Adding new flooring is a fantastic way to upgrade and update the appearance of any room. You can choose to get it professionally installed or do it yourself. Be sure to seek advice before deciding which method is preferable.
About Hardwood Floors
First of all, let’s talk about putting in hardwood floors. There are many floor materials, such as vinyl, tile, laminate, and linoleum, some of which we discuss later in this article. However, for a lasting investment in your house with ROI, and a way to increase the value of your home, you must consider going with hardwood flooring.
Add Value by Refinishing Your Wood Floors
You can add value to your house by refinishing your hardwood floors. The process of floor refinishing is no small task, but the truth is, many average homeowners can manage it with a little planning. The hardware store near you likely offers the equipment you’ll need and maybe even offers classes on refinishing hardwood floors. You can often save a lot of money with DIY floor refinishing compared to the cost of replacing floors in your home.
Invest in Hardwood Floors—It’s Worth It
A hardwood floor is a better investment and lasts longer than laminate. It’s true laminate flooring may look like wood and may require a lower level of cleaning and maintenance, you will not be able to refinish your imitation wood laminate floors. Ten to twenty years on, you or the next homeowner will need to replace this floor instead of the refinishing that you can do with hardwood floors.
Hardwood Floors Are Better Than Carpet
Wall-to-wall carpeting was common decades ago, but the carpets in these older houses are often badly deteriorated—the full-length carpets found in some older homes can often be stained and outdated. If you’re thinking about whether you’ll have to replace your home’s carpet, consider moving to hardwood floors. A wooden floor is classic and will last considerably longer than even the most plush carpet.
Before Replacing Floors, Check Under Rugs, Carpet, or Linoleum
Before you purchase new hardwood floors, have a professional investigate your current floors. Sometimes you might have natural and beautiful hardwood flooring under your current old flooring that just needs to be refinished. You’re likely to find that this existing hardwood floor surface looks beautiful with a new finish. You will end up having a higher quality floor without spending a lot of money.
To Fix a Squeaky Floor, Add Glue to Floor Joists Underneath
If you have a squeaky floor, try using some construction glue. You’ll have to work from the basement or in the crawlspace and may have to work in tight spots, but your efforts are well worth it. With a caulking gun, place a line of construction glue along the sides of each floor joist, allowing the glue to secure each adjoining subfloor plank to your joists. Working with construction adhesive, you can remove the squeaks from your floors.
About Tile Floors
In this second section, let’s consider tile. Nearly all houses have tile somewhere, primarily the bathroom and kitchen. Laying tile yourself is often an easy DIY home renovation project. Here we will discuss a few things to bear in mind about residential tile floors.
Clean Ceramic Tile in Bathroom or Kitchen with Vinegar
Ceramic tiles will lose their luster after some time has passed and they may start to look grungy. Vinegar and water can make the tiles look better. Pour your solution into a bucket and mop the floors with it. You’ll have your floors sparkling after removing the dirt and grime with this solution.
After Laying Tile, Always Seal Your Grout
Once you’ve laid tile, you should always take the time to seal your grout. Be careful, because grout is quite porous. If you leave it unsealed, you may find that moisture seeps inside the grout, which can lead to mildew and mold. Grout can also become stained if it is not sealed. The money you spend sealing the grout is money you will save later on expensive repairs and cleaning projects.
Add Ceramic Tile to Your Kitchen and Bathroom
A simple project that you can do is to put in ceramic tiles in your bathroom or kitchen. There are unique designs available on the tile, or innovative new solid colors can provide a modern, updated look. Choose either tiles with unique designs or a solid color scheme for a more elegant, put-together feel. Ceramic tiling can improve the decor in these rooms tenfold.
Add Value with Heated Floors Using Radiant Heat Tiles
Consider radiant heat floor tiles if you replace the tiles you currently have. These are a special form-factor, which allows electricity to create power through a heating element and warm the ground beneath your toes. They can also be deceptively simple to install. Since you are going to work on your floor or hire someone to do it, this project can be seen as a small add-on. You’ll thank yourself the first time you step inside your bathroom on a cold winter day.
About Carpet, Vinyl, and Sticky Wood Floors
And finally, beyond hardwood and tile floors discussed above, there are other alternatives that are often less expensive, including carpet, vinyl, and “sticky wood” floors. In this third and final section, let’s consider a few ideas for putting carpet in, adding vinyl floors, and what to know about sticky wood floors.
When Putting in New Floors, Save Money with Vinyl
When replacing a floor, consider using vinyl to save money. It lasts for a long time, won’t be affected by water and you can put it in yourself. To meet your individual needs, you can conveniently purchase vinyl flooring in large sheets or as individual tiles.
Sub-Tip: You Can Fix Vinyl Floor Bubbles!
If your old vinyl flooring has a bubble, give it a shot! It’s simple to slice into these bubbles to let the air out. However, this will only flatten the bubble temporarily. You’ll have to put glue in place to hold it flat, though. Use glue that comes in syringes to get the job done.
When Putting in Carpet, Seek Bargains on Installation Service
Keep an eye out for carpet installation deals, whether at home improvement chain stores or local stores. They often offer cheap installation to encourage people to buy their carpets. Because it is common for the cost of installation to exceed the price of the actual carpet, this is an excellent opportunity if you need new carpet.
When Replacing Floors, Save Money with Stained Concrete
When you want to replace your flooring, remember that it’s very expensive to replace the entire floor throughout the home. One easy and affordable option is to remove the existing flooring and stain the concrete. This will give you a look that is very versatile, easy to change, and easy to coordinate with all kinds of decorative ideas.
About New Sticky Wood Floors
Has your floor become worn out or begun to look old? Pull your floor up and add a new sticky wood floor if you are feeling ambitious. A lot of individuals consider flooring like this to be a little low end, but many find it quite delightful. Additionally, this flooring is easy enough to lay down so that most people can do it on their own.
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Most rooms can be given new energy by updating the flooring. Many contractors can install new flooring in a day. Alternatively, you could visit your local hardware store, pick up what you need, and do it yourself.