Flooring and wall finishes

A ceramic tiling enquiry should identify the walls or floors involved, the use of the space and the materials selected or still to be chosen. Tile format, layout, joints, corners and finishing details should be considered together, including junctions with doors, equipment and other materials.

The proposal should distinguish tile supply, removal of the previous covering, preparation of the base and installation of the new material. Where the brief covers only part of a wall or floor, its boundaries and the expected match with retained areas should be clarified. Decorative pieces, skirting tiles and cuts around equipment also need to be identified where they form part of the work.

For kitchens, bathrooms or outdoor areas, describe the intended use and exposure. The finish and associated work should be selected for that context. Ceramic tiling should not, on its own, be presented as proof that all waterproofing, drainage or use requirements for the space have been addressed.

Wood

For a new wood floor, identify the intended product, layout, rooms involved and finishing details. Renovation should distinguish replacing the floor from retaining the existing wood. The option of restoring its finish is addressed through the sanding and varnishing scope, once the floor has been identified and assessed.

Laminate

For laminate flooring, the proposal should identify the product, intended installation and included finishing elements. Where only one area is to be replaced, the existing material and availability of a compatible option need to be established. Renewing the space may involve replacing boards or areas; the surface treatment planned for wood should not be assumed to apply.

Vinyl

For vinyl flooring, provide the product or available reference and explain how the rooms are used. The proposal should clarify the installation method, included preparation and junctions with retained flooring. For replacement work, it should define what will be removed and how transition areas will be finished.

For each option, installation and use conditions need to be confirmed for the product and location. Appearance alone is not enough to establish compatibility with the base or suitability for the needs of the space.

Sanding and varnishing address enquiries about restoring the finish of a wood floor that is to be retained. Before defining the work, the floor type, current condition and any recorded previous work need to be understood. Photographs, available samples or product information help prepare that assessment.

The assessment should clarify whether the surface can receive the intended work and whether loose boards, damaged areas or repairs need attention. The proposal should distinguish those repairs from sanding and the final finish, and identify the areas included, intended appearance and any skirting boards or other elements covered. It should not promise that every mark will disappear or that the wood will look uniformly new.

The brief should consider furniture removal, access to rooms and the conditions for using the space again with the selected finish. Handover information should identify the product applied and relevant use and maintenance guidance. This scope should not automatically be extended to flooring that merely has a wood-like appearance.

The condition of the base and the decision to retain or remove the existing finish should be clarified before installation is finalised. Identify uneven areas, loose sections, signs of damp or other known conditions. Planned preparation and any assessments should appear in the scope; direct installation over any surface should not be assumed.

Finished levels need to be considered in relation to doors, stairs, adjoining rooms and access outside. Skirting boards, transition strips, junctions with wall finishes and connections to fixed furniture should be identified where needed for the work. The brief should clarify whether associated work to those elements is included.

If services or equipment are located beneath the floor, send the information available. The proposed construction should take account of that context and the relevant documentation, without assuming universal compatibility between materials and existing systems.

Preparation should confirm areas, materials, layout and the limits of the work. Where choices remain open, the proposal should identify what needs a sample, measurement or confirmation before installation. It should also clarify who supplies materials and which finishing elements are covered.

The sequence should coordinate removal, preparation, installation and adjoining work. Access, existing furniture and use of the rooms need to be considered when planning. Changes to material, pattern or area should be recorded and their effects clarified before the associated work proceeds.

At handover, the review should refer to the agreed material and scope, including planned junctions and transitions. Use and maintenance information should correspond to the actual products. Additional repairs or excluded areas should be identified without presenting a partial intervention as renewal of the entire floor.

Identify the rooms, approximate areas and whether the enquiry concerns walls, floors or both. Send photographs of the space, current materials and transition areas. Please also include:

• The intended material and any available references or samples.
• Whether you wish to retain, remove or replace the existing finish.
• The known condition of the base and any problems observed.
• Doors, skirting boards, fixed furniture and equipment involved.
• Supplies already purchased and any other planned work.

For wood floor restoration, identify the type of floor, if known, and previous work. Also describe access, occupancy and furniture moving arrangements so the proposal can address the work area and the next steps.

• Joinery and bespoke furniture

  For coordinating flooring and junctions with doors, furniture and other joinery.

• Microcement

  For considering a finish with its own scope and application conditions.

• Bathroom renovation

  For integrating finishes into work that also covers layout, equipment and services.

We welcome enquiries in Lisboa, Oeiras, Cascais, Sintra, Amadora, Odivelas and Loures. Availability and the feasibility of the work are assessed for each enquiry.