You don't have to spend a lot of money to install or change your flooring. You can get beautiful designer flooring looks without spending a lot of money. All you need is a little creativity and determination, and you should be able to get the look you want. Also, many of the cheaper options can be set up by yourself. There's no reason to spend a lot of money on flooring when cheaper options can get the job done just as well.
Here are some cheap ways to change the look of your floor.
Planks and tiles made of high-end vinyl
Luxury Vinyl Planks look just like real wood, and their tiles look like real stone. They also feel very soft and are nice to walk on, which is great for a family home. Also, they are easy to install over any type of subfloor, which makes it much easier to change your flooring. The Luxury Vinyl Planks and Tiles are also resistant to humidity and moisture. This is perfect for any home that needs to be updated.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring looks like cement, stone, and hardwood floors, which makes it appealing to most people and makes it look like more expensive options. Laminate planks also snap together, which makes them very easy to put together. So, it would be great for a do-it-yourself project. Laminate floors don't fade in the sun, so they could be great for outdoor areas like patios. Laminate flooring is also low-maintenance and easy to clean. It is also resistant to mold and mildew, so it can be used outside.
This is the best way to install or upgrade flooring on a budget, since these two options look like more expensive ones but won't break the bank. They each have their own style and would look great in any home.
8 Affordable Flooring Options
1. Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is mostly made of PVC and comes in sheets, tiles, and planks. It can be installed anywhere in your home because it is durable and waterproof. It is one of the least expensive flooring options on the market and only needs to be vacuumed or swept regularly and mopped once in a while. If it is put in the right way, it could last up to 25 years.
2. Sheet Vinyl
When it comes to design, texture, and quality, this cut-to-length option has come a long way. Sheet vinyl usually comes in widths of 6' or 12', which makes it heavy and hard to handle. It's best to let a professional install it.
Cost: The average price is $1.25 per square foot (without installation), but high-end brands can cost more than $5 per square foot.
3. Plank Vinyl
If you want to save money on flooring that looks like hardwood or stone but isn't as expensive, plank vinyl is your best bet. And unlike vinyl sheets, planks come in small sizes, which makes the whole process of putting them down easier. You can glue vinyl planks down or use a peel-and-stick or click-and-lock system to put them in place. Installation is usually easy, even for people who have never done a big project like this before.
Cost: Prices vary depending on whether you choose engineered vinyl plank (EVP), luxury vinyl plank (LVP), waterproof vinyl plank (WVP), or rigid core vinyl plank (SVP), which is made of stone and is great for high-traffic areas. Prices start at an average of $1.39 per square foot, not including installation, and go up from there based on thickness, quality, and manufacturer guarantees.
4. Laminate
Laminate is made of a mix of different materials. It looks like wood or stone because a photo is embossed on its surface, making it look like those things. Laminate is about the same price as vinyl sheets, but it's not as strong as vinyl, can't handle heat, isn't waterproof, and only lasts 10 years. Don't put laminate in places that get a lot of moisture or water, like basements, kitchens, or bathrooms.
Laminate is installed as a floating floor, which means the pieces click and lock together rather than being glued directly to the subfloor. It will take time to get the area ready, but once you start putting the pieces together, the installation will go quickly.
Cost: Laminate flooring costs an average of $2.50 per square foot (this doesn't include installation), but the price can go up depending on the materials used and the guarantees given by the manufacturer.
5. Cork
Cork is a soft, eco-friendly alternative to composite flooring, and it is easier to put in than hardwood.
Cost: This renewable resource comes from the cork oak tree and is used to make floor tiles, planks, and sheets. The price starts at about $2 per square foot and goes up based on thickness, quality, and finish.
While one of the positives about cork is that it tends to be softer than other moderately priced flooring options, its softness can also be its downfall since it can scratch and dent easily. It also doesn't do well in rooms with high humidity, like bathrooms. Anything above 60% humidity will cause the material to crack and break.
6. Carpet
From wall-to-wall to peel-and-stick, carpeting’s another cheap flooring option available to homeowners. You have a lot of options because carpets come in many different materials and levels of quality. No matter which carpet you choose, you can expect it to last 10 years, or even longer if you vacuum it often and treat stains right away.
And while it’s soft to walk on and great at dampening sound, carpet does show wear and tear much faster than other kinds of flooring. It shouldn’t be used in bathrooms or other places where the presence of moisture can lead to mold.
Wall-to-Wall Carpeting: You can buy wall-to-wall carpeting for less than $1 per square foot, but installing it is not for the faint of heart. Most of the time, it takes more than one person and more than one tool to do it right. If not, wrinkles, bumps, and weak seams will ruin the result. Since there isn't much room for error when installing wall-to-wall, you might want to hire a pro.
Peel-and-Stick Carpet Tiles: Peel-and-stick carpet tiles make it easier to put down carpet. As with vinyl planks, the smaller pieces make it easy and quick to put together. Carpet tiles come with their own adhesive backing, so all you have to do is make sure the floor is clean, peel off the stickers, and stick the tiles to the floor. You can also use a box cutter to cut pieces to the right size. Big-box stores like Home Depot sell carpet tiles for less than $1 per square foot.
7.Tile:
Ceramic tile is durable and costs less than $1 per square foot, making it a great option for cheap flooring. Look for manufactured tile that gets at least a 3 on the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) scale. This is the industry standard set by the PEI. Any tile with a rating of less than 3 will be too thin and fragile to be used on a floor. When it comes to installation, if you aren't sure how to use a wet saw or tile cutter, leave the job to a pro.
Porcelain Tile: If you're putting in floors in places like bathrooms and kitchens that get wet, you might want to use porcelain tiles. Because of how it is made, porcelain is denser and better at keeping water away than ceramic. It also wears better than regular ceramic tile, even though it costs a little more per square foot.
8. Paint or stain your floors
If you can't afford to replace your floor, you can always refresh it for a low cost. With a little paint or varnish, you can change the look of wood floors. Specialized paint and sealant can make concrete look fresh and new, and you can even make tile look better by cleaning the grout. No matter how much money you have, you can get a new look without spending a lot.
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