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Property/DIY

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Flooring / flats

6 replies

JanewaysBun · 18/04/2020 12:30

Hello all
I love in a 2 bed flat in SW London with a 2 and under 1 yo (plus DH). We are looking to move at the end of the year/early next, basically we've been waiting to see how DH's job will fare as brexit progresses but need to move asap.

We currently have carpet throughout, it's old and gross tbh. Our leasehold says we can have carpet or lino but if we want wood etc then we have to use special dampening materials and even so if the person below us complains we will have to put carpet back.

Looking on zoopla most other flats have wood flooring (prices have been really up and down over the last few years, next door bought @ 20 ish per cent more than our flat is currently worth). The flat above us gas wood flooring and I can occasionally hear hoovering etc but the person who loves there is super quiet and makes no noise. Not the case for us!

Now i was planning to leave the carpets because whoever buys it might want to remodel anyway and not care about my design choices but I've recently been thinking I can lay luxury vinyl tiles throughout? (Not bathroom as recently done)

So my question is wwyd? My concern is that LVT won't be as appreciated as wooden floors seem to be so will be a pointless exercise. Getting carpets laid will be a waste if money I think (?) And realistically wood floors will be too noisy and the person below will complain.

Would you leave it as is? I won't benefit from the tiles myself but would this spruce up the flat or would it make no difference? The whole place could also do with a paint and new kitchen but I won't see that money back (more spruced up places are on for a similar price so I was just thinking of doing the tiles as it will be cheap and enjoyable for us for 6 mo, anything that requires labour won't be worth the investment)

Thank you for reading my very long post Smile

OP posts:
fabulousathome · 18/04/2020 15:24

We moved to a flat last year which is completely carpeted in a horrible colour and with stains. However it did not put me off as we have planned a complete refurbishment after lockdown. New wiring, new flooring, new kitchen. It would have annoyed me if the flooring was quite nice but everything else needed doing.

Also, we are planning to put Polyflor tiles commercial grade (similar to Amtico but far cheaper) over the whole flat and get rid of the carpet. Will also have rugs for warmth and decorative value.

It's actually worse to have something quite nice that you don't like in a place as it feels bad to take it out. If you hate it and it's stained then one feels less guilty!

That's my personal take on it.

How about buying a neutral rug or two which you can take with you.

I have learnt that no one likes anyone's taste.

JanewaysBun · 18/04/2020 19:45

Thanks, yes I could hold out really, our ndn completely remodelled their place even though the kitchen/bathroom were done nicely so I suppose I shouldn't think about it from that perspective. Being home I keep noticing the stuff I hate and it's grinding on me.

Thanks :)

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Dinosauraddict · 18/04/2020 20:56

It depends what you mean by old and gross. It would be worth getting them properly cleaned before you put the flat on the market, but I wouldn't bother replacing with LVT. Unlikely to recoup your costs and many people will want to change for their own style anyway.

wowfudge · 19/04/2020 09:09

LVT is expensive - you're unlikely to get your money back. Get the carpets professionally cleaned and I'm willing to bet they'll look substantially better and that's all you need for selling.

PigletJohn · 19/04/2020 09:39

If you live in a flat and insist on putting down hard flooring, you have to expect that you will fall out with you downstairs neighbours, and they may eventually want to murder you,

JanewaysBun · 19/04/2020 21:59

Thanks guys, will try cleaning and some rugs. It's lock down making me all home improvement - y!

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