Nothing beats low-price, durable flooring for homeowners looking to spice up their porch, bathroom or living room. Amazing flooring is easy to clean, cost-effective and enhances the aesthetics of any home.
Floors are among the most conspicuous parts of a home. They make a lasting impression on anyone who walks in.
Most great flooring options are often overpriced and easily damaged. We have searched every available resource to bring affordable flooring options that are perfect for a tight budget. Keep reading for the best cheap flooring options on the market.
Cheap Flooring Alternatives
Choosing the perfect flooring option is important because floors serve countless purposes. It is essential for homeowners to pick the most suitable materials for their homes to avoid future replacement costs.
Check out the 5 best flooring options on a budget that will last.
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo has grown in popularity over the past few years. It is a low-cost flooring option with high sustainability, durability and availability.
It cannot be compared to conventional hardwood flooring. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass. Transforming it into a durable flooring material is a difficult process.
The final product of this process is a sturdy and durable floor. Bamboo flooring often resembles hardwood floors, such as maple, walnut, and oak.
Bamboo flooring has a Janka hardness score of 4,000. That indicates its excellent resistance to dents. Compare that to oak hardwood flooring, which only scores 1,290. Aside from being durable, it uses a click-lock installation configuration, making it very simple to install.
Peel and Stick Vinyl Flooring
Peel and stick vinyl flooring is a popular option for many homeowners because it’s comfortable, durable, and inexpensive. Furthermore, it comes in a wide range of patterns and colors that suit almost any style or need.
Peel and stick vinyl flooring comes with a sturdy adhesive backing. Thus, there is no need for any grout or specialized installation tools. The peel and stick flooring is cut and trimmed to fit any space. Its water-resistant qualities make it a perfect choice for entryways, kitchens and bathrooms.
Peel and stick vinyl is ideal because it is simple for most homeowners to install on their own. It allows them to bypass installation costs. However, the quality of peel and stick vinyl differs from one brand to the next. Sometimes, it even differs within similar product lines.
Most household surfaces form strong contact with the adhesive peel and stick flooring. Therefore, homeowners have many ways they could use this flooring depending on their needs and creativity.
When applied, the adhesive develops a solid bond with the surface beneath. Peel and stick vinyl is most often used as a temporary fix until a complete renovation is possible.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring options resemble natural wood due to their identical wood grain patterns. These floors provide the aesthetic appeal of a wooden floor without the high cost of wood.
It’s simple to manage and clean, and it’s fairly long-lasting. Homeowners should pay very close attention to the sealing process when installing the laminate floor. Water or moisture may seep through the cracks and cause serious damage and warps if not well done.
Laminate is a good option because it’s relatively simple to install for most homeowners. It might not be the best alternative for homeowners whose primary concern is comfort. It is often described as being hard underfoot.
Remember that, unlike genuine wooden floors, laminate flooring is almost impossible to refinish. So, if it becomes damaged, it may require replacement.
Carpet Flooring
Carpet is a very plush and comfortable flooring alternative. It provides a high degree of safety, making it an excellent choice for families with children.
Carpet flooring comes in a wide range of colors, designs and materials, making it easy for homeowners to find something that matches their decor.
Homeowners should avoid doing the carpet installation themselves. The task can quickly go wrong if not done by a professional.
Carpet flooring isn’t easy to wipe down. Maintaining and cleaning it is much more extensive and expensive than maintaining hard flooring.
Polished Concrete Flooring
Concrete must be properly mixed before the installation phase. So, find a concrete expert to do the installation.
Any mistakes made during the initial preparation stages will impact the final product. Such errors are difficult and perhaps impossible to correct. Once the concrete floor sets, cleaning and maintenance are cheap and simple.
Furthermore, concrete floors are strong and durable and, if installed and maintained correctly, they last a lifetime.
What To Consider When Evaluating Flooring Options
One needs to test each option through a series of criteria to find the best cheap flooring option. Here are some basic criteria that will help homeowners pick the best flooring on a budget.
Type of Flooring Material
Flooring materials come in different types and colors for different flooring purposes. It is important to choose the type of flooring that suits one’s budget, lifestyle, and comfort preferences.
Hardwood, stone, and porcelain are often costly flooring options. Homeowners can still choose from a wide range of cheap flooring materials, however.
Solid surface flooring options include luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and vinyl tiles. Ceramic, bamboo, and laminate are also great alternatives for hard flooring. For anyone looking for a more super-soft flooring surface, carpet and carpet tiles could be the best options.
Cost
When looking for low-cost flooring, compare the price of different materials. The warranty for any type of flooring is also an important consideration. Some low-cost flooring has a limited warranty period.
Others provide up to ten years of legal cover against daily wear and tear. It is important to remember this when factoring in the flooring material price.
Homeowners have to consider the price of delivery, underlayment, and installation. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of removing and disposing of the old flooring—plan for extra materials like adhesives, baseboards, and stains. Together with the extra materials, one should also arrange for miscellaneous spending.
Lifestyle
Buyers should only select flooring alternatives that blend well with their particular lifestyle. Solid surface tiles might be an option to avoid for anyone who cooks a lot since they may feel hard and uncomfortable underfoot.
Buyers should also consider whether their children leave puddles of water in the bathroom. If that is the case, water-resistant tiles make sense.
If pets bring dirt onto the front porch and living areas, homeowners may choose easily maintained concrete floors. This floor should withstand all the abuse that the family members might dish out.
Water Resistance
For the bathroom and kitchen, pick water-resistant flooring materials. Ceramic tiles and luxury vinyl planks are perfect alternatives.
Find the Cheapest and Most Suitable Flooring for Any Home
Good flooring prevents many dangers like accidents and damage to household items. Finding cheap flooring to meet every criterion is even better. Before settling for any flooring, ensure it is in line with one’s budget and lifestyle.
Bamboo, peel and stick vinyl, laminate, carpet, and polished concrete are great options for updating your flooring on a budget that will last.
You might also be interested in: 10 Roofing Materials Every Homeowner Should Consider
