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Original poster

I’m I being a cheap skate

63 replies

Bellex · 03/02/2022 23:25

Hello all,

I’m buying my first house. A new build which doesn’t include flooring amongst other things. Today I went to the suggested flooring supplier to get some quotes for flooring. Third time in as the previous visits have been a disaster due to staff not knowing about the arrangement with the developer and wanting to book me in for a measure up. And to be honest at this point I was going to go somewhere else as I really need to know how flooring is going to cost so I can budget for it.

I went in today, explain and the guy understood. He then started to show me the amtico flooring, having looked at this previously I know it costs on average £150 per square metre so is on the pricey side. My friend has also recently had issues with hers which I explained, he said he’s never ever heard or seen any issues with it. So he showed me other laminate options all of which came to over £75 per square metre.

So I politely gave him a nudge to show me something abit cheaper. I ended up picking a laminate £25.99 per square metre with fleeting and then a carpet runner and two separate laminates for the bathroom. This all came to £3600 for roughly 115 metres squared plus stairs.

The guy did repeatedly kept coming back to amtico which would of cost me £18,000. I’m buying this house alone and I’ve saved up for the past 2 years to do so. I have additional costs like a media wall, the garden plus actually furnishing it as I have no furniture. £18,000 seems a lot to pay just for flooring but the guy kept saying it was an investment?

What are you thoughts? (For reference the house is 3 bed semi for 195k)

OP posts:

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 04/02/2022 08:20

My house size and price was similar to yours. I had engineered wood downstairs, vinyl in bathroom, kitchen and downstairs loo, carpet on stairs land and bedrooms. I paid £3.5k

The bloke is trying to rip you off, he's banking on you not having a clue how much things should cost.

Go and get other quotes from places with no connections to the builders. And for goodness sake don't just stand in a shop for 20 minutes talking to no one - go up to the counter and tell them you have a new build you need to get flooring for and ask them to serve you!

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 04/02/2022 08:54

In the kindness way OP you do need to wise up otherwise you're going to have tradesmen ripping you off left, right and centre.

How much have you got to spend on flooring? Tell whoever you speak to what kind of budget you have in mind before they start showing you stuff. Start by looking at the lowest you want to spend and only spend more if you love it!

Hoppinggreen · 04/02/2022 08:58

Amtico is usually vinyl not laminate but it is probably the most expensive brand going and is no different in construction to some other brands
Look at Polyflor, Armstrong, Rhino floor or even Karndean

Interested in this thread?

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Home improvement

Original poster

Bellex · 04/02/2022 09:05

I’m not usually the naive but I put a level of trust in the estate agency looking after the new builds which clearly wasn’t wise. I’m also keen to get something booked in as finding reliable tradesmen that are available is hard. The guy that has done all my parents floors has 1 year waiting list to fit them.

Budget is 4-5k. I’ll go look at some other places. I did look at karndean as you can buyer cheaper online and one of my friends brother fits in.

Im also in a position as they still haven’t given me a date. The house should be ready March this date has already moved right once and from the looks of the houses and lack of road I am worried that this date isn’t realistic.

OP posts:

whiteworldgettingwhiter · 04/02/2022 09:10

Go to other companies! Get two other words. Go with the one you trust most. Also check their reviews online.

whiteworldgettingwhiter · 04/02/2022 09:10

Words?? Quotes!

superplumb · 04/02/2022 09:11

Go with cheap for now. Ignore salemans this will be expensive for food bills etc. Better to have the option to upgrade later and have £ in the bank

cherrytopcake · 04/02/2022 09:19

£18k on flooring for just over 100 square meters ?! Is he having a laugh?! Definitely trying to rip you off OP. If I was you I'd go for the mid range price around £75 that you mentioned. Don't chose the cheapest or you'll end up needing a new floor in two years. No need to buy the most expensive either. Installing expensive flooring in a new build isn't an investment. It's just money you won't get back when you come to sell. But don't go to cheap either...

However there definitely seems to be some big red flags in regards to this company. Problems with the floor ? No idea about the arrangement with the constructor ? I would avoid. I would not go with a company that's been recommended by the builder, would definitely suggest you find an independent company to quote you on flooring.

GalaPie · 04/02/2022 09:23

This is the only time you'll need to do the whole house at once and I'd be reluctant to spend too much until I'd lived there, seen the way the light falls, what things look like under electric lights etc. so I would be inclined to bin the developer's preferred supplier (who is probably thinking he's got a captive audience and therefore bumping up prices anyway).
I don't suggest going too budget, but I've just fitted the B&Q laminate at a rental property I own and I can't tell you how pleased I am with it. I'd happily have it in my own home.
Ask on FB and local groups for a reliable local fitter. Often self employed fitters are more likely to shuffle jobs about to fit you in. You'll need to start building up your List anyway of local plumber, electrician, handyman, floor man, decorator etc, and you do get some good recommendations through FB.
And any proficient and reliable tradesman will be happy to show evidence of previous work, which can be important.

Hoppinggreen · 04/02/2022 09:33

@Bellex

Budget is 4-5k. I’ll go look at some other places. I did look at karndean as you can buyer cheaper online and one of my friends brother fits in.

Cautionary tale about getting someone other than the developer to do it We asked our builder to do it on our new build because it was easier than trying to arrange access, plus they did it before we moved it. After we moved in I was speaking to the foreman and he said that they didn’t tell me at the time but the floor fitter actually broke a toilet and caused a flood. Because it was their fitter they sorted it all out and we didn’t know anything about it. If it had been my own fitter it would have been a lot more difficult In your shoes I would go back to the recommended place and ask them to work with your budget

Leilala · 04/02/2022 09:54

We got our new build 1 year ago. Flooring wise I wouldn’t use laminate in a bathroom as if any water gets into a slight defect or seam it will swell and be ruined!

We have tiles in bathrooms (from developer for free as they had agreed to pay stamp duty but this was minimal in the end) we have laminate upstairs the same throughout. Wood look tiles downstairs, tiles were about 15m2 and then cost 1600 to fit (aprox 100m2) Very hard wearing and much cheaper than what you have been quoted. Might be cheaper sourcing your own flooring then getting quotes for fitting.

NannyGythaOgg · 04/02/2022 11:25

I have a similar size new build (self build) and paid about £1600 to put vinyl throughout (underfloor heating). Living alone means minimal wear so expensive flooring for me seemed disproportionate.

If there were many people, children (particularly teens), high heeled shoe wearers passing through on a regular basis I may see things differently but for me this is perfect. (And a robot hoover means minimal care too)

Notcontent · 04/02/2022 11:35

This is definitely a scam - an arrangement between this supplier and the developer. DO NOT get your flooring from this place.

You should be able to get good quality flooring for much, much less.

CrinklyCraggy · 04/02/2022 11:54

Try a different supplier before you go for this.The cheap option is rarely a good option, unless it's something you will use for only a very short time, but the developer tie in is unlikely to be getting you a good deal.

Original poster

Bellex · 04/02/2022 12:03

Thank you for all you comments.

The laminate he showed me was mid range, the estate agent did have cheap laminate at 7.99 a square metre in their office and some carpet at 5.99.

I’m going to get some quotes elsewhere and see what a mid level laminate costs elsewhere and if there any other options for roughly 30 square metre with fitting.

In hindsight I should of questioned some of his red flags like him implying that £16.99 was cheap carpet when he selling stuff for half of that

OP posts:

KeyWorker · 04/02/2022 12:05

We have Amtico in our kitchen and hallway at it was no way £150/m2. You need to shop around and get a few quotes. Go with recommendations from friends and family, not who the building company recommends.

Hoppinggreen · 04/02/2022 14:18

@Bellex

Thank you for all you comments.

The laminate he showed me was mid range, the estate agent did have cheap laminate at 7.99 a square metre in their office and some carpet at 5.99.

I’m going to get some quotes elsewhere and see what a mid level laminate costs elsewhere and if there any other options for roughly 30 square metre with fitting.

In hindsight I should of questioned some of his red flags like him implying that £16.99 was cheap carpet when he selling stuff for half of that

Sorry if I come across as pedantic but Amtico is NOT laminate, it’s vinyl. 2 completely different things It’s up to you which one you want but you can’t compare the 2 and if you want vinyl like Amtico but cheaper you can’t go into a shop and ask for laminate

emmathedilemma · 04/02/2022 14:23

Thanks all, I’m going to get some more quotes. I did try another place but I was in there for 20 minutes and nobody spoke to me.
This sounds ideal, I hate walking into a showroom and sales people pounce on you before you've even had chance to look round! Go and ask them if you see something like and want a quote. Also ask what deal they can do you, they'll usually chuck in something for free or take a % off.

Just10moreminutesplease · 04/02/2022 14:27

Oh god, don’t buy any flooring from this company. They are charging through the ear for the convenience of not having to measure yourself!

Just ask the developers for the measurements or get quotes from companies that will come out and measure for you.

Congratulations on your new home!

Itsalmostanaccessory · 04/02/2022 14:31

Go somewhere else. There will be a deal with the developer getting commission on all referrals. It doesnt make them the best.
You took 3 visits because they were so unorganised and then they tried to stiff you.

Dont use them.

ronswansonstache · 04/02/2022 14:37

We've just had amtico laid and it was about £70 per square metre including fitting costs. And it was laid in herringbone so by no means the cheapest one. Someone's having you on!

Invictus is worth a look too. Good luck with your house xx

Original poster

Bellex · 04/02/2022 15:25

@Hoppinggreen I didn’t go in asking for a specific flooring. He showed me Amtico and then a more expensive laminate before then showing me the mid level laminate.

Im open to the material. I just want an oak look within my budget.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bellex · 04/02/2022 15:26

@ronswansonstache

We've just had amtico laid and it was about £70 per square metre including fitting costs. And it was laid in herringbone so by no means the cheapest one. Someone's having you on!

Invictus is worth a look too. Good luck with your house xx

Ohh I’ll have a look, thank you!

My friend said she paid £70 for hers so she confused by his prices.

I’m going to have a look. Thank you xxx

OP posts:

Changedmane · 04/02/2022 16:11

Buy the one you like. Don’t be told otherwise. Congratulations on your new home!

ButtockUp · 04/02/2022 16:30

This is such an exciting time for you and congratulations!

Definitely shop around as the salesperson who you spoke to may well be on a commission.

That being said, a modest purchase now would suffice until you reach a point where you can splash out for something pricier.

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