Flooring

This category covers the accessories used to lay, finish and repair floors rather than the floor coverings themselves: underlays for laminate, wood, click vinyl and carpet, carpet gripper, door thresholds and edge trims, scotia beading, flooring adhesive, carpet fitting tools and kits, repair pens and wax sticks, laminate cleaner and rug anti-slip underlay.

Underlay

Choose underlay made for the floor you are laying. Laminate needs a damp-proof underlay that gives a stable base; over a sealed covering such as vinyl, use one with a damp-proof membrane or lay a separate polythene sheet. Levelling underlays can even out minor dips in a wooden subfloor. Carpet underlay goes under the carpet inside the gripper and is sold in different thicknesses.

Carpet gripper

Gripper strips hold the carpet edge tight. Fix them with a gap of about 7mm to 10mm from the wall, with the pins angled towards the wall. Nail them into wooden floors, or use gripper adhesive on concrete. Do not run gripper across doorways where people step, and wear heavy gloves, as the pins are sharp.

Thresholds, trims and beading

• Thresholds and door bars: cover the join where two floors meet at a doorway. Choose the profile for the pair of floors, such as carpet to carpet, carpet to hard floor, or a Z section edge for carpet.
• Scotia beading: covers the expansion gap between laminate or wood and the skirting.

Laminate floors are laid floating, so they can expand and shrink with changes in temperature and humidity. Never nail, screw or stick them to the subfloor, and leave the edges free under trims. Leave the packs in the room for a couple of days before fitting so the boards can acclimatise.

For fixing and finishing products, see sealants and adhesives.