On Site – Choosing wall and floor finishes

ON SITE

Choosing wall and floor finishes

As with all other second fix aspects, this is an area that can break the bank. The choice of walls and floor coverings is a personal one, and costs here will vary widely.

When budgeting the build, the cost of a block will be fairly predictable but when it comes to the finishes, you will usually get an estimate, or PC Sum. This will be based on whether you chose a standard, mid range or high finish, and once you go and see what’s on the market you are likely to find that “standard” is below your expectations.  

The choice of materials, and where you source them, will be the first cost factor, with the second being whether or not you can do the installation yourself – provided you have the time and skillset.  

The most common types of floor finishes include timber floorboards (engineered by far the most popular), tiles, concrete (usually polished), laminate or LVT, and carpets.  

A note on the choice of tile size; bear in mind that extra large tiles require perfectly straight and plumb floors for them to be laid. The tiler can only make adjustments to make up for a slightly uneven floor with smaller tiles.

For the wall the most expedient and non-committal approach is to paint, which can be done on a DIY basis but know that it is time consuming and requires some skill. There are many alternatives, from stone cladding to wallpaper, tiles and timber panelling. If you want to tackle any of the work yourself, taking advice from suppliers will be the first step.

Ideally you would have a tradesperson you know whose expertise you can call on; there are knacks to each trade, not to mention specialist tools that will either have to be bought or hired.  

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