We lay porcelain and ceramic tile, engineered timber, solid parquet and laminate floors in homes across Málaga province. Every job starts by checking the existing floor: level, moisture, loose tiles and the height available at doors and thresholds. We then remove or prepare the old floor, level where needed, lay the new one and finish skirting boards and transitions. Floors are sequenced after dusty wall work so they are not damaged.
Which flooring suits a home on the coast?
The three materials we lay most often each have a clear profile. Porcelain tile is hard-wearing, easy to clean and copes well with sand, damp swimwear and terrace doors left open; it is the default choice in many coastal apartments. Engineered timber brings warmth underfoot and suits bedrooms and living rooms, provided the room does not see standing water. Laminate is a practical, lighter-budget option for bedrooms and rentals, with more limited tolerance of moisture.
Solid parquet is still found in some older apartments and villas; where it is sound, it can often be sanded and refinished rather than replaced. Which option fits depends on how the room is used, whether the property is let, and how the floor connects to terraces and wet rooms. Our guide on choosing flooring goes into each choice in detail, and our article on the best floors for a coastal apartment looks at the trade-offs owners weigh most often.
Can the new floor go over the old one?
Sometimes. Laying a new floor over existing tiles avoids the noise, dust and debris of breaking up the old floor, and many Spanish apartments have terrazzo or ceramic floors that are perfectly solid underneath. The questions are whether the old floor is firmly bonded, whether it is flat enough, and whether the extra height causes problems.
Height is usually the deciding factor. Doors may need trimming, the threshold to the terrace or the bathroom may become a step, and the junction with the front door and kitchen units has to be resolved. We measure all of this during the visit. If the old floor is hollow-sounding, cracked or uneven, it is normally removed instead. Where tiles have to come up throughout the property, the job starts to look like a larger strip-out, and our sister site on interior strip-outs explains that side of the work.
How do you prepare the base?
The base is checked for level with a long straightedge and laser, tapped for hollow areas and inspected for cracks and moisture. Loose sections are removed and rebuilt. Where the floor dips or humps beyond what the new material tolerates, a levelling layer is applied. Timber and laminate need a dry, flat base and, depending on the system, a suitable underlay; tiles need a sound, clean surface and the correct adhesive for the tile size and the substrate.
This stage is invisible once the job is finished, which is why it is the one most often skimped on. It is also the reason a floor stays flat, quiet and crack-free. Laying instructions, materials and drying requirements vary between products, so we follow the manufacturer’s requirements for the specific floor you choose rather than a general rule.
What about noise for the neighbours below?
Replacing tiles with a hard floor in an apartment can change how footsteps carry to the flat below. Underlays and resilient layers can reduce impact sound, and the right choice depends on the floor system and the building. Some communities of owners include rules on floor coverings in their statutes (check with your administrator; rules vary by building and are to be verified for each case).
If noise between floors is already a concern, mention it during the visit. We will explain the options compatible with the floor you want and the height you have available. Wider sound insulation work, such as acoustic ceilings or wall linings, is discussed on our plasterboard page.
What happens at doors, skirting and thresholds?
These are the details that make a floor look finished. Skirting boards are fitted or replaced to match the new floor and walls, either in tile, timber or a painted profile. Transitions between rooms, and between materials such as timber and tile, are planned so that they fall under doors and line up neatly. Expansion gaps required by timber and laminate floors are hidden under skirting rather than left visible.
Doors are checked after the floor goes in and trimmed if necessary. If you are lacquering or replacing doors as part of the same job, see our door lacquering service, which is usually scheduled around the floor.
When in the renovation should the floor go down?
Floors come after the dusty and wet work: gotelé removal, skimming, plasterboard and most of the painting. Otherwise the new floor spends the rest of the job under protective boards and still risks scratches, splashes and dropped tools. The final coat of paint on walls and skirting is often done after the floor is down, with the floor protected.
When floors stay in place while other work is done, they are covered with protective sheets and boards from the first day. If you are planning a full refresh, our gotelé removal and painting work is scheduled so the floor is laid once and stays clean.
What should the flooring quote show?
A transparent quote states the area in square metres per room, the removal or preparation of the existing floor, any levelling, the laying of the new floor, skirting in linear metres, thresholds and transitions, door trimming, waste removal and cleaning. It should also say whether the flooring material is included and allow for cutting waste.
We do not publish prices, but the cost factors are explained on presupuestoreforma.eu.
Bauman Raymond Attila · Quitar Gotelé Málaga · Avenida Antonio Belón 3, Marbella. Last reviewed: 05/11/2026.
