The Finished Floor Starts With What Is Underneath It
Flooring has a huge effect on how a room looks, feels and performs, but the visible finish is only part of the job.
Whether you are choosing timber, carpet, vinyl, lino, LVT or tiles, the subfloor beneath it needs to be suitable, stable and properly prepared.
Calico can install flooring as part of a wider renovation or as an individual project, while also carrying out the preparation needed beneath the finished surface.
That means looking at the whole floor build-up rather than simply laying a new covering over whatever happens to be there already.
Flooring for Different Rooms, Homes & Budgets
There is no single flooring material that is best for every room. The right choice depends on how the space is used, what sits beneath the floor and the finish you want to achieve.
Timber Flooring
Timber flooring can introduce warmth and natural character to bedrooms, hallways and living spaces, with different solid and engineered options available depending on the room and floor construction.
Related Carpentry Services →
Carpet
Carpet provides a softer and warmer finish underfoot and remains a popular choice for bedrooms, landings, lounges and other comfortable living spaces.
Vinyl & Lino
Practical sheet flooring can provide an easy-to-maintain surface for kitchens, utility rooms and other busy areas, with a wide range of patterns and finishes available.
Click LVT
Click luxury vinyl tile flooring uses interlocking boards or tiles to create a floating floor, often replicating timber or stone while providing a practical and durable finish.
Glue-Down LVT
Glue-down LVT is bonded directly to a suitably prepared subfloor. The preparation beneath it is particularly important because imperfections can transfer through the finished surface.
Floor Tiling
Ceramic and porcelain tiles provide a hard-wearing finish for kitchens, bathrooms, entrance areas and other spaces where durability and easy maintenance are important.
Related Bathroom Renovations →
Preparation Is Just as Important as the Flooring
A floor can only perform as well as the surface beneath it.
Loose boards, damaged chipboard, uneven concrete, movement, moisture or poor previous repairs can all affect the final result.
The preparation required depends on both the existing subfloor and the flooring being installed above it.
Sometimes the preparation is relatively simple. Other projects may require repairs, overlay boards, levelling compounds or more substantial work before the finished flooring can be installed properly.
Different Subfloors Need Different Preparation
The existing floor construction needs to be understood before deciding how the final flooring should be installed.
Loose, damaged or uneven boards may need securing, repairing or overlaying before certain flooring finishes can be installed.
Existing chipboard should be checked for movement, damage, joints and overall condition before the chosen finish is fitted.
Plywood or other suitable boards can sometimes be used to create a more consistent surface over existing timber floors.
Concrete and screeded floors need to be suitably dry, sound and level for the flooring being installed above them.
High and low areas may require repair or suitable levelling products so the finished floor can sit correctly.
Moisture in concrete or other floor construction can cause problems for some floor finishes and adhesives if it is not considered beforehand.
Finished Floor Height Matters
Changing the flooring can alter the finished floor level, particularly where boards, underlay, levelling compounds or tiled build-ups are involved.
That can affect doors, skirting, thresholds, kitchen units and transitions between adjoining rooms.
Considering those details before the new floor is installed can produce a much cleaner result and prevent problems later.
Where flooring forms part of a building renovation or home extension, we can coordinate the finished floor level with the surrounding building work.
Flooring Over Underfloor Heating
Where underfloor heating is being installed, the flooring should be considered at the same time as the heating system.
Different floor coverings transfer heat differently and may have manufacturer requirements covering maximum temperatures, adhesives, underlays or installation methods.
The complete floor build-up also affects the finished floor height, so the heating system, preparation and final covering should be planned together wherever possible.
Explore Heating Systems →From Existing Floor to Finished Surface
Before installing the new flooring, we first need to understand what is already beneath it and what the finished room needs to achieve.
Assess
We look at the existing floor construction, its condition and the type of flooring you want to install.
Prepare
Repairs, levelling, securing loose areas or suitable overlay preparation can be carried out where required.
Install
The selected flooring is fitted using the appropriate installation method for the material and prepared subfloor.
Finish
Thresholds, trims, skirting interfaces and surrounding details are completed so the new flooring feels properly integrated into the room.
Flooring Often Connects Several Trades
Flooring is often one of the last visible finishes to be installed, but many decisions affecting it happen much earlier in the project.
We Look at the Floor as Part of the Building
Flooring is often treated as a simple finishing job, but many problems with finished floors begin underneath them.
Our wider building and carpentry experience means we can look at the existing floor, preparation, surrounding rooms, services and finished details together.
If the subfloor needs attention first, we can explain why and discuss the practical options rather than simply covering the problem with a new floor.
The goal is a finish that looks good, works properly and suits the way the room will actually be used.
Flooring Services Across Hampshire
Calico is based on Hayling Island and provides flooring installation, preparation and wider renovation services throughout Hampshire and surrounding areas.
Hayling Island • Havant • Portsmouth • Southsea • Emsworth • Waterlooville • Chichester • Fareham • Petersfield • Southampton
If your location is not listed, please still get in touch. The distance we travel can vary depending on the scale and nature of the project.
Flooring Services FAQs
What types of flooring can you install?
We can discuss a range of flooring including timber, carpet, vinyl, lino, click LVT, glue-down LVT and tiled floors depending on the room, subfloor and requirements of the project.
What is the difference between click LVT and glue-down LVT?
Click LVT is generally installed as a floating floor with boards or tiles locking together. Glue-down LVT is bonded directly to a prepared subfloor.
Because glue-down products follow the surface beneath them closely, careful subfloor preparation is particularly important.
Do you prepare the subfloor before laying the flooring?
Yes. The existing floor should be assessed first. Depending on its condition and the flooring being installed, preparation could include securing loose areas, repairs, suitable overlay boards or levelling work.
Can you lay new flooring over existing floorboards?
Potentially, but it depends on the condition and movement of the existing boards and the flooring being installed above them.
Floorboards may need to be secured, repaired or overlaid first to create a suitable base.
Can you level an uneven concrete floor?
Potentially, yes. The floor first needs to be assessed to understand the extent of the unevenness, its condition and the intended final flooring. Suitable preparation or levelling products can then be considered.
Can flooring be installed over underfloor heating?
Many flooring products can be used with underfloor heating, but the specific floor covering, adhesive or underlay should be suitable for the heating system and installed in accordance with the relevant manufacturer's requirements.
You can also explore our Heating Systems service.
Can you tile bathroom and kitchen floors?
Yes. Floor tiling can form part of a bathroom renovation or kitchen renovation , with the preparation, surrounding building work and final finish considered together.
Can you replace skirting after the new floor is fitted?
Yes. Depending on the project, skirting, thresholds and associated finishing carpentry can be coordinated with the flooring installation.
See our Carpentry Services page for more information.
Can flooring be included in a complete renovation?
Yes. Flooring is often one of the final stages of a wider Building Renovation , but its levels and preparation may need to be considered much earlier in the project.
Can you install flooring in a new extension?
Yes. New extensions often provide the ideal opportunity to plan the entire floor build-up from the structural base through to the finished floor level.
You can also explore our Home Extensions service.
Planning a New Floor?
Whether you are choosing timber, carpet, vinyl, lino, LVT or tiles, talk to Calico about the room and the finish you are trying to achieve.
We'll look at what is already beneath the floor, explain any preparation that may be required and help you create a finished surface that works properly with the rest of your home.
Discuss Your Flooring Project