Today, Carmen writes:
Dear diva, I’m tired of my old vinyl floor, but I’m on a budget and can’t afford an expensive replacement. Any ideas?
Carmen you’re in luck, there’s a few options you could try. It just depends on how involved you want to get with the project. And what your comfort level is with installing new flooring. Also being on a budget means different things for different people, so I’ll give a few options in different price ranges so you can truly get an idea of what’s out there.
At the big box home improvement stores they have new vinyl remnants, that are factory remnants and unbranded. (what that means to you is, the store is carrying the warranty instead of the manufacturer, so the manufacturer sells them for cheap and you get a stellar deal!) If you room is 6×8 or less expect to pay around $20, this size is usually for bathrooms, mud rooms and laundry rooms. Another size commonly carried is 8×12 and you can expect to pay around $40. This size is usually for small to medium sized kitchens, dinning areas or master baths. Add around another $40 bucks for glue, embossing leveler, trowels, and vinyl cove base and your set. You’ve got a new floor starting at around $60. This is just an estimate, and it’s assuming that your old vinyl is still adhered well, with no bubbles or rips, and that you are willing and capable to install the new vinyl yourself. Otherwise additional costs will occur.
If your vinyl is well secured, free of bubbles or rips you can paint over it to create a new looking floor. First you’ll need to strip your vinyl floor of wax and dirt. (Armstrong makes a wonderful product for this called New Beginnings, follow the instructions on the back of the container). Then roll it with a coat of primer and 2 coats of floor paint. If you want to paint a decorative motif on your floor or give it the look of another material once you have your 2 coats of the main color your using, you can use an acrylic paint for the details. Then protect your work with 2 coats of polyurethane. The price will vary depending on square footage and what you end up doing for your decorative motif. If your creative and like painting this is a great project for you, it requires no installation! I’ve seen it done to look like tiles in a checkerboard or painted to look like wood flooring with floral motifs. The sky is the limit for design ideas. Depending on size you could probably get this project done, starting at around $50 and up.
Laminate flooring is another do-it-yourself project. The flooring starts at about $.97 a square foot. And pad as cheap as $.25. And once again if your vinyl is well secured and free of defects you can put it right over the top of the old vinyl. One thing to keep in mind though is doing that instead of removing the vinyl and underlayment first, your floor will be slightly taller than it was before. So new laminate will start at $1.22 per square foot. So if you have a small room, approx. 10ft x 10 ft, you are looking at $122. So laminate, thought slightly more expensive is also an option.
Carmen as you can see there a few options you can do to get that tired looking old vinyl floor either out of there or a face lift on any budget!
(Also read up on: High value kitchen remodels on a tight budget)
(Also read up on: Installing Armstrong Vinyl Flooring)
(Also read up on:Grout Sealing – Protecting Your Tile)
(Also read up on: Installing Tile – Bathroom Tile Installation)
(Also read up on: Tile Installation Tools)
Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet wall treatments (window blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Flooring Diva Blog!
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