If your carpet has seen better days, or your kitchen floor desperately needs updating, you might be pining for a new surface underfoot.
Vinyl flooring is easy to maintain and hard-wearing — great for high-traffic areas. But how much does vinyl flooring installation cost in the UK, and is it something you could easily do yourself?
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What is Vinyl Flooring?
Made from glass fibre and a foam layer underneath, vinyl flooring is a great option if you’re looking for comfort and insulation. Its construction means a greater reduction in noise than you’d get with laminate, or slate tiles, for example.
With a durable wear layer set on top of a realistic printed decor, it’s also water-resistant, making it a great place for kitchens and bathrooms.
Luxury vinyl flooring (LVT) is 100% waterproof and is manufactured with a click-fitting system, making DIY easier.
DIY or Hire a Pro to Fit Your Vinyl Flooring?
You must determine whether you have the time to install the flooring yourself. Think about the potential disruption it could bring to the day-to-day running of your home, especially if you can’t complete the job in one go.
If you decide you’d rather pay a qualified tradesperson, consider some of the other costs that may be involved, as mentioned below. If the fitter passes on the cost of taking up and disposing of your old flooring, you might want to do this bit yourself.
Pro Vinyl Flooring Installation Costs — Key Points To Consider
- As well as the cost for disposing of waste mentioned above, there will also be a charge for removing and disposing of existing underlay at an approximate cost of £35–£65 per room.
- A professional fitter will expect furniture to be moved before laying the floor. This is something they could do for you but will likely charge. Make sure you get them to include this in the quote.
- There may also be a minimum charge for laying your new floor, so if you are looking at a small area, consider this when weighing up the costs of a professional vs fitting it yourself.
- Obtain a selection of quotations. Ask for a price breakdown and for the above costs to be included if applicable. You’ll want them to show individual costs for labour, materials, waste disposal, etc., to make price comparison easier.
- Don’t necessarily go for the cheapest option. Ask to see reviews or testimonials.
- Get a price for the complete job, not the per-hour rate.
The following prices are intended as a guide only. Costs include labour and materials but are exclusive of VAT.
| Room Size | Details | Average Cost | Cost Range | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small room | Approximate room size 2.1m x 2.2m | £163 | £145–£180 | 1–2 hours |
| Medium room | Approximate room size 3.3m x 3.0m | £260 | £240–£280 | 2 hours |
| Large room | Approximate room size 4.08m x 3.0m | £360 | £320–£400 | 2–3 hours |
DIY Vinyl Flooring Installation Costs — Key Points To Consider
As Ben Hillman discusses in the video below, there are several things to be mindful of when fitting new flooring yourself:
- Firstly, ensure there is no debris or protruding objects, e.g. floor nails, as these will show through once the floor has been laid.
- Check for damp before laying your floor. Any sign of damp will need to be rectified first.
- Repair any existing surface damage to ensure an even and tidy finish.
- Record the length and width of the area to be covered, including doorways and recesses.
- Add 75ml to each vinyl sheet edge to allow for cutting and trimming.
- Leave your vinyl flooring to acclimatise in the intended room for 24 hours. Turn off any underfloor heating.
- Avoid joins in wet areas to prevent water from getting underneath the vinyl.
- Some types of sheet vinyl require full adhesion to the floor, while others may only need a perimeter bond using double-sided tape. Check the product for the manufacturer’s instructions. You may also need an adhesive spray.
- Bathrooms and kitchens need a silicone sealant around the edges to avoid water ingress. Add a trim between the floor and the wall for a neat finish in areas such as hallways or living rooms. You must also install a threshold bar in the doorway to complete the finish.
- For a full tutorial on fitting sheet vinyl, check out this video from B&Q.
- As LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) has a fit-and-click system, the process will differ from that described above. Check out this video for information on fitting LVT instead of sheet vinyl.
Don’t fancy doing this job yourself? Find top-rated vinyl floor fitters in your area by clicking the button below:
Final Thoughts
As an advocate for DIY and keeping costs down, I’m certainly tempted to do this job myself. The tutorial videos above make the process seem fairly straightforward.
However, you need to choose the right course of action for you. Ultimately, your decision will depend on your time, availability, and, most importantly, your confidence to do the job well and within budget.
Rated People can help you find a trustworthy floor fitter if hiring a professional is the best option.