Project Overview
The client at this Streatham Hill SW16 property had selected QuickStep Impressive Ultra Classic Oak Natural laminate flooring and needed it fitted throughout the ground floor. QuickStep Impressive Ultra is one of the better-performing laminate products on the market, with a realistic wood texture and a scratch-resistant surface layer. The installation covered the living room, hallway, and a connecting dining area.
The Challenge
The main challenge on this project was the subfloor condition. The property had an older concrete screed base in the hallway and a timber subfloor in the living and dining areas, which meant we were dealing with two different subfloor types in a continuous installation. These different surfaces behave slightly differently, and getting the joint between them right, with consistent levelness on both sides, required careful preparation work before any boards went down. There was also a slight damp reading in one section of the concrete subfloor, which needed addressing before fitting to avoid any issues with the boards over time.
Our Approach
Subfloor Preparation
The concrete areas were checked with a damp meter and treated with a damp-proof membrane where the readings were above the acceptable threshold. Both the concrete and the timber subfloor sections were levelled to within the tolerance required by the QuickStep installation guidelines. Getting this right before the boards go down prevents movement, hollow spots, and joint separation later.
Underlayment
A foam underlayment with built-in vapour barrier was laid across the full floor area. This provides additional sound insulation, a slight cushion underfoot, and a secondary barrier against any residual moisture from the subfloor below.
Board Installation
The boards were fitted using a floating click system, which is the standard installation method for QuickStep Impressive Ultra. We planned the layout to avoid having very narrow cuts at either side of the room and aligned the boards with the main light source to make the most of the grain texture. Expansion gaps were maintained at all walls and fixed elements throughout.
Finishing
All expansion gaps were covered with matching QuickStep beading and threshold strips. The finish details at doorways were given particular attention, as these transitions are where a laminate installation most often looks unfinished if not done carefully.
The Result
The finished floor runs cleanly throughout the ground floor, with a consistent look across both subfloor types. The QuickStep boards have a natural, realistic texture that suits the property well. The client was happy with the result and the level of disruption, which was kept to a single working day for the fitting itself. Laminate floor fitting typically costs between £35 and £55 per square metre for supply and fit of a mid-range product.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does QuickStep Impressive Ultra compare to cheaper laminate products?
The main differences are in the surface texture, wear layer thickness, and the quality of the click joint. Impressive Ultra has a more realistic embossed texture that closely matches the feel of real wood, a thicker wear layer for greater scratch resistance, and a tighter joint that is less prone to movement or separation over time. It is worth the higher cost in a high-traffic area.
Can laminate flooring be repaired if individual boards are damaged?
On a floating installation, individual boards can be replaced without lifting the whole floor, as long as you have spare boards of the same product. This is one of the advantages of a click-fit floating floor. We always recommend keeping a small number of spare boards from the original batch for this reason.
Is laminate suitable for a hallway with a front door?
Laminate can work well in a hallway, but the area directly inside a front door is exposed to more moisture and grit than the rest of the floor. A good underlayment, a moisture-resistant laminate product like Impressive Ultra, and sensible use of a door mat will all extend the life of the floor significantly in this area.