When it comes to replacing a floor and choosing a type of flooring to use, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. There is, of course, the appearance of the floor, as well as the durability and what sort of use and abuse the floor is likely to see. Then there’s your budget. Sure, you may love stately marble, but that’s not a very budget-friendly type of flooring. So what is?
Vinyl
Vinyl is impressively versatile. It comes in sheets, planks, and tiles, and a variety of styles and colors. That is what allows it to mimic other flooring materials. Sheet vinyl typically comes in at about $2 per square foot, unless you’re going for the luxury stuff. Expect to pay over $5 per square foot for that. Still, it’s less than what you should expect to pay for something like middle tier hardwood, which is closer to $8-$15 per square foot, or upper tier hardwood, which can be upwards of $20 per square foot.
Laminate
Similarly to vinyl, laminate can provide you with a look that mimics that of hardwood but without the price tag that accompanies it. Laminate can range from $1-$6 per square foot. That’s a decent range, but again, when compared to the price of some of the nicer hardwoods you can use for flooring, you’re looking at some great savings. The caveat here is that, unlike hardwood, laminate can’t be refinished or resealed. If it’s damaged, you’ll just have to replace it.
Linoleum
The average price of linoleum is around the same as the price of sheet vinyl at $2-$3 per square foot. It’s pretty similar in appearance as well. If you’re looking for something you can install yourself, that is budget-friendly, easy to clean and maintain, and is eco-friendly, linoleum is definitely worth taking a look at. The option to install it yourself does also help you stay within your budget since you’d just be paying for materials and any tools you might be renting, instead of adding the cost of labor to your expenses. That said, if your subfloor is uneven, you might want to bite the bullet and pay someone to do it for you anyway.
When you’re working off of a budget, choosing to use materials that are budget friendly is crucial. It’s one of the easiest ways to make sure you don’t go outside of your budget. Fortunately, when it comes to these budget-friendly flooring options, you can still get a floor with a beautiful look without breaking the bank.
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