Today we are answering the last question in the 1o part series: Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Flooring.
Question: Won’t it be cheaper if I buy my floors and install them myself?
Answer: It certainly can be cheaper to install flooring yourself, but there are a few things to keep in mind about the overall decision.
Some flooring installation require specialized tools. These tools can be expensive to buy and / or complicated and dangerous to use if you are not familiar with them.
If a floor type such as ceramic tile is installed improperly, often the only way to repair it is to remove the floor and start over in which case you end up buying the material twice! In other cases, it can cost more for a professional to repair damage done during a DIY installation that it would have to have it professionally installed from the beginning.
Improper installation techniques can also result in the warranty being voided.
If you are typically a handy person and are comfortable with tools, a do it yourself installation may be for you. Just be sure to weigh all of the possible consequences before making that decision!
So true. I decided to save money and install a prefinished Hartco Pattern-Plus floor in my daughter’s bedroom many years ago. It went fine except some of the cuts I made around door frames on the last row of boards in her walkin closet. I could not figure how to slide them under the door jambs and still be able to fit the grove into the tounge. So, it turned out a little sloppy there. Not a big deal since it was the closet, but a good flooring mechanic would have known how to do this.
Yes cutting around door frames as got to be the most difficult part in laying a floor. I good jigsaw with a thin jigsaw blade and also a grinder with a sanding disc is also a must. The jigsaw is used most of the time upside down as not to damage the finish. Then the grinder with sanding disc is used to find tune the cut, just sand small amounts off and keep trying it for size.
A hardwood or laminate floor comes with a warranty that is very easy to void if floor is improperly installed. Some times people who decides to install the floor themselves do not take the time to review the manufactures installation guidelines. Sometimes is good to consider hiring a flooring professional to avoid any headaches.