Whether doors go before or after flooring depends on which part of the door installation you mean and the floor being fitted. Frames, door leaves, architraves and threshold trims do not always belong at the same point in the programme.
Agree the complete finished floor level and the chosen product details before either trade works from an assumption. A blanket rule to finish all doors first, or leave every door until last, does not help.
This is for homeowners and project teams with doors and floors in the same job, and for anyone whose floor choice has changed since the joinery was ordered.
Start with the finished level on both sides
List the proposed floor finish and everything beneath it that affects its height. Include the underlay or adhesive system where applicable, the subfloor preparation and any transition into the next room.
Give the joiner the intended finished levels, because the height of an exposed subfloor is not the same thing. Ask the flooring installer to confirm the complete proposed build-up and identify any condition that still needs assessment.
Separate the components in the programme
| Component | Decision for the team |
|---|---|
| Frame or lining | Position and level relative to the finished floor, wall finish and selected door system. |
| Door leaf | Product identification, fitting stage, permitted adjustment and final operation. |
| Floor finish | Installation method, edge treatment, movement needs and protection. |
| Architrave and skirting | Order, junction appearance, decoration and responsibility for final making good. |
| Threshold | Transition detail, levels, fixings and any access or performance requirement. |
This original schedule is a coordination tool. Enter the supplier detail and named installer beside each decision before agreeing the sequence.
Check the floor's installation method
Ask whether the chosen floor is glued, floating or installed another specified way. Its treatment around frames, thresholds and fixed elements must follow that product's instructions.
Quick-Step's vinyl installation information, for example, separates different vinyl systems and their preparation needs. A detail that works for one product is not automatically suitable for another finish. Ask the installer to show the relevant doorway and movement detail for the selected floor.
A fire or acoustic door needs its specified detail
Identify a fire or acoustic door before any trimming or threshold decision is made. The complete doorset, seals, hardware and floor interface need the relevant product and design information.
Howdens' Colonial FD30 product guidance directs fitting to the door instructions and fire certificate. Its particular limits must not be used as a general allowance for other doors. Ask the responsible installer to confirm the applicable detail before work proceeds.
An example of a late floor change
Say a homeowner changes the planned floor finish after the joinery has been ordered. This is a hypothetical coordination example. The team should check the revised complete build-up, threshold and door operation before assuming the existing order can be fitted unchanged.
Record any product change and obtain the appropriate revised detail. Do not assume the bottom of a performance door can simply be cut until it clears.
Agree the final checks and protection
Ask who checks door movement, thresholds and finish junctions once both trades are complete. List protection, final decoration and responsibility for damage or later adjustments in the scope.
For the flooring part of the package, see our floor fitting and installation service in London. Send the selected floor and doorway details so the flooring and joinery scopes can be coordinated.
For a carpentry and joinery enquiry, send the door schedule, flooring choices, photographs and known levels. We can discuss the work and what is still missing to coordinate it with the wider refurbishment.
Doors before or after flooring: common questions
Should doors go in before or after flooring?
It depends on which part of the door you mean and which floor you are fitting. Frames, door leaves, architraves and threshold trims can belong at different stages, so agree the finished floor level first and plan each part from there.
Does the type of floor change the order of work?
It can. Glued and floating floors can need different details around frames and thresholds, and a detail that suits one product may not suit another. Ask the installer to show the doorway and movement detail for your chosen floor.
What happens if I change the floor after ordering the doors?
Check the revised floor build-up, the threshold and how the door will open before assuming the order can be fitted as it is. Record the change and get a revised detail for the new floor.
Can you cut the bottom of a fire door to clear a new floor?
Do not assume you can. A fire door’s limits come from its own certificate and fitting instructions, and they do not carry over to other doors. Ask the responsible installer to confirm the detail before anyone trims it.
How much gap should there be under an internal door?
There is no single figure that suits every door. It depends on the door, the floor finish and any threshold, so take the clearance from the door and flooring instructions and measure it against the finished floor level.
Do architraves and skirting go on before or after the floor?
It varies with the floor and how you want the finishes to meet. Agree the order, the junction and who does the final making good before work starts.