Getting new flooring can seem like a distant dream to some, especially during times of economic instability. But a shaky economy doesn’t have to mean that you have to wait for new floors; with a little careful planning, you can get your dream flooring without breaking the bank to do it.
Consider both Cost and Quality
When you’re on a budget, cost is the main worry when considering investment into new flooring. However, this doesn’t mean that quality should not be thought of. In fact, the quality of your flooring is what will actually save you money in the long run.
Be sure to get the required info on flooring specifics, such as what it’s made of. Then, research the individual components to determine which ones will last for the time you need them to.
Buy Enough
There’s nothing more frustrating than thinking you have enough flooring, only to discover that you need to go out and buy more. But this can be completely avoided, simply by measuring and re-measuring to make absolutely sure you know exactly how much flooring you need before you buy it. When doing this, don’t forget the amount of flooring that will become wastage once its been fit.
Plan for every Eventuality
In addition to ensuring you have enough flooring to cover your required area, you will also need to ensure that plans have been made for other potential costs. If you are installing flooring yourself, then you may want to leave a cushion that allows for extra wastage in case mistakes are made. This will be of great assistance to you, as it will save you from having to go back to the store in the middle of your installation for additional flooring.
Another item to plan for are potential additional charges. These can include any extra delivery costs, installation charges (where you’re having someone install your flooring for you) or double charges from a flooring fitter if not enough flooring is available for them to fit.
Pick and Choose your Rooms
In prioritising which areas need flooring most, you can have the best of both worlds: new flooring without having to spend a lot of money at the outset. Sit down and decide which floors you can live with for the time being. This will allow you to spread the cost of new flooring out over time.
Don’t Sacrifice Looks for Price
You can get the look you want without paying a high price. This is thanks to the large number of low-cost alternatives to real wood, stone and tile flooring. For example, If you love the look of wood, but find the cost of real or engineered wood prohibitive, you may benefit a great deal from a product like Karndean flooring. This flooring offers the luxurious look of wood but is made of cost-effective vinyl. Similarly, there are many types of hard flooring that look just like stone when installed, but come in at a fraction of the price.
Use Cheaper Underlay
Everyone wants a luxurious feel when they walk across their floors. But often, this feel comes with a higher price. If you can deal with less cushion underfoot, choosing a lower-cost underlay can add up to extra savings on the cost of your flooring. And you can always install new underlay at a time when you have more in your budget to spend.
You can also install flooring yourself to save money. But you may need to do a bit of research if it’s your first time. If you’re hiring a fitter, be sure and compare prices before you choose so that you can get the most affordable option.