Amtico Herringbone LVT Installation in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

EXEN Flooring recently completed a 70m² Amtico herringbone LVT installation in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, as part of a new residential home project. Our long-standing customer John, a professional builder, contacted us for flooring support while completing the property for his client. The ground floor included the entrance, kitchen and living room, with the client choosing an Amtico herringbone LVT floor with a border to create a defined design across the connected spaces.

The project required careful preparation before the LVT could be installed. The kitchen and living room were at different levels following the building and renovation work, so the floor first needed to be brought to a suitable level through screeding and further subfloor preparation. Because the finished design depended on a precisely positioned herringbone pattern surrounded by a border, the installation was planned in stages, from preparing the substrate through to laser setting-out, border installation and the final LVT cuts.

Project Overview

• Location: Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

• Project type: New residential home / renovation project

• Customer: John, a long-standing EXEN Flooring customer and professional builder

• Flooring: Amtico herringbone LVT

• Installation area: 70m²

• Design: Herringbone LVT with border and design strips

• Areas: Ground-floor entrance, kitchen and living room

• Preparation: Cleaning, priming, screeding, feather finish and sanding

• Setting-out: Laser-assisted alignment

• Installation: Border, design strips and central herringbone LVT

• Duration: Four days

Preparing the Subfloor for Amtico Herringbone LVT

The first day was dedicated to preparing the floor properly before the decorative flooring installation could begin. The ground-floor areas were thoroughly cleaned and cleared of remaining construction debris, leaving the substrate ready for the next stage of preparation.

Because the kitchen and living room were at different levels, screeding was required to address the difference and provide a more consistent base. Before the screed was applied, our team primed the substrate. This was an important part of the preparation sequence before moving on to the levelling work.

On the second day, the completed screed was carefully inspected across the full installation area. Smaller areas that remained uneven were addressed with a feather-finish compound. Once these areas had been treated, the entire floor was sanded using a floor sanding machine to create a smooth and consistent surface ready for the detailed LVT installation.

Detailed Setting-Out for a Herringbone LVT Floor with Border

For a 70m² herringbone LVT installation, establishing the correct starting point is particularly important. The position of the first pieces determines how the herringbone pattern develops across the floor, while the surrounding border adds another level of accuracy to the layout.

On the third day, our team used a laser to establish the most suitable starting position and the principal lines for the installation. This created a precise reference for both the border and the central herringbone pattern.

The border was installed before the main LVT. The first sections had to follow the planned straight lines, while the corners required careful cutting and joining to maintain the intended angles. The border and design strips were completed in advance of the main herringbone installation so that they could remain securely positioned while the central LVT was subsequently measured and cut against them.

Once the border and strips had been installed, the work was left for a day before the main herringbone flooring was fitted. This was an important part of the installation sequence because the border needed to remain stable and provide a reliable reference for the final LVT cuts.

Installing the Amtico Herringbone LVT

The fourth day was dedicated to installing the main Amtico herringbone LVT flooring. The installation began from the carefully established centre point and progressed outwards towards the completed border.

Throughout the installation, the team followed the laser-established lines to maintain the planned direction and alignment of the herringbone pattern. Working from the centre towards the border meant that the final perimeter cuts could be made against an already established frame.

The junction between the herringbone LVT and the border required particular attention. The final pieces needed to meet the border cleanly, with no unnecessary gaps or inconsistent spacing. Our installers used a specialist cutting tool to achieve the required precision when cutting the LVT against the border.

Precision Border Cutting for the Finished LVT Floor

The border was an important part of the overall design, so the final perimeter cuts could not simply be treated as standard edge cuts. The relationship between the border and the herringbone pattern had to remain consistent across the installation.

By establishing the border first and using it as a fixed reference during the main LVT installation, our team could carefully measure each section before making the final cuts. The specialist cutting technique used at the LVT-to-border junction allowed the flooring to meet the border closely and maintain the clean lines of the overall design.

This level of preparation was particularly important across the larger 70m² floor because small inaccuracies in the initial setting-out can become increasingly visible as a herringbone pattern extends across a room.

Completing the 70m² Amtico Flooring Project in Berkhamsted

The completed flooring brought together the entrance, kitchen and living room areas with a continuous Amtico herringbone LVT design and surrounding border. The four-day installation began with detailed substrate preparation and screeding before progressing through levelling, sanding, laser setting-out, border installation and the final herringbone LVT fitting.

For this Berkhamsted project, the preparation was just as important as the visible flooring installation. Addressing the difference in floor levels first and establishing accurate reference lines allowed the border and herringbone pattern to be installed in the planned position.

The project was completed as part of the wider residential build, providing the client with the detailed LVT flooring finish specified for the ground floor.

Amtico Herringbone LVT Installation in Berkhamsted

Herringbone LVT is a layout where accurate planning and setting-out are particularly important. When a border is incorporated into the design, the installation requires additional coordination because the central herringbone pattern and perimeter need to work together precisely.

This Amtico herringbone LVT installation in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire demonstrates the importance of treating the project as a complete flooring process rather than simply fitting the finished product. From removing construction debris and preparing the substrate to screeding, feather finishing, sanding, laser setting-out and precision border cutting, each stage contributed to the finished floor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was this Amtico herringbone LVT project completed?

The project was completed in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, in a new residential home being completed by our long-standing customer John.

How much Amtico herringbone LVT was installed?

The project covered approximately 70m² across the ground-floor entrance, kitchen and living room.

Why was screeding required before the LVT installation?

The kitchen and living room were at different floor levels. Screeding was therefore required as part of the floor preparation to address the level difference and create a suitable base for the subsequent flooring work.

Why was the floor sanded before installing the LVT?

After the screeding and feather-finish work, the floor was sanded to provide a smoother and more consistent substrate before the Amtico LVT installation.

Why was the border installed before the herringbone LVT?

The border was installed first so that it could provide a stable and accurately positioned reference for the main herringbone LVT. The central flooring could then be measured and cut towards the border.

Why is laser setting-out important for herringbone LVT?

The starting position and alignment determine how the herringbone pattern develops across the floor. Laser setting-out provides accurate reference lines before the installation begins, which is particularly important when the design also includes a border.

How long did the Berkhamsted flooring installation take?

The complete flooring project took four days, including subfloor preparation, priming, screeding, feather finishing, sanding, laser setting-out, border installation and the main herringbone LVT installation.

Does the project include a border around the herringbone LVT?

Yes. The design included a border and design strips around the main Amtico herringbone LVT, with the final LVT pieces precisely cut to meet the border.