Most new builds are handed over with bare concrete floors downstairs and chipboard upstairs, and you have a fixed move-in date. Book your measure as soon as you can get into the house, choose hard-wearing floors for the ground floor and carpet for the bedrooms, and plan the fitting before the furniture arrives. Here’s what to know if you’re moving into a new home in Preston, from the team that fits carpets and flooring in Preston.
What floors does a new build come with?
New homes on estates around Preston, such as those in Cottam and Broughton, usually come with two kinds of floor:
- Concrete or screed downstairs. It’s solid and flat, which suits LVT, sheet vinyl and laminate, but a newer floor can still be holding moisture.
- Chipboard upstairs. Sheets of flooring-grade chipboard on joists. It’s a good base for carpet, and it can carry hard floors with the right underlay.
Some homes come with flooring already fitted in the kitchen and bathroom. Check your specification sheet so you know which rooms you need to cover.
Let new concrete floors dry first
New screed and concrete contain a lot of water, and they dry slowly. A floor that looks dry on top can still be damp underneath. If glue-down LVT or vinyl is laid on a damp floor, the adhesive can fail and the floor can lift or bubble.
Before a hard floor is stuck down, the base should be checked with a moisture meter. Carpet and floating floors laid over a suitable underlay are less sensitive, but it’s still worth checking.
What to fit in each room
Kitchen, hallway and downstairs WC
These rooms take muddy shoes, spills and the most footsteps. LVT is the most popular choice in a new build because it’s waterproof and runs neatly from room to room. Sheet vinyl is the most affordable waterproof option. See our LVT flooring page for styles, including herringbone.
Lounge
It depends on how you live. Carpet feels warm and soft and helps a room sound less echoey, while LVT or laminate is easier to keep clean if you have pets or young children. Our guide to carpet or hard flooring goes through the pros and cons.
Bedrooms, stairs and landing
Carpet is the usual choice upstairs. It’s warm underfoot and, with a good underlay, it cuts down the footstep noise you hear downstairs. Choose a hard-wearing carpet for the stairs, which take the most wear. See our carpet supply and fitting page for the ranges we stock.
Plan around your move-in date
- Book the measure early. Ask your developer when you can get into the finished house, and book your free measure for soon after.
- Fit before the furniture. Empty rooms are quicker to fit and there’s nothing to move.
- Do the downstairs and stairs together. Matching the hall, stairs and landing in one visit gives a neat finish where the floors meet.
- Check the doors. New flooring and underlay raise the floor a little, so some internal doors may need trimming to close over it. Ask about this when you book.
- Tell us about underfloor heating. If your home has it, mention it at the measure, as not every floor and underlay is suitable.
Frequently asked questions
When should I book flooring for a new build?
Book your measure as soon as you can get into the finished house. Most people like the floors fitted before the furniture arrives, so plan the fitting day around your move-in date.
Can LVT go straight onto a new concrete floor?
Only once the floor is dry. New screed and concrete hold a lot of water, and glue-down LVT or vinyl laid on a damp floor can lift or bubble. The floor should be checked with a moisture meter first.
Is chipboard OK under carpet?
Yes. The chipboard floors upstairs in most new builds are a good base for carpet. Gripper is fixed to the boards and a good underlay goes over them, which also helps with footstep noise between floors.
Do you charge extra to fit in Preston?
No. There is no travel charge, and our prices, offers and free home measure are the same in Preston as in Chorley.
Book a free measure in Preston
Book a free home measure and we’ll bring carpet, LVT and vinyl samples to your new home. There’s no travel charge in Preston, or call us on 01257 228 582 for an instant quote.
Book a Free Home Measure
We bring samples to your home, measure every room and give you an instant quote.
