When it comes to remodeling their homes, some people know from the outset what materials to choose, what design will look best and what appliances to buy. Others, are indecisive about everything and can’t seem to come to a conclusion without pondering for hours. And if it involves making important decisions like choosing the flooring material, then it almost feels like an impossible task.
The difficulty is only compounded if you do not have a lavish budget to spend. How do you select the right flooring material that not only fits into your budget but is also durable, easy-to-maintain, pet-friendly, child-friendly, resistant to scratches and comfortable to walk on?
Here’s a small guide about the best budget friendly flooring materials for your home which will give you the aesthetics you desire without breaking your bank.
Here’s a small guide to help simplify things a bit and take the guesswork out of the flooring for your home renovation.
Laminate
A lot of people have a misconception that laminate is an expensive flooring material. That’s far from the truth. If you dig deep, you can easily find budget friendly laminate flooring that costs as less as $3 per square foot installed. It certainly won’t be look exactly like solid wood or tile. But with an endless number of design choices, you won’t have to compromise on the aesthetics either. Laminate is easy to clean, maintain and is also a perfect choice for DIY installation projects.
Vinyl
Vinyl is actually cheaper than Laminate flooring. But cheap always does not mean best. And in this case, Laminate is a far better choice than Vinyl. However, if you are on an extremely tight budget, then Vinyl may just be the right choice for you. The cost of
vinyl flooring may be as low as $1-$7 including installation. Vinlyl flooring is durable, easy to clean and is water resistant (sheets).
Linoleum
Linoleum is an eco-friendly and inexpensive flooring material that is made from a composite of wood flour, linseed oil, cork dust, pine rosin and calcium carbonate. It is more durable than vinyl and is available in a wide range of colors and designs. The cost can be as low as $2-3 per square foot installed. Linoleum is extremely easy to clean and maintain too.
Tiles
At the lower end of the price range, tiles can be cheaper than other types of flooring like Bamboo, for example. However, you may not get the elite selection that comes at a higher price. But if you are creative enough, you can mix and match ceramic tiles to get the design that you always wanted. Ceramic tiles, like natural stone, are easy to clean, resistant to moisture and can even be used in outdoor applications.
Cork
Costing almost $4-$9 per square foot installed, Cork is not the
cheapest flooring material. But it is an eco-friendly choice, made from a renewable resource. It is soft to walk on, easy to clean and can resist water with a polyurethane finish.
Even if you are on a very limited budget, you must also take other factors into consideration while selecting a flooring material.