Why are the following items included in the calculated quote?
Depending on your property age and floorcovering type we have automatically factored in materials that will most likely be required for a successful installation. We have done this, so your estimate is more accurate, rather than a floorlayer / estimator having to change your estimate dramatically after they have visited your property.
DPM- What is a DPM and why might I need it? Properties built before 1965 will most likely not have a Damp-Proof Membrane (DPM) under the concrete floor. Modern day floorcoverings and adhesives are mostly moisture sensitive and require a working DPM to be in place. Floorcoverings are made in a different way to what used to be supplied only a few years ago. For example, some could contain asbestos and the adhesives was mainly bitumen based which had high moisture resistance. Due to health reasons, these products are no longer produced, but we do now have to protect the new floorcoverings and adhesive from moisture ingress. Hence a DPM may have been included in your estimate. The flooring installer / estimator will carry out a moisture test to confirm if you require a DPM or not.
Plywood / Smoothing Compounds– are required to be installed underneath many types of floorcoverings. Without a smooth subfloor the floorcovering will not preform and will look poor. It is also a British Standard requirement to install either plywood or smoothing compound under Impervious floorcoverings such as LVT, Vinyl, Lino etc. British Standards also states that they need to be flooring grade which are not available through most builders yards as they are specialists products. Without using the correct products, the floorcovering warranty may become void.
New Build Properties– New build properties hold a lot of moisture from when the likes of the concrete floors were laid. New build properties will have a DPM but will normally require a moisture suppressant system to be applied to the solid floors before most floorcoverings are installed. As a guide, cement-based subfloor dry at a rate of 1mm per day for the first 50mm in depth and then double in drying time for every mm afterwards. A typical 150mm deep concrete subfloor will take approximately 250 days to drop its moisture levels down to an acceptable level before most floorcoverings can be installed. Hence a moisture suppressant may have been added to your estimate. Your flooring installer will carry out a moisture test to confirm if you do or don’t require a moisture suppressant.