For a 20m² room, a UK guide allowance for levelling screed before laminate works out at £120-£600, with £300 at the average rate. Checkatrade’s June 2026 table lists this preparatory item at £6-£30 per square metre. It gives no thickness, split between materials and labour, or VAT basis. Ask your fitter to specify the depth, preparation and final VAT-inclusive price for the actual floor. Checkatrade’s laminate flooring cost guide.

How deep are the low spots?

Imagine two bare floors of identical size. One has shallow trowel ridges scattered across it. The other drops noticeably from the hall towards the back wall. The same area can require different quantities, preparation and even a different method of repair.

For an idea of how depth affects ordering, ARDEX gives an approximate coverage of 4m² at 3mm thick for a 20kg bag of its K 55 FAST compound. At that uniform depth, 20m² would use roughly five bags before waste. This is a product example. Your fitter should choose the system suited to the substrate and covering. ARDEX coverage information.

What should the fitter inspect?

Have the floor checked for loose boards, hollow patches, moisture or movement. If a floor has started dipping recently or feels springy, commission an assessment of the cause before agreeing a surface treatment. Filling a low spot cannot stabilise a moving structure.

For an occupied home, ask when the floor can accept the chosen covering and when the room can return to use. A surface that can take foot traffic may still need time before the next product is applied. Establish who removes old adhesive and who adjusts doors or thresholds afterwards.

Our guide to engineered wood and LVT compares finishes. Include the preparation allowance in a refurbishment quotation before comparing the cost of the floor you will see.