Flooring Costs
Understanding UK flooring labour rates, material costs, and installation factors.
UK Flooring Labour Rates (per m²)
Budget: £8-£15/m²
Laminate/vinyl. Basic installation, may lack finesse.
Standard: £15-£30/m²
Laminate/vinyl professional, or basic wooden flooring. Proper installation, clean finish.
Premium: £30-£60/m²+
Wooden flooring, stone, specialist finishes. Expert installation and finishing.
Material Costs by Type
Laminate (per m²)
Budget: £4-8 | Standard: £8-15 | Premium: £15-30
Vinyl (per m²)
Budget: £5-10 | Standard: £10-20 | Premium: £20-40
Wooden Flooring (per m²)
Budget: £20-40 | Standard: £40-80 | Premium: £80-200+
Stone/Ceramic (per m²)
Budget: £20-40 | Standard: £40-80 | Premium: £80-300+
Note: Stone requires sealing (£200-500 additional)
Real Example: 20m² Bedroom Flooring
Budget Laminate
Laminate (20m²):£120
Labour (1 day):£200
Removal of old floor:£100
Total:£420
Standard Vinyl Click
Vinyl flooring (20m²):£300
Labour (1.5 days):£300
Removal of old floor:£150
Total:£750
Premium Wooden Flooring
Oak flooring (20m²):£1,200
Labour (2.5 days):£1,000
Removal & substrate prep:£300
Finishing/sealing:£300
Total:£2,800
What Affects Cost?
- Old floor removal: Adds £5-15/m² and 1-2 days labour
- Substrate prep: Uneven/damp substrate needs treatment (major cost factor)
- Stairs: Complex areas cost 2-3x more per m² than open rooms
- Underlay: Sometimes included, sometimes £3-8/m² extra
- Finishing: Wooden floors need sanding/sealing (adds £500-1,500)
- Pattern/layout: Patterns cost more labour due to complexity
Flooring Types Compared
| Type | Durability | Maintenance | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | 7-10 years | Low (sweep/mop) | Lowest |
| Vinyl | 10-15 years | Low (mop) | Low-Medium |
| Wood | 20-40+ years | High (reseal every 3-5 years) | High |
| Stone | 50+ years | Medium (seal, avoid acids) | Very High |
Common Misunderstandings
- "Laminate is nearly as good as wood": Lasts half as long. Not refinishable
- "Vinyl is cheap": Quality vinyl costs £20-40/m². Not necessarily cheaper than laminate
- "Wooden floors just need mopping": Actually need sealing every 3-5 years
- "All flooring costs the same to fit": Wood fitting is 2-3x more expensive than vinyl
Red Flags
- Quote doesn't mention old floor removal
- No substrate assessment mentioned
- Doesn't specify underlay or finishing
- Labour rate seems extremely cheap (under £10/m² is suspicious)