Tiles, LVT or laminate: which should you choose?
Compare the exact products you are considering. A material’s name alone does not establish its suitability for a bathroom, busy hallway or heated floor.
| Flooring option | Why you might choose it | Main checks before purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic floor tiles | A tiled finish with a choice of colours and patterns | Confirm the product is intended for floors, with suitable slip performance and room suitability |
| Porcelain floor tiles | A tiled finish for a planned kitchen, hallway or bathroom scheme | Check the surface finish, tile dimensions and the required preparation and fixing system |
| Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) | Wood- or stone-effect planks and tiles | Establish whether the product is bonded or floating and check its subfloor requirements |
| Laminate | A decorative plank floor with a range of finishes | Confirm room suitability, moisture restrictions, underlay and expansion requirements |
Karndean’s flooring guidance explains that LVT comes in individual planks or tiles and is available in different fitting formats. Those differences matter when comparing installation quotes.
Laminate can be suitable for a kitchen when the specific product is approved for that use and installed accordingly. Quick-Step’s kitchen guidance illustrates why you should check the range’s instructions rather than assume all laminate has the same moisture performance.
Take samples into the room before making a decision. Look at them in daylight and with your usual lighting, alongside the cabinets, doors and skirting that will remain.
Why preparation matters before laying a new floor
The subfloor is the surface supporting the new flooring. Its condition affects the installation, even when the chosen finish looks straightforward.
Ask the installer to assess the following:
- Whether the base is concrete, screed, timber or an existing covering.
- Uneven areas, movement, loose material or visible damage.
- Moisture conditions and any testing required by the flooring system.
- The preparation, primer, underlay or other layers specified for the product.
- The finished height at doorways, thresholds and adjoining rooms.
Some conditions only become visible after the old covering is removed. Ask how the quote deals with that uncertainty and how any additional preparation will be agreed.
For tiled floors, movement and preparation deserve particular attention. BAL’s guidance on grout problems identifies issues such as movement in the base, inadequate adhesive coverage and missing movement joints as possible causes of failure. Applying new grout alone may not resolve the underlying problem.
What should a flooring or tiling quote include?
A price per square metre is useful only when you know what it covers. Ask for the same specification when comparing Peterborough flooring installers.
| Quote item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Removal | Which existing coverings will be lifted and how they will be disposed of |
| Preparation | What assessment, repairs and smoothing work are included or provisional |
| Materials | The exact flooring or tile product and who orders it |
| Fitting materials | Relevant adhesive, grout, underlay, trims and other system components |
| Layout | Plank direction, tile setting-out, patterns and border details |
| Edges and transitions | Skirting, threshold profiles, doorway details and appliance clearances |
| Completion | Cleaning, access restrictions, furniture replacement and care instructions |
| Total price | Labour, materials, waste arrangements and VAT, where applicable |
If you are buying the flooring yourself, have the installer confirm the quantity and specification first. Offcuts, pattern matching and the room shape affect the order quantity. Keep suitable spare material for future repairs if space allows.
How much does flooring and tiling cost in Peterborough?
The total depends on the material, floor area, layout and preparation. A clear rectangular room is a different job from a space with numerous doorways, damaged flooring and a detailed tile pattern.
For example, a room measuring 4 metres by 3 metres has a basic area of 12 square metres. That measurement is a starting point for assessing coverage; it does not automatically establish the order quantity or the full fitting price. The installer still needs to consider cuts, the layout and the base.
Ask for preparation to be explained separately from laying the finish. Also identify furniture removal, skirting work, old-floor disposal and any changes to doors. Those items can explain why two quotes for the same room differ. See our Prices page for current indicative rates.
Floor tiling in kitchens, bathrooms and hallways
Kitchens
Coordinate flooring with the kitchen installation. Confirm the floor height beneath appliances and how thresholds will meet adjacent rooms. If you are choosing floating flooring, agree how fixed units and islands will be handled before work starts. Quick-Step’s guidance on floating laminate floors notes that fixed points can prevent the floor from moving as intended. The sequence should follow the chosen product’s installation requirements.
Bathrooms and wet areas
Tile selection and waterproofing are separate decisions. Tiles and grout alone do not make a wetroom installation waterproof. BAL’s wetroom guidance explains the need to consider a suitable waterproofing system. Ask the installer to specify the complete system for the area, including any required waterproofing, junction details and drainage arrangements. Also check that the chosen floor surface is suitable for the conditions in which it will be walked on.
Hallways and connected rooms
Plan transitions where materials change. Look at door clearances, mat wells and how the layout appears from the main entrance. If several rooms are being fitted, agree which routes through the property will remain available during the work.
Planning flooring work in your Peterborough property
360 Maintenance Solutions covers Peterborough neighbourhoods including Hampton, Orton, Stanground, Fletton, Woodston, Bretton and Werrington. Give the full postcode when requesting a quote and include the number of rooms, their approximate dimensions and the existing floor finish.
For a flat, explain stairs, lift access and any building requirements that affect flooring or deliveries. For an occupied house, discuss moving furniture and keeping essential rooms accessible. For a rental property, confirm the handover date and coordinate decorating or other landlord maintenance before booking the final fitting sequence.
Do not judge readiness solely by how dry a material looks. The installer should follow the product requirements for preparation, drying and use. Agree when you can walk on the floor, bring furniture back and clean it normally.
Reviewed on 3 October 2026. This is general information, not professional installation advice.