Guide
What to check when flooring bought online arrives
The checks to make the moment your online flooring is delivered, so problems are spotted before fitting day rather than after.
By Maximum Flooring
When flooring bought online arrives, check it straight away: count the packs against your order, confirm every pack shows the same batch or dye lot number, look for damage, make sure the product, colour and thickness match, and check any underlay or trims you ordered are there. Problems are far easier to resolve now than on fitting day.
Buying flooring online can be good value, but delivery is the moment to check everything. Once packs are opened, cut or laid, a supplier is much less likely to accept a return or replace a shortfall from the same batch.
The delivery checklist
1. Quantity
Count the packs and compare them with your order confirmation. Then check the coverage printed on each pack (for example square metres per box) and multiply it out. Make sure the total covers your measured area plus a sensible waste allowance. Running short part-way through a job is the most common problem with online orders.
For carpet or sheet vinyl, check the roll width and the cut length against what you ordered, rather than counting square metres.
2. Batch or dye lot
Look for the batch, lot or production number on each pack label and make sure they all match. Different production runs can vary slightly in shade or texture, and the difference often only shows once a whole floor is down. If you received mixed batches, raise it with the supplier before anything is opened.
3. Damage
Inspect the packs for crushed corners, split cartons, damp patches or water staining. If you can, note any visible damage on the delivery paperwork or the driver’s handheld device, and take photos before moving the packs. Crushed box corners can mean chipped locking edges inside, which stops click flooring joining properly.
4. Product and specification
Confirm the product name, colour or decor, thickness and finish match your order. With laminate, check the AC rating if that was part of your choice. With LVT, check whether it is a click or glue-down product and whether it has an underlay attached, because that affects what else you need.
5. Included extras
If you ordered underlay, trims, scotia or beading, threshold bars, stair nosings, adhesive or fixings, check they are all there and match the floor. Missing trims are a common reason for a job being finished later than planned.
6. The fitting instructions
Find the manufacturer’s installation instructions, either in the pack or online, and keep them for your fitter. They set out the subfloor requirements, underlay rules, expansion gaps and acclimatisation time, and following them is usually a condition of the product warranty.
Should you open the packs?
Check the outside of every pack, but think before opening them all. Many retailers will only accept change-of-mind returns on unopened packs. Opening one pack to check the colour, finish and condition of the edges is reasonable. Some manufacturers ask for packs to stay sealed during acclimatisation and others do not, so follow the instructions for your product.
How to store flooring before fitting
Laminate and LVT should be stored flat and indoors, ideally in or near the room where they will be fitted, so they adjust to normal room temperature and humidity. Many laminate manufacturers ask for around 48 hours, but the figure varies by product, and some rigid-core LVT ranges have different or shorter requirements. Check the instructions rather than guessing.
Avoid storing packs in a garage, conservatory or outbuilding, standing them on their ends, or stacking them against a radiator. Carpet should be kept dry, stored as a roll off a damp floor, and not folded.
If something is wrong
Contact the supplier promptly, in writing, with photos and your order number. Many retailers set a short window for reporting damage or missing items after delivery, so check their terms. Under UK consumer law you normally have rights if goods are faulty or not as described, and most online purchases carry a cancellation period. Made-to-measure items, such as carpet cut to your size, are usually excluded from change-of-mind cancellation, so checking cut sizes on arrival matters. If you are unsure of your rights, Citizens Advice is a good starting point.
Do not start fitting from a delivery you are unhappy with. Suppliers are far less likely to accept a complaint about colour or batch once the floor has been laid.
Common questions
How long can I leave flooring before it is fitted?
Flooring stored flat, dry and indoors keeps well. The bigger risk is leaving it somewhere cold or damp, then bringing it in on the morning of fitting without time to acclimatise.
Should I keep spare packs?
Yes. Keeping a spare pack or any usable offcuts from the same batch makes future repairs much easier to match.
What if the batch numbers are different?
Ask the supplier to swap packs so they all match. If that is not possible, different batches can sometimes be used in separate rooms, but mixing them within one floor is best avoided.
Next step
Once you have checked it over, send a fitting-only enquiry with the product name, quantities and a photo of a pack label. Not bought yet? Read should you buy flooring before finding a fitter first.