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What materials should you select for flooring? Much depends on budget and taste. Sheet and square vinyl typically is the least expensive, solid hardwood is near the top, and ceramic tile is usually the most costly. Of course, the final price depends on the quality as well as how and where you buy it. Also consider the cost—or savings—of installation. Get a quote from the flooring or building material store on what it will cost to have a professional installer do the work. It can be from $3 to $6 or more per square foot. Add this to the total cost if you’re hiring someone to install it—or consider it savings if you do it yourself. You may decide to do it yourself. If so, ease of installation becomes more important. The easiest to install typically is self-adhesive vinyl tile and interlocking laminate wood products. In fact, they are sold primarily to do-it-yourselfers as most pros don’t use them. Installing solid wood flooring can take more time, but the results can be beautiful—especially if you buy some of the new prefinished materials that don’t require subsequent sanding and finishing. Ceramic and porcelain tile is more difficult to install, but thousands of do-it-yourselfers install them every week. As with hardwood flooring, careful planning and taking your time makes the difference with tile floors.
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