The subfloor you're actually working with
New build ground floors are typically a floating screed over insulation, or a concrete beam-and-block floor, and both are usually flatter and more consistent than anything you'd find in older Fife housing. The main variable is drying time — screed can take weeks to reach a safe moisture level, and fitting too early is the most common cause of problems in new homes.
Underfloor heating is common on new build ground floors, which affects adhesive choice and, for some finishes, means a settling-in period before the heating is used normally.
Fife's newer estates
This applies across the newer phases in Dunfermline, Rosyth, Dalgety Bay and the expanding edges of Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes, where developers have been building steadily for over a decade. None of this stock is listed or conservation-restricted, which keeps choices flexible.
What we'd avoid here
- Fitting a moisture-sensitive solid wood floor onto a screed that hasn't been given proper time to dry.
- Assuming developer-fitted skirtings sit flush enough to skip proper scribing.
Upgrading from developer spec
Most new build carpet and entry-level laminate is a serviceable placeholder rather than a long-term choice, and upgrading is usually straightforward since the subfloor is already flat and doesn't need the remedial work older houses often do.
What we check on a new build survey
- Screed drying time and moisture readings
- Presence and type of underfloor heating
- Flatness and any residual construction debris
- Manufacturer warranty conditions tied to the original build