Levelness
Walk the floor and watch for waves, high spots or dips. Lay a long straightedge on suspect areas.
Handover checklist
Floor Handover Inspection Checklist in Riyadh: What to Check Before You Sign
The moment you take over a floor after installation matters, because it is the best time to spot any defect before furniture goes back and the space is in use. Many customers do not know what to look for and settle for a general glance. This page gives you a practical checklist covering levelness, joints, edges, skirting, cleanliness and sounds, with specific points for each material: carpet, vinyl, parquet and artificial grass. Use it as a reference when taking over any floor. It is not only for work we carry out.
General checks
Six points that apply to every type of floor
Before the details of each material, these basics are checked on any new floor. Take your time and do not rush to sign.
Joints
Look at the joints between boards or pieces. They should look straight and close, with no unnatural gaps.
Edges and perimeters
At walls, doors and columns the edges should be tidy and covered by skirting or transition strips.
Skirting and strips
Check they are firm and straight with no large gaps behind. See skirting and profiles.
Colour and batch
Compare floor colour in different places and under light. Differences between batches may show in neighbouring pieces.
Cleanliness and finish
The space should be handed over clean, with no adhesive residue, offcuts or dust on walls.
By material
What do you look at in each type?
Each material has its own checkpoints, and these examples cover what we normally review at handover.
| Material | What to check | A sign to take note of |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet | Pile direction, seam straightness, how taut the carpet is and edge fixing | Waves, a rise in the middle of the room or a very visible seam |
| Vinyl | Joints, absence of bubbles, pattern consistency and board stability | A board that moves, a gap between planks or a lifted edge |
| Parquet and laminate | Expansion gap at walls, board stability and any squeak | A loud clicking sound, a raised board or a gap at the skirting |
| Artificial grass | Seams, drainage, straight edges and uniform direction | Standing water, a raised seam or blades running in different directions |
| Mosque carpet | Straight rows, consistent seams and pattern direction | Rows not parallel or open seams |
More detail
Detailed points per material before you say "handover done"
The table above summarises, and these details explain why we review each point.
Carpet
Pile direction should be the same within a room, or the colour will seem to change as the light moves. Seams are hidden with the right technique but never vanish entirely. At doors the edge should be held by a strip or profile. See carpet installation.
Vinyl
Bubbles or lifted areas often point to insufficient preparation or uneven adhesive. With click installation, any plank that moves underfoot calls for inspection. Details are in vinyl installation.
Parquet and floating systems
The expansion gap at the walls is hidden by skirting, and boards should not be pressed hard against the wall. If a squeak recurs in one area, note where. See parquet installation.
Artificial grass
After installation, drainage is tested by pouring water over the area and watching how it moves, and seams are checked for uniform direction. See artificial grass installation.
Room by room
The handover walk: where to start and how to move
We recommend a fixed order for the walk so you forget nothing. Start at the entrance and move in one direction.
Entrance and corridors
The areas with most traffic, where height and transition problems show first.
Living rooms and majlis
Large spaces show waves easily, so use side lighting.
Bedrooms
Look at the edges behind doors, under wardrobes and at the skirting in corners.
Kitchen and bathrooms
Check joints and seals and how tight they are, and any sign of moisture. Where moisture is a concern, see waterproof flooring.
Outdoor edges
Balconies and roofs need their drainage checked after rain or watering.
Simple tools
How can you inspect a floor without professional tools?
You need no instruments. A few household tools are enough to uncover most visible problems.
Side light
Switch on your phone torch and hold the beam horizontally across the floor. It shows waves, raised joints and patches of different gloss.
A ruler or straight stick
Lay it on the floor in several directions. If a gap appears beneath it, ask the fitter the cause.
A small ball or coin
On a level floor a small ball does not roll quickly in one direction. This simple test reveals an obvious slope.
Walking slowly
Walk across every room once slowly and once briskly, and listen for squeaks, clicks or movement in the boards.
For more on levelness and preparation, see floor preparation and leveling.
Recording notes
How do you record notes and follow them up?
Photograph first
Photograph each remark close up and from a distance, with something such as a ruler for scale.
Write the remark precisely
State the room, place and problem, for example a raised joint at the second bedroom door.
Show the fitter at once
Many remarks are fixed on site if raised while the crew is present.
Agree a date for the fix
Ask for a date for repairs that cannot be done that day, and write it down.
Sign after review
Sign for handover once reassured, and you may list outstanding notes explicitly.
What is normal?
What is normal and what is a real defect?
Not every difference is a defect. Some things are natural to the materials and others need treatment, and telling them apart saves argument and protects your rights.
Things usually considered normal
- A slight variation in wood tone between boards in natural parquet
- Thin visible seams in carpet that fade with use
- Slight sounds in some floating floors as the temperature changes
- A slight difference in gloss under side light
Things that call for treatment
- Boards that move, lift or separate
- Wide gaps between boards or pieces
- Water standing on artificial grass after watering
- Waves in carpet or bubbles in vinyl
- Skirting that is not fixed or edges left unfinished
If you are not sure, send us the photos or ask for a visit. We do not promise specific warranty terms here. Ask for written warranty terms for any product or installation before contracting.
After handover
What should you keep after handover?
Leftover material
Keep spare boards or pieces from the same batch for later repairs.
Product sheet and invoice
They carry the product name, details and purchase date in case you need to refer back.
Care instructions
Ask for cleaning and upkeep instructions for the material we fitted.
Handover photos
Photos of your floor on handover day help you compare any change months later.
Common mistakes
Mistakes people make when taking over a floor
Accepting after the furniture is moved
Once furniture is in, inspecting and proving damage is harder. Inspect before moving.
A quick glance only
Side light and slow walking reveal what a passing eye misses.
Not writing the remarks down
Spoken remarks are forgotten. Write them and photograph them.
Forgetting edges and corners
Defects are usually at doors, columns and corners, not mid-room.
Questions customers ask about floor handover inspection
When should I inspect the floor?
At handover, before heavy furniture is moved in and before signing for acceptance, with the fitter present if possible.
What if I find a defect a week later?
Contact us with photos as soon as possible so we can review the case and decide what to do. Proof becomes harder the longer reporting is delayed.
Is parquet squeak a defect?
It can be normal in some floating systems as the temperature changes, or it can point to a levelness or fixing problem. We inspect and find the cause.
Is a colour difference between boards acceptable?
In natural wood, variation is part of its look, but a clear colour difference between two batches calls for review.
Must the floor be perfectly level?
Small variations are accepted depending on the floor type and manufacturer instructions, but clear waves or moving boards call for treatment.
How many spare boards should I keep?
The waste and spare allowance depends on the material and area, and we recommend keeping what is left after installation for future repairs.
Can the floor be repaired without replacing all of it?
In many cases a local repair is possible, depending on the material and whether the same batch is available.
Do you inspect the floor with me at handover?
Yes, we walk the floor with you and record any remark before the crew leaves, then follow up whatever is needed.
Need a review of a floor installed recently?
Send photos of your remarks and we will arrange a free site visit in Riyadh.
More guides and services you may need
Flooring installation time
What sets the schedule.
Vinyl cleaning
Care after handover.
Carpet care guide
Cleaning, stains and upkeep.
Artificial grass maintenance
For gardens and roofs.
All guides
References for choosing and fitting.
Request a quotation
Free site visit in Riyadh.