When searching for a new home or building or remodeling one, flooring should always be given importance. It should be suitable for the type of lifestyle you have — if you have a family with young kids or someone who invites a lot of guests often, for example. You’d want to steer clear of slippery tiles if you have babies, and fragile types if there’s going to be heavy foot traffic on your floors.
For those reasons, you need to be familiar with your flooring materials. If your budget is tight, you don’t need to worry about not finding a material that’s durable enough because there are actually several high-quality but inexpensive options. On the contrary, if you’re capable of stretching your budget, there’s also a decent range of choices for you.
1. Ceramic
Ceramic is one of the most popular budget tiles. Its costs range from $0.50 – $35 per sqft. You’d have to spend more on labor, though, such as professional installation, which can cost you an additional $4 – $32. Overall, the average cost of having ceramic tiles falls on $1,774.
Ceramic tiles are durable, scratch-resistant, and able to mimic wood and natural stone patterns, so it makes a good alternative if you can’t afford hardwood or stone flooring.
2. Porcelain
Porcelain is often compared to ceramic, and that’s because they have a lot of similarities. Porcelain is just a bit more costly, with a price range of $3 – $35 per sqft. There’s also porcelain wood tile, which copies the look of wood, and it also has the same price range. The average installation cost for porcelain tiles is also the same as ceramic.
3. Laminate
Laminate used to be a less durable type, but it has already considerably improved over the years. It’s now one of the most durable budget flooring types. Water-proof types are also available for high-moisture areas. Its price ranges for only $3 -$8 per sqft., but with professional installation, you may need at least $2,352 to spare. You can find the best high-quality laminate flooring around Santa Ana, CA.
4. Carpet
Carpet flooring at the stairs and bedrooms may be ideal if you have little kids at home. Polyester carpet, in particular, is a durable and stain-resistant mid-range variety. Frieze is also a good choice that’s inexpensive as well. Carpet costs range from $9 – $180 per square yard. With installation, the average cost is at $1,619 but can go as high as $2,533.
5. Hardwood
Natural wood floors will undoubtedly give your home a rustic but modern feel. They’re durable, but not scratch-resistant. However, that is not something to frown upon. The scratches that wood will sustain over time are actually a part of its natural aesthetic. It’s advised to only install hardwood floors in dry areas, which means they can’t be in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and other high-moisture areas.
High-end hardwood floors have a price range of $12 – $23 per square foot, and with professional installation, costs $4,213 on average. If you have a larger floor area to cover, the costs may climb up to $6,115.
6. Concrete
It may not be the most popular option, but concrete also wins in durability. They’re typically stained to look more appealing in homes. They could be an ideal choice if there’s high foot traffic in your home or if you frequently host house parties. There are a few downsides to concrete floors, however, such as their cold temperature (unless regulated by radiant heating) and poor sound-proofing. But with area rugs or other soft floor coverings, you can reduce the noise they emit from heavy foot traffic.
Concrete resurfacing has a price range of $2 – $3 per sqft., and staining costs $2 – $15 per sqft. Overall, you may need to spend $1,536 – $3,840 for concrete flooring.
If you’re buying, building, or remodeling a home, consider any of those materials. They can add value to your property, so you can expect a high ROI from having most of these flooring materials.