What separates a good wood flooring company from a great one — and what to ask before you commit. An honest guide from a London specialist who installs the floors we supply.
Many premium flooring brands — Havwoods, Ted Todd, and others — are distributors. They sell the floor and refer you to a separate installer. This creates an accountability gap: if something goes wrong, the supplier and installer point at each other. A company that supplies and installs directly carries full responsibility for the outcome.
Subcontracted installation teams have variable standards and no direct accountability to the company you hired. An employed installation team is trained to one standard, accountable to one company, and the company can stand behind their work without qualification. Ask directly: "Are your installers employed or subcontracted?"
Any company quoting remotely — by photo or measurement alone — is not assessing the subfloor. Subfloor condition is the single biggest variable in a wood flooring installation. A quote made without seeing the subfloor is not a fixed price — it is an estimate that will change when the installer arrives and discovers the actual conditions.
A written quote that itemises product, preparation, installation, and threshold details — and does not change — is the only reliable basis for comparison. Day-rate quotes, estimates, and "subject to subfloor condition" clauses shift risk to you after the work has started. A fixed quote after a proper survey protects both parties.
London properties are more varied in construction than almost anywhere else in the UK. A Victorian terrace in Hackney has a suspended timber subfloor. A mansion flat in Kensington has a concrete slab. A new-build in Battersea has a screed over wet underfloor heating. A period conversion in Islington might have all three across one floor.
The best wood flooring companies in London understand this variation. They know that a Victorian suspended timber subfloor requires different preparation to a concrete slab, that moisture testing protocols differ between subfloor types, and that London leasehold properties often have acoustic performance requirements that must be met before installation begins.
National brands operating through regional installers often lack this granular London knowledge. A flooring company based in Lancashire or Warrington — however good their products — is not encountering London subfloor conditions day in and day out. A London specialist is.
LIGNORA is London-based. We survey and install across every London borough. We know the subfloor conditions common in Victorian Hackney, the acoustic requirements typical in Kensington leasehold flats, and the moisture behaviour of new-build screeds in south London. This knowledge is built into every survey and quote we provide.
Victorian and Edwardian suspended timber subfloors. Parquet restoration. Matching existing floors. Listed building considerations. We work in these properties daily.
Period homes guide →Acoustic performance requirements from managing agents and freeholders. Impact Sound Rating documentation. Correct underlay specification for leasehold compliance.
Apartments & flats →Concrete slabs, wet screeds, UFH compatibility, moisture testing, build programme timing. Extension junction planning from survey stage.
New builds & extensions →Engineered oak in herringbone, chevron, wide plank, straight lay, and bespoke formats. Supplied and installed by our own employed team. One company, one contract, one point of contact from survey to finished floor.
Installation service →UK-wide delivery of engineered oak from our full collection. Samples posted free. Suitable for clients with their own installation team, builders, and interior designers sourcing product for client projects.
Enquire about supply →If you have already purchased your floor product, we can install it. We assess compatibility with the subfloor at survey stage and advise on any preparation required before confirming the installation quote.
Enquire about fit only →Tell us about your project — property type, room, area, and what you have in mind. We will visit, bring samples, assess the subfloor, and give you a fixed written quote. No pressure, no surprises.