Process
How an LVP project actually runs, start to finish.
Most flooring surprises are scheduling surprises or scope surprises, and both come from the same source: nobody looked under the old floor before quoting. Here is the sequence we follow so that the number you agree to is the number the job costs.
First conversation
You tell us the rooms, the rough square footage, what is on the floor now, and whether stairs are involved. That is usually enough for us to say whether the project is a good fit and roughly what the scope will look like.
- We ask what is under the current floor if you know
- We flag early if we think LVP is the wrong product for the room
- No pressure to have a product picked out yet
On-site measure and subfloor survey
We measure the rooms properly, then take the existing floor covering out of the equation as far as we can and assess the substrate. A 10-foot straightedge goes across the floor in a grid and the readings get written down.
- Room-by-room measurement with waste allowance calculated
- Flatness survey against the product's published tolerance
- Slab moisture testing where the floor sits on concrete
- Check of door clearances, level changes, and transition points
Written scope and estimate
You get a written scope with the prep quoted as its own line, separate from the field install. That way you can see exactly what the substrate is costing you and why, rather than having it buried in a per-square-foot rate.
- Demolition and disposal itemised
- Subfloor prep itemised against the readings we took
- Field installation, stairs, and transitions listed separately
- Product and underlayment specified by name
Scheduling and preparation
We agree dates, arrange material delivery, and let the product acclimate in the conditioned space for the period the manufacturer specifies. If self-levelling is in scope, its cure time is built into the schedule rather than rushed.
- Material delivered and acclimated on site
- Furniture plan agreed, including anything needing a specialty mover
- Access, parking, and HOA or building rules confirmed
- Realistic day count, including prep cure times
Demolition and prep
The old floor comes out, and whatever it was hiding gets dealt with before anything new goes down. If we find something the survey could not — rot under a dishwasher, an active slab crack — we stop and show you before proceeding.
- Old covering, tack strip, staples, and adhesive removed
- Debris hauled away
- Grinding, patching, or levelling per the agreed scope
- Loose or squeaking subfloor refastened
Layout and installation
Plank direction, starting wall, and stagger are planned before the first cut, working from multiple cartons so the printed pattern does not repeat where the eye catches it. Then the field goes in, followed by stairs and perimeter work.
- Dry-lay and layout planning
- Field installation with correct expansion gaps
- Undercuts at jambs and casing
- Stair treads, risers, and nosing where in scope
- Transitions, thresholds, and base or shoe molding
Walkthrough and handover
We clean up, walk the floor with you, and go through the manufacturer's care instructions and warranty registration. Leftover planks stay with you as attic stock, which is the only reliable way to match a repair later.
- Job-site cleanup and debris removal
- Walkthrough of the finished floor together
- Manufacturer care and warranty documentation handed over
- Spare planks left on site as attic stock
The substrate work described in steps two and five is covered in more depth on the subfloor preparation page, and the reasoning behind the flatness readings is in the flatness standard guide.
Talk through your LVP project
Tell us the rooms, the square footage, and what is on the floor now. We will come measure, check the subfloor, and put a written scope in front of you.