Updating the flooring in your home is certainly an investment that makes a huge impact. We are just wrapping up a huge flooring makeover in our home usingMohawk's Uniclic Laminate flooring and to stretch our budget, we installed the flooring ourselves in our living room and dining room then had Oser's team of professional installers help us with the upstairs bedrooms.
Having experienced both the DIY route and professional installation in just a short few weeks, I'll tell you that there are pros and cons to both. Leaving the installation to the pros was certainly fast and easy. The team arrived by around 8 AM and had completed an entire bedroom before lunch and put all of the furniture back as it was before they started. It was like I snapped and had new flooring! But installing the flooring ourselves certainly saved us money and allowed us to stretch our budget. It wasn't as fast or convenient but sometimes, we have more time than money.
So, if you're planning a flooring makeover and need to stretch your budget, here's 5 of the easiest flooring options to install yourself!
1. Click LVT
Click LVT is a great option if you want the look of wood but a fast and easy installation. This COREtec Plus Plank (featured here in Ivory Coast Oak) is waterproof and can be installed in wet areas, making it a great option for a fast kitchen or bathroom makeover. There is no need for adhesives as this flooring clicks together and locks.
2. Loose Lay Karndean
Karndean's Loose Lay flooring is a great option if you have kids or pets because you can easily replace a plank if it gets damaged (or let's say, doodled on by your two-year-old) and it's very low maintenance, making clean-up fast. Another thing that makes this flooring option attractive is that you won't need any power tools! You cut the planks with a box cutter.
3. Laminate
I cannot say enough good things about the Mohawk Uniclic flooring we've installed throughout our home. The installation is simple, it feels great underfoot and it makes my home feel clean. Our old flooring had wide spaces between the planks and I had to sweep the floor constantly. Even with two small kids, the floor is so easy to maintain. Here's a little video of our installation process. As you can, the planks just click together. Of course, there are plenty of options for laminate flooring and a variety of finishes. We used the Fawn Chestnut, which has a warm and weathered look.
4. Modular Carpet Tiles
Carpet tiles are a great option for damp basements, commercial areas or even playrooms where there is a lot of foot traffic because replacing damaged tiles is so simple. Installation is easy and fast, making a transformation like the one below possible in just a weekend.
5. Ceramic
You may be surprised by this option but installing ceramic flooring is much easier than you think. The hardest part is getting over your intimidation. A tile saw will make installation easier but if you're not a fan of power tools, you can spend about $20 on a simple tile cutter that scores and snaps the tile. If you can butter bread, you can install ceramic tile! Here's a quick video I shot while using my tile cutter:
Do you have a flooring dilemma? Tell us about it in the comments below!
