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What Flooring Is Cheaper Than Carpet?

Research has shown that one of the first elements a visitor in a home will take note of is the type of flooring and, in particular, the condition of the material used. Installing a cost-effective, durable, and low-maintenance covering offers many benefits to the homeowner.

Depending on the selection, laminate flooring and sheet vinyl flooring costs less than carpeting. At the lower end of most manufacturers’ product range, ceramic tiles, sheets of linoleum, and polished concrete are priced very similarly to fitted carpeting and offer many benefits to the homeowner.

The most commonly installed flooring material in North America is hard wood; there are many valid reasons for this. However, with ever-increasing costs and inflationary pressures, homeowners are considering breaking tradition and looking at alternatives.

Flooring Which Is Cheaper Than Carpet

While the average homeowner is willing to look for an alternative, it cannot be at the expense of 

  1.  The expected life expectancy of the floor
  2. The aesthetics
  3. The ease of cleaning and maintenance

The most commonly considered alternative to hardwood is listed below.

  1. Ceramic and porcelain floor tiles
  2. Laminate flooring
  3. Linoleum flooring
  4. Polished concrete flooring
  5. Sheet vinyl flooring

Ceramic And Porcelain Floor Tiles

Ceramic and porcelain floor tiles range in price from a low of $2.00 through to $20.00 per square meter (for tiles made from genuine stone- granite).

The advantages of ceramic floor tiles are:

  1. The lower costs materials compete with all of the others in price
  2. Tiles are extremely hard-wearing
  3. If a tile is damaged, only that one needs to be replaced
  4. Tiles are very easy to clean and maintain
  5. Tiles last longer than most of the other available materials
  6. There is a massive variety of available tiles

The disadvantages of floor tiles are:

  1. They are hard and uncomfortable
  2. They allow the heat to escape through the floor
  3. The cost is more to lay, and an experienced tiler should complete the task for the best result

Laminate Flooring

The lowest grades of laminate flooring are cheaper than fitted carpets. The average prices range between  $1.00 and $10.00 per square foot (the average price is +- $6.00.)

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Laminate flooring is very easy to lay well, and as long as the instructions are carefully followed will provide a hard wearing surface for many years.

The advantages of laminate flooring are:

  1. Laminate flooring will generally wear well in high traffic areas
  2. Laminate flooring can be selected in several different colors and styles, including several types of traditional woods
  3. It is an easy floor to lay
  4. In its cheapest guise, laminated flooring costs less than carpets

The disadvantages of laminate flooring are:

  1. Laminate flooring cannot be sealed, and if water is dropped, it may be necessary to lift the floor to dry the spilled liquid
  2. The floor begins to smell if the household dog pees on laminate flooring and is not cleaned properly
  3. Laminate flooring is noisy when walked in
  4. If laminate flooring is not laid properly, the segments become loose, and the gaps widen, making cleaning more difficult

Linoleum Flooring

Linoleum flooring costs between $2.00 to $3.00 per square meter.

Linoleum flooring can be purchased in many patterns and colors.

The advantages of Linoleum Flooring:

  1. Linoleum flooring is a low-cost solution
  2. Linoleum flooring requires minimal maintenance
  3. Linoleum flooring is durable
  4. Linoleum flooring is water-resistant (not waterproof)

The disadvantages of linoleum flooring:

  1. If exposed to constant sunlight, the linoleum flooring will fade
  2. Linoleum flooring looks artificial
  3. Linoleum flooring is not waterproof
  4. It is very difficult to patch Linoleum flooring, and if damaged will need replacing

Polished Concrete Flooring

The average price of a polished concrete floor ranges between $2 to $8 per square foot.

This hardworking and wear-resistant floor covering can be installed throughout the house and comes in various colors and textures.

While many people won’t consider polished concrete an option due to the following downsides:

  1. It is sometimes laid with no extra coloring and ends as a cold, bland surface
  2. In cold climates, the warm air in a room can be lost through the convection down into the foundations
  3. Because it is a solid surface, it can be uncomfortable to sit on
  4. It cannot be used for the flooring upstairs

The heat loss can be mitigated by using rugs and loose carpeting over the concrete.

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The color issue can be addressed when the floor is being laid.

Sheet Vinyl Flooring

The lowest-cost flooring solution is sheet vinyl at between $0.50 and $ 3.00 per square foot.

The advantages of sheet vinyl flooring as listed below:

  1. Sheet Vinyl Flooring is the lowest cost option
  2. The vinyl sheets have a cushioning material making the soft to walk on
  3. An enthusiastic amateur can easily install sheet vinyl flooring
  4. Sheet vinyl flooring can handle high traffic areas and is durable
  5. Sheet vinyl flooring requires minimal maintenance
  6. A broad range of colors and patterns are available

The disadvantages of sheet vinyl flooring:

  1. Can dent more easily than harder flooring materials
  2. Inconsistent quality is possible
  3. It can be challenging to remove
  4. It cannot be patched if damaged, and generally, entire sections must be replaced.

I wrote this practical guide in how to prevent mold under vinyl flooring can help you to prevent any issue in the future.

Carpeting Is One Of The Cheapest Options To Cover A Floor 

Depending on the carpeting chosen, the weaves and colors, and fitted carpets cost between $2,00 and $7.00 per square foot.

The advantages of carpets are:

  1. Carpets are still the superior option to create a sense of warmth and “coziness” in the home
  2. Carpets are a comfortable material on which to walk and sit down on
  3. Clean carpets are an asset in a home and provide a sense of order and stability
  4. Falling on a thick pile carpet provides a softer landing than the more solid surfaces

The carpet and underlayers have a positive impact on heat loss.

The downsides of carpets are:

  1. They get dirty very quickly
  2. The family pets will leave hairs on them, which are difficult to remove
  3. In high traffic areas, carpets will be one of the fastest of all the materials to wear

Conclusion

Depending on the chosen material, laminate flooring and sheet vinyl flooring costs less than carpeting.

At the lower end of the range, ceramic tiles, linoleum, and polished concrete costs no more than carpeting.

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