In the cacophony of voices coming at you over the TV, radio, and Web, rarely do you hear anyone bring up the issue of cheap flooring. Why should they? After all, it benefits them if you buy the $22/square foot engineered Brazilian Cherry with WearGard (extra, of course).
Let's look at some of the least expensive ways of flooring your home:
1. Vinyl Floor Tiles - Good, Dependable 12" x 12" Squares
Armstrong
Vinyl floor tiles are cheapest floor for your house. Not only are the materials cheap (between $.50 and $4 per square foot), but when you self-install, your installation costs can go as low as $0.00.
Cheap Floor Tip: Solid vinyl floor tile is cheaper than fancy, embossed tile. But you can use one solid for the field tile, another for the borders, making it fancy at no extra cost.
Cheap Flooring Pick: Shop Direct - Armstrong Solid Color 12" Vinyl Tile
Cheap Floor Tip: Solid vinyl floor tile is cheaper than fancy, embossed tile. But you can use one solid for the field tile, another for the borders, making it fancy at no extra cost.
Cheap Flooring Pick: Shop Direct - Armstrong Solid Color 12" Vinyl Tile
2. Vinyl Plank Flooring - Simulating the Look of Sky-High Expensive Wood Plank
Trafficmaster
Cheap Floor Tip: Get the look of wide wood plank flooring for 75% less than real wood plank--when you install the vinyl version. Not only that, but you can install this cheap flooring yourself--no need for expensive wood floor installers.
Cheap Flooring Pick: This bamboo vinyl plank floor from TrafficMaster is about half the price of real bamboo floor. Shop Direct - TrafficMaster Vinyl Plank Floor - Wide Wood Plank Bamboo
Cheap Flooring Pick: This bamboo vinyl plank floor from TrafficMaster is about half the price of real bamboo floor. Shop Direct - TrafficMaster Vinyl Plank Floor - Wide Wood Plank Bamboo
3. Vinyl Plank Flooring - Triple 12" Squares in One Plank
TrafficMaster
Here's another way to look at cheap flooring. It's vinyl flooring, but it's not separate 12" squares. Nor does it strive to duplicate wide wood plank flooring (see above). It's three 12" squares strung together into one plank for simple installation.
Cheap Floor Tip: Install vinyl plank flooring and cut your installation time by 60%.
Cheap Flooring Pick: Shop Direct - TrafficMaster Vinyl Plank Flooring
Cheap Floor Tip: Install vinyl plank flooring and cut your installation time by 60%.
Cheap Flooring Pick: Shop Direct - TrafficMaster Vinyl Plank Flooring
4. Cheap Laminate Flooring
Bruce
Since when did laminate flooring become expensive? The marketplace is flooded with cheap laminate flooring--if you dig deep enough.
Cheap Floor Tip: Cheaper laminate flooring can be had if you eschew extras like attached underlayment, special embossing, and unusual dimensions.
Cheap Flooring Pick: Shop Direct - Shop Direct - Bruce Laminate Flooring Teak
Cheap Floor Tip: Cheaper laminate flooring can be had if you eschew extras like attached underlayment, special embossing, and unusual dimensions.
Cheap Flooring Pick: Shop Direct - Shop Direct - Bruce Laminate Flooring Teak
5. Ceramic Tile - A Long-Standing Tradition of Cheap Flooring
American Olean
Ceramic floor tile is truly schizophrenic. It can range from amazingly cheap to prohibitively expensive.
Cheap Floor Tip: As with vinyl floor tile, stick to solids and conventional dimensions. With smaller tiles, your spectrum of design possibilities opens up.
Cheap Flooring Pick: American Olean - Salt and Pepper Bathroom Tile
Cheap Floor Tip: As with vinyl floor tile, stick to solids and conventional dimensions. With smaller tiles, your spectrum of design possibilities opens up.
Cheap Flooring Pick: American Olean - Salt and Pepper Bathroom Tile
6. Carpet Tiles - Self-Install and Save
Shaw
Carpet tiles are not the cheapest flooring around--wall-to-wall roll carpet has that distinction--but with carpet tiles you can easily install by yourself. And yes, even when carpeting companies advertise "free installation," you're still paying for it one way or another.
Cheap Floor Tip: Unlike roll carpet, which requires specialized tools like a carpet stretcher, carpet tiles require little more than a square, a chalk snap line, utility knife, and a measuring tape. It doesn't get much easier than that.
Cheap Flooring Pick: Shop Direct - Shaw Carpet Tiles
Cheap Floor Tip: Unlike roll carpet, which requires specialized tools like a carpet stretcher, carpet tiles require little more than a square, a chalk snap line, utility knife, and a measuring tape. It doesn't get much easier than that.
Cheap Flooring Pick: Shop Direct - Shaw Carpet Tiles
