Updating your floors can totally change the way your space feels, and new flooring that’s easier to clean and maintain is more practical, as well. While replacing your flooring is a good way to give your home a facelift and make it more functional, flooring can get expensive quickly. Here’s a guide to the cheapest flooring options you can install yourself on a budget.
Vinyl plank flooring
Vinyl plank flooring is water-resistant and easy to clean, so it’s a good option for a kitchen or bath. This type of flooring costs between $2 and $7 per square foot, making it cheaper than hardwood and carpet. Vinyl plank flooring is relatively simple to install, even for a beginner, and usually clicks together, not requiring adhesive. Here’s a tutorial video to get an idea of how to install it. In some cases, you’ll need to use underlayment, but if you have a floor that’s already level and sealed, you might be able to just lay it on top of the existing flooring. You’ll need a tape measure, a utility knife, and a speed square; a jig saw and miter saw are also helpful. A rubber mallet can be used to make sure your boards are snugly in place.
Sheet vinyl flooring
Sheet vinyl flooring is a simple option for floor covering and it’s also cheap, at $1 to $2 per square foot. If you don’t have a flat and level surface to start, however, it likely won’t work very well, because the material is so flexible. Sheet vinyl comes in a variety of prints and patterns. To install sheet vinyl, you’ll just need a straight edge, a flooring roller, a tape measure, and a utility knife. Check out this tutorial for some tips on how to fit your sheet vinyl.
Peel-and-stick tiles
Peel-and-stick tiles are a good option for redoing your floor on a budget. They cost between $1 and $5 per square foot and are an approachable DIY option. You’ll need a utility knife, a tape measure, chalk, or a pencil for marking, a putty knife for if you need to move a tile that’s already stuck, and a small flooring roller. Installing peel-and-stick tile is a beginner-level DIY, and you can watch a helpful tutorial to get an idea of the basics.
Stencil your existing tiles
One of the most inexpensive ways to upgrade your floors is to stencil your existing tile. This method works best on vinyl, but if you prime the surface first, you can stencil almost any type of flooring. For this project, you’ll need a base coat of paint that you can find as a kit. This paint costs between $0.61 and $0.81 per square foot, a very cost-effective option. In addition to your base coat, you’ll need a stencil, which will cost between $10 and $60, and your stencil color for between $15 and $35. In all, you can plan to redo a floor this way for between $1 and $2 per square foot and it’s an accessible beginner project. Here’s a video tutorial that can give you the basics.
Bamboo flooring
If you prefer a natural material, bamboo flooring is an affordable option that is also one of the most sustainable types of flooring. Bamboo flooring costs between $3 and $6 per square foot and comes in a variety of finish colors. You’ll need to apply glue to your seams and put down underlayment before installing it. To install this type of flooring yourself, you’ll need a rubber mallet, a tapping block, a flat bar, a miter saw, a tape measure, a pencil, and a chalk line. This is slightly more advanced than some other types of flooring installs, but it can be done if you have some basic DIY skills. You can watch a video tutorial to get an idea of the basics for installing bamboo flooring.
