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Best Cheap Flooring to Give Your Home an Update
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Whether you’re a new homeowner or you’ve owned your house for years, chances are there’s at least one room where you hate the floor. Maybe it’s a carpeted floor in your bedroom where your toddler spilled juice, or it’s a dark tile floor in your bathroom that makes the whole room look dated. The good news: You can replace it, even if you can’t afford to hire a contractor for a big home renovation project.
And here’s the even better news: Replacing your flooring can give your room a whole new look. For example, new vinyl flooring in your kitchen can make your old-school kitchen look more modern, even if you can’t afford to install new cabinets. Just like a new coat of paint, changing your floor can instantly make your home look new and fresh.
Of course, if you’re a newbie when it comes to home improvement projects, the idea of installing new flooring can seem daunting. But more great news: Lots of flooring is actually pretty easy to do yourself, sans professional training, and pretty inexpensive.
To help make your job a little easier, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best cheap flooring you can buy — and offer some expert advice on how to get your project started:
Best Cheap Flooring Options
Best Overall Flooring
Pergo Outlast+
If you want that hardwood floor look without the high price tag and complicated installation, then Pergo Outlast+ is your new best friend. It looks and feels like the real thing, and it’s available in a variety of wood looks and colors. It’s also relatively easy to install and pet-proof (no cat scratches or stains from doggie accidents to worry about with this flooring). Best of all, it’s waterproof (and backed by a manufacturer guarantee), meaning you can install it in your kitchen and bathroom without worrying about mold, stains or warping. You can also purchase matching moldings and transitions to give your room a clean, finished look.
What we love about it: This flooring is dent-, scratch- and scuff-resistant, making it an excellent choice for families with young children or pets.
How the product is applied: Let the Pergo planks sit in the room you’re going to install them in for a few hours to a day to acclimate. Sweep and clean the subfloor and, if installing on a concrete subfloor, install a vapor barrier. Remove the tongue on the side of the first plank that goes against the wall. Assemble each plank by inserting the end tongue into the end groove and rotating downwards until the whole room is finished.
Promising review from the retailer’s site: “I installed this flooring myself about three months ago and I couldn’t be more happy with it! It has totally transformed my house. It looks beautiful. I have never installed flooring before, but I did not have too much difficulty with this.” – TylerL
$2.79 per sq. ft. at HomeDepot.com
Best Carpet Flooring
Mohawk Gratitude Cobble Path Textured Carpet
If you’re looking for a relatively cheap carpet that still looks lovely, Mohawk’s textured carpet might do the trick. It’s easy to clean and maintain, and it comes with a lifetime stain and soil resistance warranty. It’s also very durable, with a 10-year warranty against abrasive wear. Since it’s made from polyester, it has excellent color retention and isn’t prone to fading either.
What we love about it: This carpet is affordable, durable, easy to maintain and non-allergenic. It can also be used on stairs, in bedrooms and in living rooms.
How the product is applied: Prep the subfloor and lay down a carpet cushion. Roll out your carpet, power stretch it across the room, then secure it and trim the perimeter.
Promising review from the retailer’s site: “We bought this carpet for a spare bedroom. It installed easily (we did it ourselves) and looks good. Love the warranty and the neutral color.” — churchladyinstreet
$1.12 per sq. ft. at Lowes.com
Best Bamboo Flooring
Home Decorators Collection Horizontal Toast Solid Bamboo Flooring
If you’re looking for a cheap flooring option that’s sustainable and durable, this Home Decorator’s Collection bamboo one might be a good choice. It’s natural, just like hardwood, and gives your room a more golden finish, similar to oak or maple floors. This bamboo flooring is sealed with seven-layer aluminum oxide to help make it scratch and dent resistant, even if you drop something. It’s also super easy to glue down on your own.
What we love about it: It’s cheap and easy to install, just like laminate flooring, but it gives your room the same natural wood look that hardwood floors do.
How the product is applied: Allow the flooring to acclimate for 48-72 hours. Clean your subfloors. Allow a half-inch extension gap along the walls when you install the planks. Apply glue to the subfloor, then install the plank with the tongue facing away from the wall. Tap the planks together, so the tongue and groove fit together. Make sure to stagger the planks and mix up the color and shades for a more natural look. Apply painter’s tape to keep the planks together as you install them and leave the tape for 24 hours. After installing, use a 24 roller to help set the flooring and make sure the glue sticks.
Promising review: “I installed this in my kids’ bedrooms about 18 months ago. Install went smoothly… It looks great and doesn’t scratch too easily. I’m pretty happy with it.” — LFPtom
$2.19 per sq. ft. at HomeDepot.com
Best Flooring for Bathrooms
TrafficMaster Vigo Gris Matte Ceramic Floor and Wall Tile
Floor tiles don’t have to be expensive. The TrafficMaster Vigo Gris matte gray stone tiles are made of glazed ceramic and are the perfect neutral tone to fit most bathroom designs. They’re slip-resistant and designed to withstand medium to heavy foot traffic. And get this – they cost less than $1 per square foot, meaning you can retile your bathroom for very little money. Just remember you will need to buy grouting and specialized tools to install these tiles, and retiling a floor is more of an intermediate DIY project.
What we love about it: These tiles are durable, look great, and are super easy to clean — all for a very affordable price.
How the product is applied: Make sure the subfloor is clean, level, and rigid. Begin laying the tiles from the center of the room. Spread thinset with a notched edge of a trowel. Use plastic spacers to help ensure that you have straight grout lines. After you’ve completed a few rows, set them with a tile level and mallet. Allow the tiles to set, but remove the spacers before the thinset dries. Grout the tile. Clean the tile surface with clean water and a sponge.
Promising review from the retailer’s site: ”This tile looks expensive and adds some modern, clean design for an affordable price.” — Chema
$0.99 per sq. ft. at HomeDepot.com
Best Peel & Stick Floor Tiles
FloorPops FP2950 Leyton Peel & Stick Floor Tile
If laying tiles and dealing with messy grout isn’t your idea of fun, you can try the FloorPops Leyton easy peel-and-stick tiles. They’re made of vinyl with a texture to keep them from getting too slippery, and they’re water-resistant and washable, making them a good choice for your kitchen. For another cheap peel-and-stick decor option, check out peel-and-stick wallpaper.
What we love about it: Installation could not be any easier and the end product looks great.
How the product is applied: Peel the backing off the tiles and apply to your floor. Trim the tiles with a utility knife if necessary. Use a smoothing tool if you have one to make sure there are no air bubbles.
Promising review from the retailer’s site: “I love this product and also bought the marble flooring to do the master bathroom. This was extremely easy to use especially once I figured out a little trick to get around complex corners. I recommend this to anyone that wants to give their bathroom a quick facelift without the pain.” — Angela
$13.10 for 10 tiles at Amazon.com
Best Vinyl Tile
MSI White Ocean Luxury Vinyl Tile
The MSI White vinyl tile flooring is one of the most durable flooring options available to you because it’s mostly waterproof and not easily scratched or scuffed, making it ideal for families or homes with pets. This tile is clean and neutral and works well in high traffic areas (think: your entryway) or places where moisture might be an issue, like your bathroom or kitchen. The tiles also come with pre-attached underlayment to make the installation easier.
What we love about it: If one of the tiles does get damaged, it’s easy to replace that single tile alone — something you can’t do with traditional tiles.
How the product is applied: Trim the tiles that will be placed against the wall. Use a spacer to maintain a one-quarter inch expansion gap. Attach the ends of the first and second plank by inserting the tongue on the short side into the groove of the first and lowering them into place. Repeat.
Promising review from the retailer’s site: “This floor is great! As long as you have the proper tools, it is very easy to install. It looks just like tile and is a great neutral color. I bought more for my other bathroom because I loved it so much.” – Chesie
$2.89 per sq. ft. at Wayfair
Best Cheap Hardwood
Home Decorators Marlow Rustic Birch Engineered Hardwood Flooring
If you’re determined to get yourself some hardwood floors but don’t want to pay hardwood floor prices, your best bet is engineered hardwood flooring like the Home Decorator’s Marlow Rustic Birch. About a third of the price, this flooring will give you the look you’re after without breaking the bank. Plus, it’s a lot easier to install than traditional hardwood because the planks click together.
What we love about it: You can install this engineered hardwood flooring over concrete or wood.
How the product is applied: Install the underlayment. Begin installation in the left-hand corner of your room by placing three-eighth inch spacers. Lay the first plank flat over the underlayment with the tongue side facing the wall. Align the second plant with the first and lock the end joints together by pushing straight down on top of the first plant. Repeat, locking planks together, by working in rows across the room, staggering different plank lengths. Install wall trims when the floor is complete.
Promising review: “Installs easily, looks nice, great value for the money. Will definitely use it again!” — LowcountryBuckeye
$1.73 per sq. ft. at HomeDepot.com
Best Peel & Stick Wood Tiles
Achim Home Furnishings Nexus Oak Plank-Look Vinyl Adhesive Tile
For a wood look, low price and super easy installation, the Achim Nexus Oak Plank vinyl tile wood flooring could do the trick. The tiles are water-resistant and replicate the look of wood floors, though because they are tiles, you can create a fun, patterned tile look if you want. Such a design may work well in kitchens and bathrooms, especially since they have a highly glossy look.
What we love about it: These tiles are incredibly easy to install by yourself.
How the product is applied: Clean the surface of your subfloor. Peel backing off the tile and stick to the ground in any pattern you desire. Wipe down the tiles once you’ve completed the job.
Promising review from the retailer’s site: “Looks beautiful in our kids’ bathroom and cuts smooth without ripping like around the toilet. I liked it so much that I purchased an extra box. It’s an amazing quality, but affordable if I should need to replace one hence the extra box.”
$12.69 per set at Amazon.com
Flooring Shopping Guide
What to Consider When Shopping for Flooring and Installing It Yourself
If you’re going to buy flooring to install yourself, there are two things you should take into consideration so that you’re successful in your home renovation project:
1. How Easy Is the Flooring to Install
Some floorings are more difficult to install than others, so you may want to leave the complex projects to the pros.
“For example, hardwood flooring is a no-go for most DIY enthusiasts,” explains Andrew Wilson, a home improvement contractor from Wisconsin. Hardwood flooring installation requires sanding in order to make sure the floor is smooth and looks good, but it’s pretty tricky to sand hardwood flooring, especially if you haven’t done it before and haven’t had someone show you how to do it yourself.
Hardwood also costs more, so DIY mistakes can add up.
“On the other hand,” Wilson says, “flooring material like vinyl plank flooring is a great choice as it’s easy to install.”
2. Where You’re Installing the Flooring
Not all flooring is equally durable — especially when it comes to flooring that’s meant to be installed by homeowners instead of professionals.
“Different material works best in different places depending on how much traffic it gets,” says Wilson. “If you’re placing new flooring material in busy areas like the living room or kitchen, then hardwood might actually be preferable since it’s stronger. If you’re placing it in an area like the bathroom or basement where moisture might be a problem, ceramic tile and vinyl are quality choices.”
3. Know What You Can Afford
Be sure you do the math and see what you can afford before you start your project. Since you’ll probably mess up a little, you might want to leave a little room in your budget for some extra materials.
“If you’re on a budget, I highly recommend vinyl plank flooring. It offers a similar look to hardwood but without the expensive costs,” says Wilson.
Be sure to add any installation accessories to your budget..
“The right tools can make any flooring job a lot easier and end up giving you a better finish than if you hadn’t gotten them,” Wilson explains. “For starters, a flooring nailer is a must. While you can theoretically use other types of nailers, this tool can save you a lot of hassle and make things easier.”
“Similarly, a floor cutter can work wonders for getting a nice clean cut as opposed to just using a knife,” he adds.
How to Save Money on Flooring
Flooring can get expensive quickly, especially if you’re renovating a large room. Here are some tips for saving:
1. Don’t Mess Up
Okay, so this probably goes without saying… but mistakes are expensive. Every time you install a plank incorrectly and have to pull it back up, you’ll damage it and likely need another to replace it. So take your time with your DIY installation. Watch video demonstrations, don’t go too fast, and try to be deliberate.
2. Buy Just Enough
You might need a little extra flooring (usually about 10% extra for mistakes and incorrect cuts), but odds are you won’t need a lot extra.
That’s why it’s important to precisely calculate how much you’ll need and make your purchase accordingly.
(Pro tip: Even if you decide to hire a contractor, you can likely save money by buying the materials yourself because some contractors put a markup on the materials.)
3. Install It Yourself — If You Can
Contractors are an extra expense, so if you think you can install your new flooring yourself, you will save money.
Just be aware that not all flooring is easy to install, and sometimes, it’s worth the extra expense to hire a pro rather than mess up and then need to bring in a pro to fix your screw up.
4. If You Do Opt to Hire a Contractor, Hire Them in the Off-Season
“If you choose a season when the contractor isn’t as busy, like the winter, you might be able to get better deals,” says Wilson.
Should You Someone or Install the Flooring Yourself?
If your home is relatively new or you’re simply replacing flooring that was in good shape, but you didn’t like, you can probably DIY the renovation yourself.
But sometimes, once you pull that old carpet or older flooring up, you’ll discover larger issues that you can’t just cover-up. That’s when you’re better off hiring a contractor.
“There are times where the subfloor is badly damaged due to water damage and mold,” explains Wilson. “Often, contractors will choose to fix this before installing a new floor over it [but] if you’re not too familiar or experienced, it can end up costing you a lot to install a new floor over a bad subfloor.”
Other Helpful Resources for DIY Flooring Installation
If you’re going to install flooring by yourself, you do need to study up on how to do it right. Otherwise, it will just be a waste of time, resources and money. So before you start the project, look for information on how to do it:
- Watch YouTube videos: They don’t call it “YouTube University” for nothing. There are hundreds of videos by contractors and home renovation experts showing people how to do home renovations correctly, and that includes installing flooring.
- Check retailer websites for guides: Retailers that sell flooring will likely have educational resources available online or in-store to show you how to install their product.
- Ask for help: Not all help costs money. Before you start your home renovation project, see if anyone in your family or friend group has ever done a similar project. Ask them for advice or — if they’re up for it — to come over and help you install your new floor.
The post Best Cheap Flooring to Give Your Home an Update appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
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