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This is a collaborative post.
Doing things yourself is a great way to save money when renovating your home, but you have to know your limits. There are some things that you shouldn’t do yourself, like messing around with the electrics. But other jobs, like painting or wallpapering are easy to manage yourself and you don’t usually need to call a professional.
However, when it comes to flooring, a lot of people are unsure about whether they should do it themselves or not. It’s one of those jobs that could go well if you know what you’re doing but equally, it could be a complete disaster. There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding if you should lay your own floor or not and it’s important that you think it through carefully. So, many people are asking:
Should I Lay My Own Floors?
Laying your own floors can be an exciting and rewarding project. However, it requires careful planning and let’s see first if you have everything you need for it, such as:
- First, do you have the skills and experience? And let’s be honest with yourself. If you’re handy and have completed DIY projects before, you might feel confident tackling this. However, if the honest answer is no – don’t attempt it. It might just cost a lot more money and headache for you.
- Next, take a look at your budget. DIY projects can save money, very true, but you’ll need to account for tools and materials. Research the type of flooring you want, as some materials are easier to install than others. Tool can cost a lot of money, but at some places, like we have a Library of Things nearby, you can even rent tools.
- Lastly, think about the time investment. Because we all know, time is money. DIY flooring can be time-consuming, and you’ll want to ensure you can commit to the project schedule.
What Do You Need to Know When Laying Your Own Floors?
You will need to be able to answer these questions before taking on the project:
What Kind Of Floor Are You Laying?
Firstly, you need to consider the type of flooring that you are using. Some options, like laminate, are so easy to put down on your own. You can easily find cheap laminate flooring online and fit it yourself, so it’s the ideal choice if you are on a budget. However, not all flooring types are so simple to lay. Concrete flooring, for example, is very popular at the moment but it’s hard to get right. It’s crucial that you get it completely level when pouring and all of the air bubbles are out of it so it doesn’t crack. This is the kind of job that you need a professional to do if you want it to come out right.
So, think about the type of flooring that you are going to lay and how simple it is to do. Be realistic about what you can achieve and call in a professional if you have any doubts.
How Much Time Do You Have?
When people are planning home renovation projects, they often make the mistake of focusing on the budget alone and not considering the time things will take. Doing work yourself saves money, but it adds a lot of time and stress. Finding the right balance is crucial, so think carefully about how much time you have. If you’re working 9 to 5 and trying to manage your home renovation on the side, do you really want to take on a big flooring project?
How Much Room Is Left In Your Budget?
You should also consider how much room is left in your budget. If you are really struggling to keep costs down and your budget is stretched to the limit, doing your own flooring is a good way to keep things from spiralling out of control. However, if you have made savings elsewhere and there is a bit of room left in your budget, you might decide to hire a professional. Again, it’s about finding a balance between doing things yourself and paying somebody to help.
Doing your own flooring can be a good option if you are using easy-to-install flooring like laminate and you are desperate to cut costs. However, you should be aware that it can be a lot of work to take on and certain flooring types are much harder to install, so you should call a professional.