Flooring Advice & FAQS
Read our flooring advice section to help you choose a new floor or to take care of your existing flooring. Choosing a new floor can be a difficult and daunting task, especially with so many products available. There may be questions that you will want to ask to help you decide on the right flooring choice for your home, decor and lifestyle.
Whether you are looking for a wood, laminate, luxury vinyl floor or would rather opt for a warm carpet or rug, our dedicated specialists are on hand to help you make the right decision according to your lifestyle, the area of the home you are updating and, of course, your budget.
Our products all have different installation processes, guarantees and durability. Click on the FAQs for each different flooring type for more information and advice. Remember, each product from the different manufacturers all differ in terms of quality, durability and the guarantee available.
WOOD FLOOR FAQS
Are engineered floors maintenance free?
For the best part, yes! The advancement in prefinished lacquers on engineered floors will provide an extremely tough and durable floor that will look amazing for many years. It’s not to say that surface scratching will not happen, but this quickly disappears in the grain and texture of the wood. More serious damage may mean a sanding and refinishing coat is required, oiled, and lacquered floors have an advantage as they can be maintained by the customer themselves. While they come factory finished, a yearly oiling is recommended to keep the floor looking like new. This is a simple and speedy task. Think polishing your car once a year.
Can engineered floors be fitted on concrete
Yes! Concrete is an ideal subfloor. The floor can be fitter by either floating on an underlay or fully bonded to the concrete subfloor.
Do I need to leave an expansion gap with wooden floors?
Yes! It is important to leave an expansion gap to allow for movement. In most cases we aim to remove and replace skirting boards for that seamless look.
What is engineered wood flooring
Engineered wood flooring is made up of several layers of plywood, MDF or spruce with a top layer/ wear layer of hardwood. They are made in either a click or tongue and groove format. This ancient way of producing planks stems back to boat building and is still the method used today. The boards are manufactured in a way which minimises any expansion and also allows for huge manufacturing variation, in decor and size, to solid woods that are restricted in size options. Engineered wood floors are truly the gold standard of floor covering with every plank of wood being unique and individual in its appearance. The natural beauty of the wood is unsurpassed.
LAMINATE FAQS
Where can I have laminate installed?
Where can I have laminate installed? Due to its construction laminate flooring can be installed in all areas of the home including bathrooms and kitchen with the invention of the new waterproof floors. Even stairs can be done in laminate with matching stair nosing’s!
When can a laminate floor be installed in a bathroom?
If you would like laminate installed in a bathroom we recommend that any water and spills are mopped up and dried straight away. We recommend using laminate in a larger bathroom or where there is good ventilation. However, we would recommend that you opt for a more water resistant floor covering.
What are the advantages of laminate flooring over hardwood?
Laminate flooring is typically half the price of hardwood flooring (and sometimes the savings can be greater), which for some is an obvious advantage. Laminate flooring is easy to install and can be installed as a DIY job rather than getting it expertly fitted (although there are many disadvantages to doing this!). Hardwood flooring needs a level of expertise and skill, which many DIY enthusiasts simply don’t have. Laminate flooring can be installed quickly, and because it’s scratch resistant, fade resistant and the products available are such good quality many customers opt for laminate over hardwood flooring.
How do I maintain my new laminate floor?
HOW DO I MAINTAIN MY NEW LAMINATE FLOOR?
Laminate flooring really is one of the easiest flooring types to care for. It is incredibly resilient and can be fitted in any room for a stunning finish that will last for many, many years. We recently re-fitted some 8-year old flooring in a customer’s home. They wanted to change the living areas to hardwood and as the laminate was as good as the day it was fitted we replaced the carpet in the main bedroom with their unwanted laminate at their request, and it looked as good as when we installed it new. To maintain your laminate floor we advise our customers to vacuum them regularly and use a damp – not wet – cloth to clean up any spillages. Make sure that you don’t use too much water or cleaning detergents to clean your laminate floor. The best method for cleaning is to vacuum or sweep your laminate flooring first to clear any loose dust or grit. Then spray a fine mist of water over the floor in manageable sections, and then wipe them dry making sure you don’t use a non-abrasive, clean cloth.
Laminate flooring really is one of the easiest flooring types to care for. It is incredibly resilient and can be fitted in any room for a stunning finish that will last for many, many years. We recently re-fitted some 8-year old flooring in a customer’s home. They wanted to change the living areas to hardwood and as the laminate was as good as the day it was fitted we replaced the carpet in the main bedroom with their unwanted laminate at their request, and it looked as good as when we installed it new. To maintain your laminate floor we advise our customers to vacuum them regularly and use a damp – not wet – cloth to clean up any spillages. Make sure that you don’t use too much water or cleaning detergents to clean your laminate floor. The best method for cleaning is to vacuum or sweep your laminate flooring first to clear any loose dust or grit. Then spray a fine mist of water over the floor in manageable sections, and then wipe them dry making sure you don’t use a non-abrasive, clean cloth.
Why do I need to use a DPM on a concrete subfloor?
There can be a lot of moisture stored in concrete floors that you are unaware of. You need to make sure that there is no contact between this moisture and your new laminate flooring otherwise it will ruin the floor. We recommend installing a moisture barrier over the concrete surface so that your laminate floor will last.
Can I use my old carpet underlay with laminate flooring?
No, carpet underlay is specifically designed to offer comfort underfoot. If you lay a laminate floor over this type of underlay you will put intense pressure on the joints, which will result in damage to the laminate.
What can I do if my floor is making noises when I walk on it?
Squeaky or noisy floors are usually due to an uneven subfloor or even the expansion and contraction of your hardwood or laminate flooring. Try sprinkling talcum powder onto the board that’s causing the noise as this will reduce friction. Otherwise, you need to find out the reason behind the noise and this could mean taking up part of your floor and look at the root cause
Can a laminate floor scratch?
Melamine makes up the surface of laminate flooring, it’s scratch resistant but isn’t scratch proof. Sharp objects can scratch the floor and it isn’t indestructible so make sure you take precautions. Make sure you wipe your shoes to avoid sharp stones, lift rather than drag furniture, use furniture casters, trim dog’s nails and try not to drop any sharp heavy objects onto your floor. When using a vacuum cleaner make sure that the wheels and brush are in working order and don’t drag on the floor. Finally don’t leave water or wet substances on the laminate flooring surface without cleaning them up straight away.
CARPETS FAQS
Why would I choose First Floors for my carpet purchase?
We are an independent business which has successfully supplied flooring for over 20 years throughout Scotland and have one of the biggest show floors of carpets to choose from in Glasgow.
We pride ourselves in great service, great value, and great workmanship. Our only concern is that our customers are nothing more than delighted with our service.
Will I be able to find what I am looking for in your store?
Absolutely. Our showroom is located over 3,500 sq ft and we have thousands of samples to choose from, ranging from man-made option to natural fibres and wool blends suitable for every area in the home. The options are endless, we have unlimited colour and styles for twists, Berbers, Saxony’s and Axminsters.
Do you charge for estimates?
No! We offer a free home estimate and planning service, available 6 days a week during working hours and at a time to suit our customers. In addition, we can bring the samples to your home.
Do you offer a fitting service?
We have a fitting service for every product we sell, carried out by specialist fitters for that particular product. In addition, we can arrange to move furniture, uplift existing flooring, and prepare subfloors.
What are the delivery timescales?
Most carpets are delivered to us within a working week. Some European manufacturers can take up to 3 weeks an special brands like Jacaranda can be up to 12 weeks as they are handmade.
What if I wish to order but not ready for a fitting date?
No problem! We can store it for you in our warehouse. Many customers want to take advantage of a special offer even though they haven’t moved into a property or are waiting for decorating to be carried out. Or they just want to order a floor and delay the fitting for whatever reason. This is absolutely fine, simply place your order to avoid any possible price increases and we will store your carpets until you are ready for fitting, at no extra charge.
VINYL FAQS
What are the advantages of the Vinyl Click System?
Vinyl click floors are a simple method of installation and can be fitted by DIY enthusiasts also. Subfloors shall require to be level but worry not as we can sort out this preparation work for you. This is a simple solution to producing a new look floor without the need for large amounts of preparation, including fitting on top of existing floor tiles.
Does vinyl flooring need a subfloor?
Subfloors shall require to be level but worry not as we can sort out this preparation work for you. This is a simple solution to producing a new look floor without the need for large amounts of preparation, including fitting on top of existing floor tiles.
Design Floors
LVT can be laid in many different designs and patterns. The most popular by far is herringbone. A true design classic that will never go out of style. Chevron, basket weave, French weave, hexagonal, herringbone and parquet are also design classics that can be laid with LVT flooring. In fact, the possibilities are endless. We have many examples laid in our showroom and on our many show stands.
What about a glue down vinyl floor?
Many of our vinyl flooring brands are available in a glue down system which means the floor is fixed. This is very durable and long-lasting as there is no movement in the floor
Can I have vinyl flooring in a humid area such as bathroom or shower room?
Yes, vinyl is perfect for these areas. They are very hardwearing and water resistant, making them a popular choice for these areas.
Is luxury vinyl expensive to fit?
It’s no more expensive to have fitted than a wood floor, making it a great alternative to these products.
RUGS FAQS
Can I have my carpet made into a rug?
Yes we can, but please bear in mind that we are governed by the carpet widths of either 4m or 5m wide, however there are many multi wide ranges that can enable us to minimize waste. We can order any carpet, cut to your specific size and have it sent for whipping or edging.
Can I have any shape or size rug?
There is no minimum or maximum size restriction on bespoke rugs including circular rugs.
What edgings are available?
We have a range borders available in several colours and widths. However, if you would like a bespoke rug from Alternative Flooring there are many borders available in cotton, canvas, leather and suede. You can also have several borders combined to help tie in several colours from your décor and offer a local whipping service.
Can we use spare carpet left over from a fit?
We can have any shape or size made into a rug and have them whipped in any colour. This service takes about 7 days.
How long will it take for my bespoke rug to be delivered to the showroom for collection?
Made to measure rugs from Alternative Flooring take around 4 weeks for delivery, whereas made to measure rugs from all other brands will take around 2 weeks.
What is make me a rug by alternative flooring?
Alternative Flooring has a wide range of wool and natural fibre rugs (made from seagrass jute and coir) in many styles and colours. You can now have a rug made from any of the Alternative Flooring carpet ranges using a clever online tool. You can visit the showroom and we will talk you through the ranges available and the process of designing your own rug.
Visit the co-branded First Floors Make Me A Rug website.
What's the difference between a synthetic and wool rug?
Synthetic rugs are more stain resistant, and many are bleach-cleanable so are ideal for busy family lives and in areas of high footfall such as a hallway. Wool rugs are made from a natural product, and therefore are higher in price. However, they have a longer life expectancy, as the fibres are flexible and don’t break as easily. Wool is also self-cleaning and fire resistant.