24 Aug Luxury Vinyl Installation: DIY or Contact a Professional?

When it comes to new flooring, one of the things most homeowners look at is the cost. This includes many things, such as the value of the flooring materials, the cost of prepping the existing floor for the new covering and ascertaining the cost of professional installation services. When compiling the numbers, it is easy to assume that a great way to shave some of that price down is to get rid of professional installation services, especially with an easy to install flooring type; however, this is not always the best choice. In this article, we will compare installing luxury vinyl tile yourself vs. having a professional do the job for you.

What is Luxury Vinyl Plank or Tile Flooring?

Luxury vinyl, otherwise known as vinyl composition tile, is a type of composite flooring made from PVC and other plastics that looks like hardwood planks or natural stone tiles. Many varieties of luxury vinyl planks or tiles available today are textured to help with their natural appearances and come with a wear coating on the surface and a dense core which increases the product’s durability. Because this flooring is made from plastic, it is waterproof, which makes it more versatile, as well as pet and kid-friendly. This versatility is never more obvious than when you consider which rooms you can put vinyl flooring in, including bathrooms, kitchens, and entryways. Vinyl planks or tiles typically come with one of two installation methods. Either they are peel and stick with a glue type backing, or they are tongue and groove which click together and then float over the subfloor.

The Costs and Struggles of DIY

When you consider doing any project yourself, it pays to do some research on the products and processes you will be using. You want to make a list of supplies along with quantities that you will need to complete the project. Some items warrant price comparisons prior to purchase.  For example, you must decide what brand of flooring you want to use as well as where you will buy it from. You also need to determine if you need an underlayment and if you do, you should compare pricing on that as well. Once you know the brand of flooring you want and where you can get the best price you must measure the areas where you are installing the flooring and calculate the amount of square footage you will be covering as well as exactly how many planks or tiles you need to cover the space.

Additionally, you need some specialized tools for this job. Here is a list of some of the items and tools flooring installation requires.

• Utility Blades
• Jig Saw
• Measuring Tape
• Graphing Paper

After you have considered the costs of installing your own flooring, consider the struggles too. This project will likely take you more time than it would take a group of professionals. Also, it can end up costing you more money in the long run due to calculation errors on how much flooring you need, or if you make any mistakes when cutting your vinyl pieces to size. Enough mistakes mean additional costs as you must buy a whole new box of planks to continue with the installation. Also consider that most of the tools needed for this project are cutting tools, and if not used with the proper safety methods in place are extremely dangerous.

The Costs of Having a Professional Handle the Installation

When shopping for luxury vinyl plank flooring, you should look for retailers that offer flooring installation services as well. When you talk to them about purchasing the flooring materials, speak to them about installation packages, and see what kind of time and price quote they offer. Due to the ease of installation for luxury vinyl plank flooring, many installation services cost very little per square foot.

Comparing the Two

It is important to remember that installation companies have insurance in case they are injured or make mistakes during your project. While DIY can save a few dollars here or there, in the long run, it often costs you a lot more in time, materials, and injuries when you are not careful. You should always consider at least talking to a professional flooring installation company before you decide to do a floor install yourself.

Kuhn Flooring and Your Luxury Vinyl Plank Floors

At Kuhn Flooring, we offer some of the most competitively priced flooring installation services in the area. Additionally, we provide some of the highest quality options for luxury vinyl plank or tile flooring as well as multiple other selections and flooring choices. With the help of our friendly staff and expert design team, we can have your flooring project complete at a price with which you are happy. Contact us today to discuss your home and the rooms where you want new flooring. We can provide you with an affordable flooring option that will meet all your needs with an installation cost that will fit any budget.