Flooring installation: laminate, wood, vinyl — how to order well
The flooring decides the method
Laminate, wooden planks, engineered wood, vinyl and carpet are laid in different ways, so the rates differ too. Click-lock laminate goes down quickly, while herringbone laid on adhesive takes much longer. Vinyl and carpet need a carefully levelled base, and solid wood also needs humidity control.
So the price of laying is not one number per square foot: the fitter looks at the type of flooring, the pattern and what is underneath.
The base matters more than you think
The floor must be level and dry. A concrete screed needs time to dry, and unevenness is fixed with a self-levelling compound or by grinding. If this part is skipped, laminate will creak and the locks will come apart in time. State the condition of the base in your request, and whether there is old flooring to remove.
For laminate the wear class matters too: classes 32 and 33 are meant for heavy use and class 31 for bedrooms and moderate traffic. For the kitchen, the hall and damp rooms it is better to choose moisture-resistant or vinyl flooring, and it is worth asking the fitter about this before you buy.
What to put in your request
- Flooring — type and class, for example class 33 laminate.
- Area and the number of rooms.
- State of the base — level, needs levelling, old flooring present.
- Laying pattern — straight, diagonal, herringbone; on adhesive or click-lock.
- Related work — underlay, skirting, thresholds, removal of the old floor.
- Materials — the flooring yours or the contractor's.
- Address, timing, budget, for example a price per sq ft.
Example: “Davao City, a flat. I need class 33 laminate laid in herringbone on adhesive, about 480 sq ft, with underlay and skirting, and the screed levelled first. The laminate is mine. To be done in 3 days, labour budget up to ₱250 per square metre.”
How to compare offers
- Whether the price includes underlay, skirting, thresholds and cutting.
- Whether the base is levelled, and with what.
- Whether an expansion gap is left by the walls and who covers it with skirting.
- How a harder pattern (herringbone, diagonal) changes the rate.
- Whether the crew cleans up after the work and gives a warranty.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You send your request on the home page, and tradesmen in your city reply in chat with prices and dates. They can see where their offer stands, so they can improve their terms. Reviews are shown next to the offers, and your number stays hidden until you choose a fitter. About the service, see the page How it works.
Common mistakes
The most frequent are laying the floor before the dirty work is finished, not letting the flooring acclimatise in the room before fitting, forgetting the gap, and buying material with no extra for cutting. For preparing the base you will need finishing work, and if the renovation is wider, look at turnkey renovation.
