?
  Comprehensive carpet fitting: gripper rod spacing 50-75mm from skirting, underlay types (PU foam/felt/rubber), power stretcher, seam placement, BS 5325 installation code
• How do you install bamboo flooring properly?
  Bamboo flooring: strand vs solid, Janka hardness 1380-3000, moisture ≤9%, click/glue/secret nail methods, expansion gaps, BS 8201 wood flooring code
• How do you install parquet flooring properly?
  Parquet installation: block adhesives (SBR vs bitumen vs PU), setting out from centre, brick/basketweave/herringbone layouts, sanding sequence, moisture content ≤10%
• How do you prepare a subfloor for flooring installation?
  Comprehensive subfloor prep: BS 8204 SR2 tolerance, hygrometer 72h moisture test, DPM epoxy/PU systems, ply overlay BS EN 636 grade, levelling compounds, BS 5325
• How do you select acoustic underlay for Part E compliance?
  Acoustic underlay: Building Regs Part E ΔLw ≥17dB, BS EN ISO 717-2 impact noise, rubber crumb/PU/fibre underlay selection, robust details RDT 3 series
• How to Sand Hardwood Floors: Grit Progression & Finish Guide
  Hardwood floor sanding: drum sander technique, grit sequence 24→40→80→120, edge sander corners, hard wax oil vs lacquer finish, COSHH wood dust WEL 1mg/m³, dust extraction mandatory
• Laminate Flooring Installation: Step-by-Step Guide
  Laminate flooring installation step-by-step: BS EN 13329 AC-rating selection, BS 8203 moisture testing, subfloor prep, expansion gap and transition detailing
• LVT Flooring Installation Guide: BS 8203:2017 UK Rules
  Comprehensive LVT installation: glue-down vs click techniques, layout from centre, expansion gaps 5-8mm, A2/B1 notch trowel sizes, 48h acclimatisation
• LVT Flooring Installation: Adhesive vs Floating & DPM UK
• LVT Flooring Installation: Subfloor Flatness & Methods
  LVT installation: glue-down vs click comparison, subfloor flatness tolerance 2mm per 2m, expansion gap 5–8mm at perimeter, temperature acclimatisation 48 hours, adhesive notch trowel size by LVT thickness
• LVT vs Laminate Flooring: Cost, Durability and When to Recommend Each
  LVT vs laminate flooring comparison: BS EN 13329 vs ISO 10874 classification basis, wet-area suitability, underfloor heating compatibility, cost/durability trade-offs
• Moisture Testing Floors Before Coverings: BS 8203 & 8204
• Parquet Flooring: Herringbone Layout & Sanding Guide
  Parquet and herringbone flooring: layout from centre of room, SBR rubber dispersion adhesive vs bitumen, drum sanding sequence (40→60→80→120 grit), hardwax oil vs lacquer finish, moisture content ≤10% before laying
• Resin Flooring Guide
  Resin floors per BS 8204-6:2008+A1:2010; epoxy/PU/MMA binders; substrate ≤75% RH (BS 8203); slip resistance to UKSRG; PU for chemical/thermal cycling, epoxy for general
• Screed Types: Sand Cement vs Anhydrite vs Rapid UFH
  Sand-cement vs flowing anhydrite vs rapid-dry; drying ~1mm/day for first 50mm (BS 8204); anhydrite needs latitance sanding + non-gypsum adhesive; min depths bonded/unbonded/floating; UFH use; complements engineered-floor and UFH
• Self-Levelling Compound vs Screed: When to Use Each
  Self-levelling compound vs screed: depth thresholds, drying times, and when to combine both for LVT-ready SR1 tolerance
• Self-Levelling Compound: BS 8204 Preparation & Primer Guide
  Floor levelling compounds: BS 8204-7 SR2 ±3mm/3m tolerance, SBR priming mandatory, anhydrite screeds require specialist primer, moisture ≤75% RH before resilient flooring, working time 15–30 minutes
• Solid vs Engineered Wood Flooring: Cost and What to Recommend
  Solid vs engineered wood flooring decision guide: construction/moisture/UFH differences, refinish-cycle economics (solid 4-6+ refinishes vs engineered 1-3), when to recommend each, 2026 price bands £55-200/m²
• SPC Flooring Installation: A Trade Guide
  SPC rigid-core click-lock flooring installation guide: subfloor tolerance, expansion gaps, UFH compatibility — install how-to companion to the existing SPC-vs-LVT comparison.
• SPC vs LVT Flooring: Which Should You Recommend?
  Compares rigid-core SPC (subfloor-tolerant, temperature-stable) vs flexible-core LVT (thinner, cheaper) vinyl flooring on suitability and cost.
• Subfloor Preparation for Flooring: DPM, Timber & Ply Guide
  Subfloor preparation: DPM systems for damp concrete (epoxy/polyurethane), ply overlay minimum 9mm BS EN 636 C2, moisture testing 72h in-situ hygrometer, substrate assessment before any finish floor
• Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation: Substrate Prep & Gaps
• Vinyl Sheet Flooring UK: Cushion vs Felt-Back Guide
  Vinyl sheet flooring: cushion-back (perimeter bond only), felt-back (full bond), heat welding seams 350–400°C, B1 notch trowel, vinyl tiles 450°C, acclimatise 24h before laying
• Wet Room Flooring: Slip Resistance, Falls & Drain Position
  PTV >36 for wet areas (BS 7976-2), epoxy resin 2mm minimum, mosaic tile ≤50mm for falls, 22mm falls per 1m to linear drain, linear drain at shower entry not against wall
• Which screed should I use for underfloor heating?
  UFH screed selection: anhydrite 30mm minimum cover over UFH pipes, sand/cement 65mm minimum, BS EN 1264-4, commissioning programme, drying before flooring