Published: 26 August 2026
Buying new flooring is a significant investment, but choosing the right floor is only part of the job.
Installation mistakes can lead to problems ranging from movement and damaged joints to an uneven finish and premature flooring failure. In some circumstances, incorrect installation can also affect whether resulting damage is covered by a product warranty.
At Direct Flooring Online, we regularly advise customers on choosing and installing different flooring types. Here are seven mistakes homeowners and DIY renovators should avoid before starting their next flooring project.
A new floor is only as good as the surface underneath it.
One of the most important jobs before installation is checking that the subfloor meets the requirements of the particular flooring being installed.
For example, Direct Flooring Online’s click LVT installation guidance requires the subfloor to be dry, clean and appropriately level, with issues such as large cracks, protrusions and loose boards dealt with before installation begins.
Glue-down LVT places particular importance on the quality of the surface because the flooring is bonded directly to it. Cracks and holes may need filling and the surface should be properly cleaned and prepared before adhesive is applied.
Before installing any floor, follow the installation requirements for that specific product rather than assuming the same preparation applies to every type of flooring.
Removing an existing floor isn’t always necessary.
Some flooring can be installed over an existing surface, but only when the existing floor and the new product are compatible and the surface meets the necessary requirements.
DFO’s click LVT guidance, for example, allows installation over some existing flooring where it is securely attached, clean and free from significant unevenness. When installing over tiles, grout lines may need to be levelled using an appropriate repair compound.
Our glue-down guidance similarly notes that an existing surface may sometimes remain where it is suitable, solid and sufficiently smooth.
The mistake is therefore not necessarily leaving the old floor down. It is assuming that every existing floor provides a suitable base.
Some flooring products need time to adjust to the environment in which they will be installed.
Skipping this stage because you’re eager to finish the room can cause problems later.
The required conditions vary between products, which is why homeowners should always follow the instructions supplied with their particular flooring.
For example, DFO’s click LVT installation guidance advises a 24-hour acclimatisation period under normal conditions, with additional requirements where packs have been exposed to extreme temperatures.
Wood flooring can have its own environmental requirements. Our engineered wood installation guidance, for example, specifies environmental and humidity considerations that need to be observed.
Don’t assume that because flooring has arrived at your house, it is immediately ready to install.
Measuring the room and ordering exactly that number of square metres sounds sensible.
It usually isn’t.
Installation involves cuts, and some material will inevitably be lost during the process. More complicated layouts can increase the amount required.
Our glue-down LVT guidance recommends allowing approximately 10% additional material for cutting waste.
The appropriate allowance depends on the flooring, room shape and installation pattern, so homeowners should check the recommendations for their chosen product before ordering.
Running short part-way through an installation can be particularly frustrating and may cause delays while additional flooring is sourced.
Some floors need space to move.
A common DIY mistake is fitting flooring tightly against walls and fixed objects because it initially appears to create a neater finish.
For floating click LVT, DFO’s guidance requires appropriate expansion gaps around walls and fixtures and provides different recommendations depending on room size and conditions.
Those gaps are subsequently concealed by the appropriate trims or mouldings.
The precise requirements vary between flooring products, so installers should follow the instructions supplied with the floor rather than applying one universal measurement.
Underfloor heating can work with many modern flooring products, but compatibility shouldn’t be assumed.
Both the flooring and heating system need to be suitable for use together, and temperature restrictions may apply.
For example, DFO’s click LVT guidance permits use over certain underfloor-heating systems provided the relevant conditions are observed, including a maximum subfloor surface temperature of 27°C. It also advises against using that particular product over an electric coil underfloor-heating system.
Always check the requirements of both the flooring manufacturer and the heating-system manufacturer before installation.
A long flooring warranty doesn’t mean every possible problem will be covered.
Warranties generally have terms, conditions and exclusions.
One of DFO’s current click-LVT warranty documents, for example, states that damage resulting from improper installation or maintenance is not covered. It also excludes certain subfloor-related issues.
Other DFO flooring warranties similarly make warranty coverage conditional upon flooring being installed and maintained according to the relevant guidelines.
That makes reading the installation instructions before starting the job particularly important.
Don’t wait until something goes wrong to read the warranty.
There isn’t one installation method that applies to every floor.
Click LVT, glue-down LVT, laminate, engineered wood and solid wood can have very different requirements.
Even two products within the same broad flooring category can have different specifications.
Before beginning an installation:
Taking additional time before installation is considerably easier than trying to correct a flooring problem afterwards.
Direct Flooring Online is a UK flooring retailer supplying private and trade customers across mainland Britain.
Our ranges include Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), laminate, engineered wood, solid wood, herringbone and parquet flooring, alongside flooring accessories and installation products.
Direct Flooring Online also publishes installation guidance covering different flooring types and installation methods.
Journalists covering property, interiors, DIY, renovation, consumer affairs and home improvement are welcome to contact Direct Flooring Online for flooring commentary.
We can provide expert comment on subjects including flooring installation, LVT, herringbone flooring, subfloor preparation, flooring costs, common buying mistakes and choosing flooring for different rooms.
Media contact:
Matthew Haestier
Direct Flooring Online
Email: matthew@directflooringonline.co.uk
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