Independent, Labour-Only Carpet & Vinyl Fitting

Fitting Carpet You Bought Online

Buying carpet and underlay online from trade wholesalers can cut out high retail markups. However, high-street shops rarely provide professional fitting unless you buy the materials directly from them.

I offer a completely independent fitting service across South London (including Beckenham) and Surrey (including Dorking) to turn your pre-purchased flooring into a high-end, professionally installed reality. With over 20 years of experience, I ensure all carpets are correctly power-stretched to British Standards and all subfloors are properly tested and prepped.

• Strict adherence to British Standards (BS 5325) for carpet stretching
• Precise templates for stair winders and custom stair runners
• Preparation of suspended wood and concrete subfloors
• Installation of self-purchased carpets, LVT click, and sheet vinyl

How the Fitting Process Works

How to Measure Your Rooms

You don't need to be exact to get a quote. Rough sizes let me price the job before I visit, and I check everything on site before any carpet is cut. For each room, measure the longest length and the widest width in metres, wall to wall, and write it as length × width, for example 4.2m × 3.6m.

• Measure at the longest and widest points, wall to wall, in metres
• Include doorways and alcoves, and note any bay window or chimney breast
• For stairs, count the steps and note any winders (steps that turn) and the size of the landing
• Tell me whether the old carpet needs lifting and taking away

A quick sketch with the sizes written on it is plenty, and a photo of the sketch works well. For a worked example, read the guide on how to measure a room for carpet, or put your sizes into the cost calculator for a rough fitting price.

How Much Carpet and Underlay to Order

Carpet is sold off rolls that are usually 4 metres or 5 metres wide, and you pay for the full width of the roll. So the amount to order isn't simply the floor area of the room. For example, a 3.7m × 2.8m bedroom fits across a 4m roll, so you would order about 2.9m of length. That is around 11.6m² of carpet to cover about 10.4m² of floor.

If a room is wider than the roll, it needs a join, so tell me which roll width you are looking at and I'll say where the join will fall. My cost calculator adds 10% to materials for cutting and waste, which is a sensible allowance for a plain carpet in a regular room. Patterned carpets and awkward layouts need more.

Underlay is different: it is bought by floor area, plus a little for cuts, not by roll width. If you would rather not guess the type or thickness, I can supply it at trade price on the day.

Stairs are the exception. Don't work stairs out from floor area. Count the steps, note any winders and the landing, and send them to me. Stair carpet and runners are ordered by the step, and winders need extra material. If you are buying a stair runner, tell me the product and width before you place the order.

Not sure what to order? Send me your room sizes and the carpet you are looking at before you buy, and I'll tell you what quantity to order and what the fitting will cost.

A Homeowner's Guide to Buying Flooring Online

Buying trade-direct saves real money, but online wholesalers just ship the rolls and leave the logistics to you. Three things catch people out most often. First, LVT and sheet vinyl need to sit flat in the room they're going into for 24-48 hours before fitting — laid cold, they expand as the room warms up and the joints split or lift. Second, check the packaging the moment it arrives: crushed corners on carpet rolls and edge damage on vinyl are common in transit, and a few photos before you sign for delivery saves an argument later. Third, order 10-15% over your measured floor area — rooms are rarely square, and pattern-matched carpet or herringbone LVT eats into that margin faster than plain flooring does.

If you're not sure which underlay or gripper to buy, I supply Cloud Nine PU underlay, dual-purpose grippers, and door thresholds at flat trade rates on the day — no need to guess the right thickness yourself.

For the full breakdown of what's included in a labour-only rate and what to expect buying from Tapi or Carpetright, read the fitting-only carpet & LVT installation guide. Not sure your existing floor can even take what you've bought? Check the carpet compatibility guide first.

Labour-Only Fitting Rates

Fixed rates per square metre, whatever flooring you've bought — the exact figure depends on room layout and subfloor condition, confirmed at your free survey.

Local Professional Fitting Coverage Area

Flooring & Fitting provides mobile showroom visits and expert flooring installations across South London, Surrey, Kent, and Sussex. Click on any of our primary service areas below to view localized details, pricing, and project examples:

Browse by region: South London · Surrey · Kent · Sussex

Fitting-Only Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Book Your Installation?

Speak directly with Paul. Get a fixed labour estimate broken down line by line, and schedule a site visit for exact dimensions and subfloor checks.