Sure, even the thought of replacing the flooring at your place is enough to make you sweat! However, with help, you can turn this one expense into a budgeted remodel. Moreover, we bring flooring options with which you won’t have to sacrifice style for the cost!
Say goodbye to hardwood flooring and look at these fantastic ideas:
1. Bamboo Flooring
You may not think bamboo when you envision ideal flooring materials. But we’re here to ask you, why not? It may not be hardwood but in plank form, it sure looks as graceful! Moreover, it won’t break the bank should you spring for bamboo flooring.
Need more reasons before you consider this choice? Well, its highly durable nature makes it a great alternative. Finally, bamboo flooring is also great for re purposing. Once you have had enough of it, rip out the planks and turn the wood into something else – blinds anyone?
2. Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Another option that isn’t high-class hardwood — but looks like it — is your average luxury vinyl plank. Spend on it as much as you want, but it can be an inexpensive flooring material. You may find some planks priced as low as $2 per square foot – and even lower!
They come in various finishes, such as Cherry, Oak, and Ash. They endure everyday wear and tear easily. Luxury vinyl planks also recommend themselves for installation over existing floors. Just apply them to clean and smooth floors, and you’re good.
Additionally, many brands also offer grip technology. Such planks get linked with each other so that you can float them over any sub-floors.
3. Oak Flooring
I see so many options that look like wood, but what about the ones that are wood, you may think. This one will satisfy your desire if you don’t settle for anything but real, solid wood underfoot. Now, you may not be privy to this industry secret, but cheap oak flooring material is almost always an option for you.
Regardless of your budget, you can have perfectly good oak wood for your floors. But its price will depend on where you go looking for it! Look up lumber yards in your area that advertise seconds oak flooring. You may also find ads that mention other names. Some of them are:
- Common grade
- Utility grade
- Rustic grade
- Builder grade
- Contractor specials
A few things first, though. Since the planks are often more characterful than expensive oak, plan to buy more than you need. A few defects that you may find include shorter planks, knots, streaks, and varying colors. However, their so-called defects also lend them perfectly to patterns like the chevron parquet or herringbone.
Finally, be prepared to spend some money on staining and finishing the flooring after installation. That’s because most oak wood that you find at the lumber’s yard is unfinished.
4. Laminate Flooring
For laminate flooring, you will have choices similar to the ones you find with luxury vinyl planks. You can find planks that resemble stone, hardwood, and cement flooring. In all cases, laminate flooring is easy to install since the planks snap together.
Moreover, you won’t see them fade due to exposure to the sun’s rays. They are also ridiculously easy to clean and maintain. And if all that isn’t convincing you, laminate flooring is also resistant to mold and mildew.
Now for a quick sum-up of what may go wrong with this kind of flooring. For one, you may hear a hollow sound when you walk on it. Additionally, if you choose planks made of formaldehyde, then be aware that they release VOCs.
Even so, you can find laminate flooring as cheap as $1 per square foot. The thinner the planks are, the cheaper they will be. So, we’d suggest sticking with laminate flooring that is less than 8mm thick.
5. Concrete Flooring
You may be thinking of the un-evolved form of concrete flooring if you shudder at its mention. Design-wise, in the past few years, concrete has found its way into many areas in homes. You may see tables and countertops made out of concrete. So, why not try it on the floor? It is a versatile option because it merges with modern designs flawlessly.
We’d recommend looking up some unique ways to finish concrete flooring for incredible results.
6. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT Tile) Flooring
Visit a good tile store Austin for this material. Because you’ll love how diverse the range of LVT flooring is in terms of shapes and patterns. Want your floor to look like it’s made of hardwood? Then get an LVT that looks that way. Don’t want wood but are crazy for marble? Then why not grab the ones that look like it?
7. Natural Stone Flooring
One flooring material that seldom goes out of style is natural stone. We’ve all seen how fast most synthetic materials can go from trending to big nopes. They also come in many colors that you won’t usually find in natural stone. However, by choosing natural stone, you will have a more neutral finish. It will also never fall out of favor with the trendiest of interior designing experts!
If you are wondering why we’re so gaga over natural stone, there are several reasons for that. Most importantly, though, stone floors blend nicely with most design choices. They will never clash with the rest of the décor and add an elegant touch to space.
Just ensure that you look after your stone flooring. Even so, it won’t need much maintenance. It will also faithfully serve you for years after.
We hope these ideas for flooring options that never fall out of your budget come in handy. If the flooring in the different parts of your house doesn’t match, some rooms may begin to look dated. We suggest not waiting until you can cover every inch of your abode with hardwood. Choose one of these flooring options in the meantime. They will sure look good! Replacing them won’t make your heartache either because they didn’t cost as much.
Author Bio: Michelle Joe is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences, and express herself through her blogs. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook
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