LPG Flooring · West Essex
Subfloor Preparation & Latex Levelling
From £18/m² (up to £32/m²)
Every flooring failure we get called to repair across IG7, IG9, IG10 and CM16 traces back to one thing: a subfloor that was not prepared properly. So we run subfloor levelling as a standalone service, including for floors we did not fit. The job covers latex feathering of high spots, self-levelling compound (SLC) for general dips, deep-fill repair for hollow chases and trenches, ply overlay on suspended timber, and full damp-proof membrane installs where moisture readings come back wet. We bring our own dust extraction. The brand promise is literal · we obsess over subfloor preparation, and we will tell you when yours is fine and a level is not needed.
Warranty: 10-year structural-stability warranty on prepared subfloor
How we fit subfloor levelling
- Step 1. Diagnostic survey: moisture meter readings logged on a property plan, SR-level check with a 2m straight edge, hollow-sounding zones mapped, photo report supplied.
- Step 2. Demolition: existing tile, screed or adhesive residue mechanically removed where required, dust-extracted at source so the rest of the property stays clean.
- Step 3. Priming: appropriate primer matched to the substrate (acrylic for concrete, dual-component for non-porous, SBR slurry for timber overlays).
- Step 4. Pour & spread: self-levelling compound mixed to spec with a forced-action mixer, poured in 4–6m² zones, spike-rolled to release air, finished within open time.
- Step 5. Cure & verify: 24-hour minimum cure, re-survey with the straight edge to confirm SR2 (or SR1 for resin/wood floors), dated written report handed over with the next-trade clearance certificate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does subfloor levelling cost in West Essex?
In West Essex, a latex feather skim to take out high spots runs £18–22/m². A full self-levelling compound pour at 3–6mm depth is £24–28/m². Deep-fill repair (over 10mm · typical of removed kitchen islands or filled floor chases) is £32+/m². We always quote against a measured survey, not a phone-call estimate, because any flooring contractor giving you a levelling price without seeing the floor is guessing.
Why does subfloor preparation matter so much?
Because a luxury flooring product is only as good as the substrate it is bonded to. The British Standard BS 8204 Part 1 specifies an SR2 finish (3mm deviation under a 2m straight edge) as the minimum for resilient and wood floors. An out-of-tolerance subfloor causes lipping, hollow points, premature wear, adhesive failure and joint peaking. About 60% of the wear and life of an Amtico, LVT or engineered-wood floor is decided by what is underneath it.
Can you do levelling without me having a flooring fitter?
Yes · we run subfloor levelling as a standalone service for West Essex contractors, kitchen fitters and homeowners doing their own LVT install. We hand over a dated, photographed substrate-readiness certificate at sign-off so the next trade has documentary proof the floor was at SR2 when they arrived.
Do I need a damp-proof membrane?
Only if the moisture readings demand it. We test relative humidity in the slab with a Tramex or Protimeter; anything over 75% RH (BS 8203 limit) means we install a liquid-applied DPM before levelling. Older properties in West Essex with no original DPM almost always need one. Newer slabs from the 1990s onwards usually do not · we will tell you either way and put the readings in writing.
How long before I can fit flooring on top?
For latex feather skim: walkable in 90 minutes, ready for flooring in 4 hours. For full self-levelling compound at 3–6mm: walkable in 3 hours, ready for resilient flooring (LVT/Amtico) in 24 hours and ready for engineered wood in 48 hours. Deep-fill repairs and DPM installs run on a 72-hour cure cycle. We give you the exact handover date in writing on the quote.