Doing any form of renovation work always feels like it involves a lot of money, but there are often ways you can save yourself some cash. There certainly is when you’re changing floors in your home, and I have put together a few tips that may help you cut the costs of this latest DIY project.
1. Fit it yourself
You may be worried that installing wooden floors yourself will be a long and complicated job, but it needn’t be. You can buy floors that come with instructions on how to fit them, making your job a bit simpler.
On the other hand, if you want to install concrete floors, you may need the help of a professional contractor. For a concrete floor, you will likely need to hire a gypsum concrete floor leveling company that can help you with the installation. Concrete floors generally require more complicated installation processes and a higher level of skill than wooden floors.
Ultimately, the type of floor you choose might depend on your budget, skill level, and desired level of complexity. If you are willing to take on the challenge of the installation yourself, wooden floors provide a relatively straightforward option. For greater complexity and a professional finish, concrete floors are the way to go.
2. Enlist your friends
While installing wooden floors like those from UK Flooring Direct is a relatively straightforward job, you may still be concerned about doing it yourself. That’s why I would enlist the help of my friends. I would dress up the event as a fun, DIY venturel, and gather them together to give me assistance in measuring, sawing, carrying and finally fitting the wooden slabs onto the floor.
This can often be a lot more fun than it sounds, and having your mates round can make the whole process a lot more entertaining – and it’ll certainly help get the job done quicker. Many hands make light work, after all.
Even if your friends aren’t able to offer you their time, they might have some tools that you can borrow, such as a hammer and circular saw. They may even have extras like knee pads that you might not necessarily think you’ll need, but you’ll certainly be grateful for afterwards!
3. Look for Signs of Damage
Before beginning the installation process, you may need to inspect the room for any signs of damage, such as water damage, warping, or mold. These can be indicative of moisture seepage and could lead to costly repairs down the line. If any such damage is detected, it is advisable to contact Mold damage restoration professionals to resolve the issue before installing wooden flooring. Lastly, be sure to check the subfloor for any nails or screws that may have been left behind from the previous flooring installation. Remove any that you find in order to ensure a smooth and secure installation for your new wood flooring.
4. Choose value-for-money wooden floors
I know what it’s like when you buy redecorating products – it can be so tempting to get the cheapest option in order to save yourself a significant amount of cash. But some months on, we began to regret our decision when that item had been damaged or not lived up to our expectations.
It is often best to avoid buying the cheapest option and instead look for the ones that offer value for money. For instance, I would look at which cheap floors come with some sort of guarantee – if you can get a warranty on a product that is slightly more expensive than a lower-costing one that doesn’t come with a guarantee, I would opt for the former.
You should also look at the quality of the product carefully. I would always say it is best to find a floor that offers everything you want at a price that you can afford – buying the cheapest high-quality product is often far better than simply getting the budget option. Sure wood panels would look great in the living area, kitchen or bedrooms, but what of other areas in the house that may need separate flooring to suit a specific purpose besides aesthetics?
The bathroom, garage, balconies and terrace could benefit from epoxy-resin-based stone carpet (Steinteppich as the Germans call it) flooring. These are known for being able to take high stress, the haptic experience is enriching, and certain treatments can give you water-proof properties too (learn more about Steinteppich here). The key is to look at cost-effectiveness over a long period of time – after all, you don’t want to buy another flooring in a year or two, do you?
5. Measure, measure, measure
This might sound obvious – particularly if you’re installing the floor yourself – but you should make sure you are very precise in your measurements, so you don’t buy more material than you require. Even getting a foot or two extra can add to your costs, so I would double-check figures to ensure I am able to keep the price down as much as I can.