Cheap Flooring

How to choose good-value flooring

Start with the room, not the price

The cheapest floor overall is the one you do not have to replace. A low-cost laminate in a bathroom will swell and need replacing; a low-cost vinyl in the same room will last for years. So choose the material first, then the most affordable floor of that material:

• Kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms: affordable luxury vinyl, which does not absorb water.
• Living rooms, bedrooms, dry hallways: affordable laminate, which has the toughest surface for the price.
• Real wood on a budget: thinner engineered boards (for example 10mm to 14mm) in a rustic grade, which costs less than prime and hides wear.

Where it pays to spend a little more

Durability rating: an AC4 laminate or a 0.5mm vinyl wear layer in a hallway or kitchen lasts far longer than the minimum. Water resistance: a water-resistant laminate in a kitchen avoids a swollen floor. Underlay: a good underlay makes any budget floor feel and sound better.

Where you can save

Thinner boards in quiet rooms, popular colours made in large quantities, standard plank sizes, and rustic grades in real wood, which use more of each log, all cost less without making the floor worse for the room.

Saving on the whole job

• Fit it yourself: click laminate and click vinyl need no glue and only basic tools. Our installation guides explain each step.
• Measure carefully: order the area plus about 5% for cutting waste (10% for herringbone), rounded up to full packs, so you do not pay for a second delivery. Our measuring guide shows how.
• Keep your skirting: cover the expansion gap with scotia beading instead of replacing skirting boards.
• Underlay attached: boards with underlay already bonded on save buying and laying a separate one.
• Lay over the existing floor: where the old floor is sound, flat and the right type (for example firm tiles under click vinyl), you can save the cost of lifting it.

How to spot a good budget floor

Look for a clear durability rating (AC rating or wear layer), an embossed texture that follows the printed grain, several different plank designs so repeats are not obvious, and a firm, snug click joint. Then order free samples of two or three options and compare them on the floor of the room.

Making a cheap floor last

Door mats at every outside door, felt pads under furniture, regular vacuuming and the right cleaner do more for a floor’s life than its price. Never steam-mop laminate or wood, and wipe up spills promptly.

Common mistakes

• Choosing by price alone and putting standard laminate in a kitchen or bathroom.
• Skimping on underlay, which makes a budget floor feel thin and noisy.
• Ordering too little and paying for a second delivery from a different batch.

Budget flooring room by room

Bedrooms: an 8mm laminate on a good underlay. Living rooms: 8mm to 10mm laminate, or affordable click vinyl if you want a softer, quieter floor. Kitchens and bathrooms: affordable click vinyl with a 0.5mm wear layer in the kitchen. Hallways: AC4 laminate or vinyl with a thicker wear layer, plus a good door mat. Rented homes: hard-wearing click vinyl or laminate in a neutral colour.