More and more people are choosing to do home improvement projects on their own rather than spending the money to hire someone.
And while this outlook may save some money, there are still certain projects you shouldn’t DIY unless you really know what you’re doing.
Installing DIY flooring is one of those projects.
Doing it yourself does have some benefits, but if not done very carefully, you risk spending more money to repair your mistakes.
Take a look at this breakdown of whether or not you should DIY your flooring.
Should I Install My Flooring on My Own?
This depends on whether you feel you’re really up for the task. And before you just say “Yes, I am,” and get started, spend some time thinking about what is involved with DIY flooring installation.
To get a good idea of what you’ll have to deal with, let’s break down the pros and cons of doing it yourself.
It Saves Money
You are doing all the work yourself, so the only thing you have to pay for is supplies. Most contractors charge about $30 an hour, and odds are you’ll have at least two working on your floor. That adds up pretty quick.
When you’re installing the floor on your own, you get to keep all that money. If you don’t have the right tools, you’ll have to buy them, rent them, or borrow them, but either way, you’ll probably still save money.
Learn How to Install Flooring
You get to learn a new skillset. It’s nice to know that if another flooring project came up in the future, you could take care of it. Should a part of your floor get damaged later, you’ll be able to replace it without a problem.
You Can Be Proud of the Results
Because you did everything yourself, you can take pride in knowing the floor looks that good because of you. When your friends and family come over, you can show it off.
It Can Be Fun
If you’re the type of person who likes working on home projects and putting things together, this can be an enjoyable job.
And Now the Cons…
Those were all the good things about installing DIY flooring. Unfortunately, those good things are balanced out by their fair share of cons. Installing your own flooring isn’t always as easy as it seems.
So now that you know the DIY pros, take a look at this list of DIY cons.
The Job Can be Hard on You
Installing any type of flooring means working on your hands and knees for long periods of time. You’ll have to get up and down frequently, and after a few hours, your body will probably be sore and achy.
And a few hours isn’t nearly enough to finish DIY flooring.
It Takes a Long Time
This is especially true if you’ve never installed flooring before. You have to figure out what you’re doing, and you’re going to work slower than an expert. You’ll also have to work on it around your other responsibilities, like taking care of the kids or spending most of the day at your job.
All these things could make installing your flooring take several days or even weeks to finish completely.
You Don’t Know What You’re Doing
This means you risk ending up with a floor that looks really bad. In some cases, if situations get bad enough, you may have to call in a professional contractor to fix your mistakes.
You Might Need Extra Supplies
You’ll probably mess up at least once along the way, so you may need to buy extra supplies to make up for your mistakes. You also have to learn how to use all the power tools you’ll need to trim flooring down to the right size.
Is DIY Flooring Worth It?
If can be, but you have to be willing to spend a bit of extra money on supplies, live with a room that isn’t finished for at least a few days, and deal with the aches and pains of the job.
We aren’t ruling out DIY installation completely. If you know what you’re doing, it could be a good project for you. If you don’t want to take the risk of installing bad flooring and having to pay more money to get it fixed, you should stick to a professional.
But even if you hire a contractor, there are still ways you can save some money. Find ways to do as much of the job as you can yourself. For example, take a look at these ideas.
Prepare the Room
Part of the flooring job is getting the room ready, but this is something you can do on your own. It doesn’t take much work to move the furniture and other belongings out, and it will save you some money.
Remove the Old Floor
This is a little harder, but the good thing is it doesn’t have to look nice. It also means the contractor has less to do.
Buy Your Own Materials
It’s something you would have to do for your DIY job anyway, so you may as well buy them on your own. Measure your room so you know you have the right amount and all the contractor will have to do is show up and install them.
Do the Clean Up Afterwards
Pick up any debris, sweep a few times, and move the furniture back and your room should be good to go.
The Benefits of Hiring a Contractor
It can be expensive to hire a contractor, but if you do the prep work, buy the materials, and clean up afterward on your own, it becomes much more affordable.
You are also guaranteed some amazing new flooring.
A lot of companies offer some kind of repair warranty on the floor they install, so you could also end up with added benefits. Just make sure you take your time and find a good and reputable company, something like W Stansbie Flooring for example.
Don’t Try DIY Flooring Without Being Prepared
If you do decide to tackle the DIY flooring job, make sure you are completely prepared before you get started. Make sure you have all the right supplies and know how to use the tools safely. There’s nothing worse than getting most of the way through the job and realize you have to stop and order more flooring.
Need some help finding a good contractor? Check out some of these options.