Saving Money on Flooring

When renovating or building, flooring can be one of the most expensive investments you will make. Not only does it need to have aesthetic appeal, but it needs to be durable and long-lasting, and sometimes it can have the added benefit of increasing the value of your home. There are many considerations when choosing your flooring, such as whether it will be installed above or below grade, whether there are moisture issues to consider, the amount of traffic the flooring will need to withstand, and the purpose of the room itself.

When trying to save money on flooring, there are many factors to consider that can impact the cost. In order to help you save money on your next flooring project, we’ve created a guide to give you the information you need before you get started.

Flooring Money Saving Tips

Choosing Flooring

One way to save money on flooring is to do your research and choose the best flooring type for your room. Choose the best flooring that you can afford, with the highest rating of durability, as well as ensuring that the type of flooring suits the purpose of the room. If you choose hardwood flooring for your below-grade basement, you’ll be replacing it much too soon as it won’t stand up well to moisture. Hardwood will warp and split as the moisture in the basement destroys it.

REMEMBER: The wrong decision in your flooring can actually end up costing you money in the long run.

DIY

The cost of installing flooring can often be higher than the cost of the flooring itself. If you can install the flooring yourself, this is one of the ways you can save the most amount of money. Some types of flooring can be installed without the help of professional installers if you have DIY skills. The types of flooring that are commonly installed by the homeowner, saving money in the process, include: laminate, carpet, tile, engineered wood flooring, hardwood, and even bamboo and cork.

Because so many flooring manufacturers have adapted click-flooring in their design process, the options for DIY homeowners have increased dramatically over the past several years. This translates into great savings that can be had in the flooring installation process.

Flooring Installers

If you are installing flooring and do not, or cannot install the flooring yourself, there are still ways that you can save money.

1. Clear the room of all furniture and items that will get in the way of the installer. If the installer has to spend time moving your furniture out of the room this will add to the cost of the installation. When the job is complete, move the furniture back into place yourself.

2. If possible, remove the old flooring yourself or have friends or family help. This will save time for the installers, making it possible for them to get started immediately.

3. Discuss the layout of the flooring with your installer before measuring, and have him help you determine the most cost-effective layout. This can help to minimize waste, which reduces the cost of materials to begin with.

4. Obtain several (at least 4) detailed quotes from flooring installers. This will give you an idea how much you can save by completing certain tasks yourself, such as removing old flooring, preparing the subfloor, clearing the room, and the cost of supplies. Some installers may charge more for one element and you can make a better decision if you have several quotes to choose from.

5. If possible, completely prepare the subfloor yourself. If the flooring type you choose is beyond your scope of expertise, you may still be able to save by getting everything ready ahead of time. When you obtain your quotes, be sure to have every phase of the job itemized (before you suggest doing any of the work yourself). This will give you very clear amounts where you can save money by taking on some of the jobs before they arrive.

Trade Discounts

You can save money on your next flooring project by making use of trade discounts. If you have a friend in the construction industry, they may be able to purchase the flooring for you, passing along their trade discount to you.

In addition, if you are renovating your home and intend to spend more money than just one project, there are many clubs available to non-trades people, where for a membership fee you gain access to thousands of products at a reduced cost. This can come in handy to help you save a considerable amount of money on your flooring project.

Buying Discontinued Flooring

One option available to help you save money on your flooring project is to buy discontinued flooring. Many home renovation and building stores will offer discontinued flooring at greatly reduced prices to get their shelves and warehouses cleared for the next shipment of flooring.

The important thing to remember when buying discounted flooring is that you need to properly measure your floor, and make sure there is enough of the discontinued flooring available for your needs. You also need to take into consideration the extra that you will need to account for odd cuts in the room, as well as replacement pieces if the flooring is ever damaged and needs a piece or two replaced.

Once flooring is discontinued you cannot order more, so you need to make sure that you buy enough the first time.

Measuring Your Room

When measuring your room for flooring, you can save money by choosing a layout that will have the least amount of waste. Often flooring installers can help you calculate this before placing your order. Once a package of flooring has been opened, it can’t be returned, so buying the least amount necessary, while taking into account waste during the cutting process and extra for future repairs.

If you are having carpeting installed, keep the carpet remnants that are left over so that you can use them as area rugs or cut pieces to fit underneath heavy furniture. Regardless of the type of flooring you purchase, always insist on keeping the leftovers; after-all you paid for them, and you have a right to keep them.

Sales

Watching for sales can help you save greatly on your flooring project. Read store flyers, check online for sales, and be prepared to be patient until the flooring that you want drops in price. While it does require a certain amount of time waiting for a sale to happen, it can be worth it in the long run, saving you a lot of money.

Any time you can go directly to the warehouse instead of a retail store will also help save you a lot of money. If you watch carefully for warehouse sales, you’ll be rewarded well in savings and discounts.

Discount and Closeout Outlets

Many flooring manufacturers are left with stock of their old products and prefer to sell them at a discount to clear their warehouses. Locate discount and closeout stores that stock flooring and you will likely find that you can save a good amount of money on your next flooring project.

Choosing Your Flooring Type

If you have your heart set on a particular type of flooring, there are ways you can reduce the cost.

If you want the look of hardwood flooring, but don’t have the budget, you can save money by purchasing wood laminate flooring. Although it looks like wood, it costs a fraction of the price, is durable (how durable depends on the grade you buy), and easy to maintain. In addition it often comes as click flooring, which makes it easy to install for many DIY homeowners.

Another option to solid hardwood is engineered wood flooring. This type of flooring can be refinished, and often it has a warranty almost as long as solid hardwood. It costs less, and is another flooring type that a DIY homeowner can install.

The look of wood can also be achieved by installing cork or bamboo, or even parquet tiles or planks, all of which cost less than traditional hardwood flooring, and are friendlier on the environment.

If you want the look of stone, marble or another natural material, you can opt for Amtico flooring, Karndean flooring, linoleum, and even vinyl. These types of flooring are often manufactured with not only the mirror image of the natural material they are intended to replace, but also the texture. All of this comes at a fraction of the price, often costing less to install (or free if you are a DIY homeowner), and it looks so real it’s often hard to tell the difference.

Regardless of the type of flooring you wish to have installed, there are always ways to save money, especially if you are willing to be patient, do your homework, and even do some or all of the work yourself. Remember that you will be walking on the flooring you choose for many years. Take your time and make an educated choice, and chances are that you will be thrilled with your new floor!