The most affordable flooring options
Whether you’re a homeowner, a landlord, or you own a commercial property, saving money on a property renovation is always desirable. Flooring can easily consume a large portion of your budget, but this doesn’t have to be the case! Let’s break down the most popular flooring choices, looking at the material costs and the price of installation, to determine the most affordable flooring options for your renovation.
The following comparison uses the average costs of materials and labor in Texas. These figures may vary depending on the quality and brand of materials chosen, and the area in which you are located.
Low-cost flooring ideas
Laminate
Laminate flooring is often regarded as the most inexpensive flooring option, making it very popular in a range of property types. It offers a sleek finish with a variety of colors, patterns, and designs, and is fairly durable, offering enough water resistance to withstand small spills, assuming they are cleaned up promptly.
Laminate flooring products typically retail for around $1 – $3.50 per square foot, which is significantly lower than the other materials in this comparison, especially when purchasing flooring for a substantially sized area. Laminate installation can cost around $2 – $8 per square foot. With an average lifespan of around 15 – 25 years, laminate can be a cost-effective investment, especially where budget is limited.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a versatile flooring type, available in plank, tile, and sheet format with designs that can mimic the appearance of natural wood or stone floors, for a fraction of the price, making them a popular choice where a luxurious finish is desired on a tight budget. Vinyl is durable and offers good water resistance, meaning it’s suitable for moisture-rich areas like bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and basements. This level of water resistance is one of the main differentiating factors between vinyl and laminate.
Material costs will vary depending on the quality of the vinyl product. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) will often cost more to purchase than standard vinyl products and vinyl sheet. The average cost can range from as low as $1 up to $10+ per square foot, and you can expect to pay anywhere between $3 – $10 per square foot for professional installation. Vinyl products have an expected lifespan of around 10 – 20 years, with LVP and LVT offering an average of 15 – 20 years.
Affordable flooring options
Engineered wood
Composed of layers with an uppermost layer of natural hardwood, engineered wood flooring offers the appearance of natural hardwood floors, but at a lower price point. Engineered wood is very durable, and can be refinished over its lifespan to remove any scratches, dents, or scuffs. However, due to only having a thin layer of natural wood, the planks cannot be refinished as many times as full hardwood floors.
Engineered wood flooring can cost anywhere from $3 – $11 per square foot, and professional installation will usually be priced between $5 – $12 per square foot. These price points make engineered wood a more expensive flooring option when compared to laminate and vinyl, however, where authentic wooden flooring is desired, it’s the most cost-effective option. Engineered wood flooring also benefits from a longer average lifespan than the aforementioned materials (20 – 40 years), so it can be a worthwhile investment.
Carpet
Carpet is a difficult flooring material to categorize when ranking by cost, as each carpet fiber comes at its own unique price point. However, this disparity in price means that carpet can be a suitable choice for many as it can fit into a range of budgets.
Polypropylene is the most affordable synthetic fiber option. It’s available to purchase for around $1 – $5 per square foot, and can last anywhere from 7 – 12 years. Polypropylene carpet is very durable and is able to withstand heavy foot traffic. There’s also little to no risk of staining or fading, maintaining a clean and fresh appearance throughout its lifespan with ease.
Polyester closely follows polypropylene, ranging from around $1 – $6 per square foot in price. It offers a lifespan of around 5 – 15 years. Its fibers are very easy to dye, so polyester carpets often have the widest color range out of all synthetic fibers, and are also regarded as one of the most comfortable underfoot.
Triexta is similarly priced to polyester, averaging at $2 – $6 per square foot. There is no confirmed lifespan for triexta carpet, due to the fact that triexta fibers have only recently been used for carpets and there simply isn’t enough data yet to fairly estimate an average. Triexta fibers are durable and naturally stain-resistant. They also don’t absorb water, meaning spills can be easily cleaned without the risk of moisture seeping into the fibers and causing mold or mildew concerns.
Nylon is the most expensive synthetic fiber option, ranging from $4 – $7 per square foot. This higher price point does come with an extended lifespan, averaging at around 12 – 15 years. With an enhanced lifespan, it’s no surprise that nylon is a very durable carpet fiber type, but it also has the benefit of being allergy-friendly.
Whichever carpet fiber you choose, professional installation can cost anywhere from $2 – $8 per square foot. One important thing to note when selecting carpet for your floors is the level of maintenance required. Carpets should be professionally cleaned at regular intervals to not only keep them looking fresh, but also to maintain a high level of sanitization. The cost of regular carpet maintenance should be factored into your decision.