Find a store near me
Upgrading your home’s look is an exciting change, whether you’re getting new carpeting or new hardwood flooring. Often, upgrades such as these require months or even years of planning, saving and shopping around. Even after you’ve found the perfect flooring option for your home and family, there’s still more you need to consider. One big question you’ll need to ask yourself is whether you are going to do the installation yourself or hire someone to install it for you.
It can be tempting to think it’s no big deal to take on a DIY project such as carpet or hardwood flooring installation. With the influx of home improvement and design shows on cable television, it can seem so easy. We all have friends who are so handy they can simply watch a YouTube video or two to become an expert at anything. Well, if all these people can do it, so can we. Right? In this post, we’ll weigh the risks and benefits of installing hardwood flooring or carpeting yourself so you can make an informed decision.
The first thing you’ll want to consider is the type of material you’ve chosen. There are many different types of hardwood flooring. There is tongue and groove, nail-down hardwood flooring and varieties you can adhere to a subfloor using glue. Tongue and groove is the simplest method, and the only method that really should be considered for a DIY project. Nail-down and glue-down hardwood flooring is complex and requires a professional installer to ensure a successful job.
Carpeting is a little easier to install than hardwood, but that doesn’t mean it’s foolproof. You’ll also want to consider the warranty that comes with your carpeting. In many cases, once you start the installation yourself, your carpet warranty will not be honored. Even if you call in a professional to help or to finish the job, it might already be too late. In some cases, even if you do complete the job yourself, if you fail to follow the specifications put in place by the manufacturer, the warranty might not be upheld. If this is important to you, it might be worth your time to have a professional who is accustomed to the manufacturer’s specifications handle the installation.
Something else you’ll want to factor into your decision is the room that is getting the makeover. Are there a lot of nooks and crannies that are going to be hard to work around? Let’s be honest: Laying carpet or hardwood floor in a completely square room is one thing, but laying flooring in a room with steps, closets and built-in spaces is another story. You’ll be doing a lot of measuring, cutting, finishing of edges and pattern matching to ensure a polished-looking room.
Unless you’re a professional yourself, most DIY projects take place because of a desire to save a little bit of money. The reality is while it is possible to install your own hardwood flooring or carpet, it is much better to leave it to the professionals. It is so common to encounter unexpected expenses when doing an installation yourself, including tool rentals, additional materials and cleaning supplies. These expenses add up quickly. At the end of the day, if you are saving any money, it’s usually a minimal amount. If you’re making a significant investment in your home, you should factor the cost of installation into the price of the flooring.
If you have questions about how much installation costs or you want to talk to an expert about the possibility of doing it yourself, stop into your local Ogden’s Flooring and Design store. We’ll be more than happy to weigh the pros and cons based on the materials you have chosen. We’re always running specials on our carpet and hardwood flooring, so make sure you ask if we have any deals on installation. We look forward to talking to you!