In depth
Everything worth knowing before you book.
The details a salesperson skips. Skim it, or read every word, both are useful.
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07864 901019
LVT, Karndean, Amtico and Polyflor
Luxury vinyl tile is the most-fitted floor in modern Tunbridge Wells homes, quiet underfoot, warm, waterproof, durable, and available in convincing wood and stone effects. We fit click-lock LVT in domestic settings and full-bond (glue-down) LVT where the look (herringbone, mixed plank, design strip) or location (wet area, large room, heated floor) demands it. Subfloors must be flat to within 3mm/2m, dust-free, dry (under 75% RH on concrete) and primed for adhesive. Done right, LVT lasts 20+ years.
Engineered hardwood
Engineered wood gives the look and feel of solid timber with far better dimensional stability, multi-layer construction means it doesn't cup or twist in the dry indoor air of modern central heating. We fit oak, walnut and ash in plank widths 150–260mm, in straight-lay, herringbone or chevron patterns. Fitted floating with proper underlay, secret-nailed to timber subfloor, or full-bonded to screed depending on subfloor and product spec. Pre-finished UV-cured lacquer or hard-wax oil, both serviceable and renewable.
Laminate flooring
Quality laminate (Quick-Step, Pergola, Egger) is still a strong-value option for bedrooms, hallways and rental properties. We fit AC4 or AC5 wear-rated boards over 2mm or 3mm acoustic underlay, with proper 10mm expansion gaps at every wall and obstacle. Beading or scotia matched to skirtings, or skirtings removed and refitted for a cleaner look. We won't fit laminate in bathrooms or kitchens with risk of standing water, LVT or tile is the right call there.
Subfloor preparation, the difference between a 5-year and 20-year floor
Concrete and anhydrite screeds get moisture-tested with a hygrometer or calcium chloride test, then primed and latex self-levelled where dips exceed 3mm in 2m. Timber subfloors (chipboard, floorboards) get a 6mm or 9mm plywood overlay screwed at 200mm centres into joists to eliminate flex and squeaks. Existing tile or vinyl floors can be overboarded with 6mm plywood or removed entirely depending on level and adhesion. We won't quote a floor without a subfloor inspection, the failure modes are too expensive to assume.
Underfloor heating compatibility
Engineered wood (8–14mm thick), LVT (2.5–5mm), and large-format porcelain tile all work over electric and wet underfloor heating, provided the product is specified as UFH-compatible, the system is commissioned and heat-cycled before flooring is laid, and the maximum surface temperature (typically 27°C) is respected. We work to flooring and UFH manufacturer specs to keep both warranties valid.
