Although hardwood floors are a very popular choice for many homeowners, they are by far not the only choice, which is a good thing considering that when you add labor, having 1,000 feet of a hardwood floor can cost a homeowner between $6,000 to $12,000.
Ouch! Not only is that expensive, but if you have kids, and pets, plan on refinishing those floors around every 7 years or so. So what are the alternatives to hardwood flooring if you are on a budget?
1. Epoxy Flooring
If you want to install epoxy flooring here are a few tips to get you going. Epoxy flooring is a type of flooring in which a synthetic resin is poured over a concrete base. Epoxy flooring offers a wide variety of choices and is quite reasonable in cost, as low as $1 per square foot for the materials and $1 to $2 per square foot for installation. This type of floor is easy to take care of and looks good, but this is not a material to do it yourself as it goes on a concrete base.
2. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
In today’s homeowner market, by far, the most popular flooring is Luxury Vinyl Flooring like what they have in apartments for rent in north charleston sc.. Typically, Luxury vinyl plank flooring is the best imitation of hardwood floors but costs less than half of hardwood flooring.
The great thing about luxury vinyl flooring is that, unlike hardwood flooring, homeowners can purchase snap-on luxury vinyl flooring and you do it yourself, saving perhaps $2,000 to $3,000 on the installation itself. Water-resistant, low maintenance, and comfortable under your feet. Luxury Vinyl is among your best choices on a budget.
3. Laminate Flooring
For those who are confused about laminate floors, the middle part of laminate floors is made out of wood products bonded together with resin, while the upper part is synthetic but remarkably looks like real wood. The great benefits of laminate flooring are that not only are they significantly cheaper per square foot, but again, it’s well within the average Joe’s DIY capability to install. Thus you can save thousands on a really nice-looking product.
Laminate flooring is very durable, which is important for people who have kids and is easy to clean and maintain. The only disadvantage is that laminate flooring doesn’t do well with moisture, so you might want to think twice about installing laminate in a bathroom or kitchen, and you can’t refinish it. But this is a tough-as-nails product that looks great and is easy to install.
4. Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tiles are a great way to save money and a fantastic option for many homeowners. For one thing, porcelain tiles are kid and pet resistant as they come. Even if you have a pet tiger, its claws are not going to scratch these tiles. Secondly, with many flooring products such as Hardwood, Luxury Vinyl, and laminate products, you need to clean up any moisture spills immediately. Adding porcelain tiles, floors are completely waterproof, so you can have them installed everywhere.
In addition, once you get a little instruction, you do not need to be a member of Mensa to install them. Installing porcelain tools is so easy a child can do it, although we admit that cutting porcelain tiles with a diamond blade saw can be a bit tricky. Finally, porcelain tile flooring is among the easiest to take care of, often involving nothing more than a mop and a little soapy water.
Ultimately it’s your choice, but there are very reasonable floors out there for those on a budget.