Flooring 101

Many of us don’t even know where to start when it comes to renovating our floors. Before you install brand new flooring, you’ll likely need to remove your existing floors, and possibly replace your subfloors. Both of these processes have labour and/or material costs attached.

Carpet

For you carpet lovers out there who love feeling that cushion under-padding when you walk from room to room, a good starting budget is $3 to $4 per square foot for the carpet itself and additional $2 (give or take) per square foot for installation. It’s important to do your research beforehand as there are many boutique carpet factories out there as well as many excellent liquidation centers that can often discount their prices down very low due to overstock. On the other hand, if this is your forever home – why not go for the luxury option?

Vinyl

Before you have an awful flashback to the tacky vinyl floors in your Grandma’s dated kitchen, let us change your mind about vinyl all together! Vinyl floors are totally back in style now and are perfect for floor renos on a budget. Unlike wood floors, vinyl is totally waterproof making it super easy to clean and maintain. You may be able to pay $2 – $5 per square foot materials cost. Vinyl is perfectly ideal for laundry rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.

Hardwood

Typical hardwood can be priced around $7 per square foot, with an additional per square foot cost for installation. More expensive wood (think scraped, distressed or exotic varieties) can be twice the cost for material. While these ballpark prices are subject to the size and brand of the wood, costs also vary depending on whether the product is engineered or solid hardwood.

If you already have hardwood floors you could also consider refinishing instead of replacing them.

Tile

If you’re looking for a step up from vinyl, tile may be just what you need to spruce up your kitchen, bathroom, hallway or laundry room. Tile comes at a higher price point, and therefore requires a greater budget. Prices vary depending on the type of tile you are looking to install for example, stone, porcelain, and ceramic all come with different price tags. Do your research and speak to an expert first – not all tile is interchangeable for floors and walls.

When we hear the word “renovate” our minds instantly see dollar signs – lots and lots of dollar signs. However, with some financial planning and research you can find the perfect materials within your budget making your next floor renovation project easier than you ever imagined!

Source: Homeservice Club of Canada