Flooring Installation in Bloemfontein

Some do for a per-room fee, some expect empty rooms. Clarify before booking: who moves beds, wardrobes and appliances, and who disconnects things like washing machines. Emptying rooms yourself is one of the easiest ways to cut the labour bill.

Solid hardwood can usually be sanded and refinished 2-3 times over its life, at a fraction of replacement cost. Engineered wood can typically take one light sanding if the top layer is thick enough. Replace when boards are cupped or rotten from water damage, or the wear layer is too thin to sand.

It depends mostly on the material. Laminate and vinyl (LVP/LVT) are the cheapest to buy and fastest to fit; engineered wood costs roughly double; solid hardwood and premium tile cost the most. As a rule of thumb labour is 30-50% of the total, with materials, underlay, trims and subfloor prep making up the rest. Get quotes priced per square metre or square foot so you can compare like for like.

Subfloor prep means making the base flat, dry and sound: self-levelling compound over uneven concrete, replacing damaged boards or plywood, and adding a moisture barrier over slabs. Skipping it causes clicking joints, gaps and premature wear, and it voids most manufacturer warranties. It is normally priced separately per area, so ask every installer to inspect and price it before you compare quotes.

Not always — check. Underlay affects comfort, sound and moisture protection, and apartments often have minimum acoustic requirements for hard flooring. Ask what underlay is specified, whether it includes a vapour barrier for concrete subfloors, and whether it meets any building or strata sound rules.

Yes, noticeably. Setup, travel, tool time and material delivery are spread across a bigger area, and installers often discount larger jobs. Doing one room at a time is the most expensive way to floor a home and risks batch-colour differences between orders.

Installed laminate typically runs R250-R650 per m², vinyl plank R250-R700, and engineered wood R600-R1,500. Labour alone is commonly R80-R150 per m² for floating floors.

Vinyl plank handles moisture better and suits coastal humidity (Durban, Cape winter rain); laminate offers a harder surface at similar cost inland. Either way insist on a moisture barrier over slab floors — most local failures trace back to damp screed.