The most common flooring mistakes are skipping subfloor preparation, picking the wrong floor for the room, comparing quotes on price alone, choosing on looks only and ignoring the care instructions. These are the problems Corey and the Southside Flooring team see most often on site. Each one is easy to avoid if you know what to look for.
1. Ignoring the subfloor
The subfloor is what your new floor sits on. If it is uneven, damp or damaged, the new floor can move, squeak, lift or grow mould. Most flooring failures start here, not in the boards.
How to avoid it: have the subfloor checked for level and moisture before anything is ordered. A concrete slab should be tested first. Our concrete moisture testing gives you written results to AS 1884.
2. Choosing the wrong floor for the room
No floor suits every room. Timber, laminate and hybrid are not made for bathrooms or laundries. Carpet does not belong in a kitchen.
How to avoid it: start with how wet the room gets and how much traffic it takes. Use vinyl planks in wet areas. Use laminate, hybrid or engineered timber in living areas, and carpet in bedrooms.
3. Comparing quotes on price alone
A quote that is one number often leaves out removal of the old floor, subfloor preparation, trims or stairs. Those costs still turn up later.
How to avoid it: ask every installer what is included for removal, preparation, underlay and trims. Our flooring cost guide shows what each item usually costs.
4. Choosing on looks only
A floor can look perfect in a showroom and wrong in your home. Light, wall colour and room size all change how it looks. Looks also tell you nothing about how the floor wears.
How to avoid it: look at large samples in your own rooms, in daylight and at night. Ask about the wear layer and the finish, not only the colour.
5. Skipping the care instructions
Most floors are damaged by small habits. Dragged furniture, grit at the door and the wrong cleaner all shorten the life of a floor.
How to avoid it: put felt pads under furniture and mats at entries. Wipe up spills when they happen. Use the cleaner the manufacturer recommends, and do not use a steam mop on timber or laminate.
Common questions
Do I need to test my concrete slab before new flooring?
Yes, for any floor glued to the slab and for most floating floors. Moisture in the slab is one of the main causes of flooring failure, and a written test result helps protect your warranty.
Can new flooring go over the old floor?
Sometimes, if the old floor is flat, dry and firmly fixed. In most jobs the old floor comes out so the subfloor can be checked and prepared properly.
Can I install flooring myself?
A handy person can lay a click floor. Most problems come from the preparation, not the boards, and poor installation can affect the manufacturer warranty.
Want a fixed price for your rooms? Book a free measure and quote or call 0422 635 797. We work across Bayside and South East Melbourne.