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What is the cheapest way to do a floor?

What Is the Cheapest Way to Do a Floor? Sheet Vinyl. Sheet vinyl is one of the most affordable and uncomplicated options for getting a new floor. ... Plank Vinyl. ... Tile Vinyl. ... Laminate. ... Cork. ... Carpet. ... Tile. ... Builder Grade Hardwood. More items... •

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Since the pandemic started, many of us have been spending a lot more time at home. You may notice that some areas of your house, including your floors, are looking a little worse for the wear. But what do you do if you want to give your floors new life without selling a kidney to pay for it?

There are tons of affordable ways to revamp your home’s flooring. Read on to discover the cheapest way to get new floors and how much you’ll spend on this project.

Sheet Vinyl

Sheet vinyl is one of the most affordable and uncomplicated options for getting a new floor. Vinyl flooring is a synthetic material mainly made of PVC that is lightweight and durable. It’s water-resistant, it doesn’t need special maintenance, and if you take good care of it, it can last for more than two decades. If sheet vinyl does take a real beating at your home, it is so cheap that getting it replaced shouldn’t break the bank. Especially since it’s commonplace to place new sheet vinyl right on top of an old installation. Sheet vinyl comes in long strips that you can cut to length to fit the size of your room. You can usually get sheet vinyl in either six- or twelve-foot strips that can be somewhat cumbersome to deal with. Getting professional installation can save you some hassle, and with a price of less than $2 per square foot, you’ll still come out ahead.

Plank Vinyl

Plank vinyl is another excellent option for people who like the convenience of vinyl but don’t want the hassle of sheet vinyl. Like sheet vinyl, plank vinyl is nearly waterproof, easy to maintain, and incredibly durable. But this flooring comes in planks the size of standard hardwood floorboards, making it much easier to install. Advancements in vinyl manufacturing have made plastic, fake-looking vinyl a thing of the past. Instead, luxury vinyl planks are beautiful substitutes for hardwood that are much more durable and affordable. If you’re handy, you can install these planks yourself, putting your total per-square-foot cost less than $2 per square foot.

Tile Vinyl

In addition to plank and sheet vinyl, you can also find vinyl in peel-and-stick tile options. This flooring can give some of the color and character that you get from porcelain or ceramic tile (more on those later). But it can also make for a more affordable option for people who don’t want to pay installation costs. When you’re installing tile vinyl, make sure to avoid high-moisture areas, as this flooring can start to peel up at the corners. Depending on the quality of the material you pick, you can expect to pay between $2 and $5 per square foot. But the peel and stick installation will save you a ton compared to traditional tiling costs.

Laminate

Laminate flooring is very similar to vinyl flooring and makes a much more affordable alternative to wood and stone flooring. It’s made of composite material and printed with an image of the flooring it’s mimicking. However, it is essential to note that laminate flooring isn’t as durable as vinyl and shouldn’t be exposed to heat or water. Like vinyl planks, laminate flooring is easy to install on your own, even if you don’t have much experience. Most of these floors are floating floors, meaning they don’t have to be glued or nailed down–just click and lock the floors together. Most laminate floors cost less than $3 a square foot, making them a great affordable option.

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Cork

You might be surprised to learn that cork can actually be an excellent material to install as new flooring. These floors are made from the cork oak tree and are, in fact, the same material as the stopper you pull out of your wine bottle. And although these floors use genuine wood, they’re more eco-friendly than some of the synthetic alternatives we’ve discussed. Cork is somewhat softer vinyl, laminate, or tile, which can be great for those living with chronic pain. However, they should not be installed in high-moisture areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Cork costs less than $3 per square foot, although that price can vary depending on how thick the material is and what sort of finish it has.

Carpet

Of course, carpet is one of the most popular and affordable floor renovation options for your home. And like vinyl flooring, carpet has changed a lot since the awful shag stuff of the seventies. You can now get carpets in a variety of colors, lengths, and installation options to make a room instantly cozier. If you’re covering a whole room, wall-to-wall carpet, which attaches to tack strips and slides under baseboards, can be a great, long-lasting option. You can also get peel-and-stick carpeting that makes it simple to carpet just one area of a room. Carpeting can cost less than $1 per square foot, depending on the type you choose, making it incredibly affordable.

Tile

If you need durable, moisture-resistant flooring for kitchens and bathrooms, it’s hard to go wrong with tile. Tile floors come in various materials, colors, sizes, shapes, and patterns to fit your décor needs. Ceramic and porcelain tile are two of the least expensive and most versatile options on the market. Ceramic tile can cost less than $1 a square foot, and it’s a good idea to look for tiles that rate at least a 3 on the Porcelain Enamel Institute Scale. Porcelain tile is a little more expensive per square foot but is more water-resistant than ceramic. Both can be somewhat tricky to install, so if you’ve never laid tile before, consider having a professional help you with the installation.

Builder Grade Hardwood

You might be surprised to see hardwood floors on this list, given that hardwood is traditionally some of the most expensive flooring materials you can pick. And it is true that finished hardwood floors can cost between $6 and $12 per square foot, including installation. But buying builder-grade hardwood can help you get the floors of your dreams without breaking the bank. Builder-grade hardwood is unfinished, meaning you’ll have to stain and seal it yourself. Installing it yourself can be very tricky, but it can save you between $3 and $5 per square foot. And you can have gorgeous hardwood floors for less than $2 per square foot, plus a little extra elbow grease.

Concrete Flooring

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If you like a modern, industrial look, concrete might be a great way to get unique, durable floors for cheap. Concrete can last for decades when it’s properly sealed, and it can stand up to just about anything. In addition, you can stain or paint your concrete in various colors and patterns, depending on the look you like for your home. You will need to get concrete floors professionally installed to get the smooth, even finish you’ll need. For a plain, solid-color floor, you can expect to pay between $2 and $6; if you want more elaborate designs, you’ll have to pay more. But this cost should include polishing and staining them for the gorgeous, modern look you’re going for.

Refinishing

And, of course, one of the cheapest options for updated flooring is to keep the floors you have. In particular, wood, concrete, and tile can look completely different with a little bit of TLC. If you have hardwood floors, you can sand them down and stain them a different color before refinishing them. You can also opt to paint them with a solid color, stripes, or even stenciled patterns for a fun pop of color. If you have bare concrete floors, pressure washing them can make them look like the day they were poured. You can also paint your floors or stain them in different ways to give you a fantastic floor for a steal. While you may not be able to refinish tile, grout can start to look grimy and dirty. Using a grout cleaning tool or bleaching your grout can make your tile look brand-new and your space can feel lighter and brighter.

Discover the Cheapest Way to Get New Floors

If your flooring looks shabby, you don’t have to break the bank by replacing it. You can get a flooring upgrade for less than $1 a square foot. And you can even get the look of hardwood with flooring that fits both your design daydreams and your budget. If you’d like to discover the cheapest way to get new floors, check out the rest of our site at Really Cheap Floors. We have everything from engineered hardwood to luxury vinyl plank. Shop our warehouse sales today and save even more money on your next home renovation project.

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