Replace Flooring Yourself– With Plastics

One of the most effective ways to update your home is to replace dated, worn-out flooring. It’s now easier than ever to install new flooring yourself, thanks in part to plastics. Installing plastic-composite laminate flooring and the newer luxury vinyl tiles and planks — all of which resemble wood, tile, marble and other traditional materials — is a do-it-yourself job for the handy homeowner.

Plastic-composite laminate flooring is readily installed over almost any existing, hard floor surface. Each piece simply locks into another, so even a large room can be installed in an afternoon! And thanks to plastics, composite flooring is durable and both stain- and moisture-resistant, which means it requires little maintenance and works well in just about any room of the home.

Luxury vinyl tile — a tough, durable tile that’s already proved itself for many years in commercial settings — is thicker and made entirely of plastics with a beautiful finished look to rival traditional materials. It also locks into place over existing flooring for a do-it-yourself project.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when choosing these floorings for your home

• Save time: Luxury vinyl flooring resembles ceramic tile typically used in bathrooms and other rooms where moisture may be an issue … but without the challenging, time-consuming installation process that requires grout and precise positioning. It can be installed with grout for a look like ceramic tile or without grout to improve water resistance. (Source: Armstrong ALTERNA Tile)

• Be creative: Luxury vinyl floor tiles are available that look like stone, slate, or veined marble, in a variety of colors.  The durability and stain-resistance make this the perfect surface for any kitchen — and it’s easy to clean and maintain.

• Save money: Nothing complements a beautiful meal like a beautiful dining room. Hardwood flooring has long been a hallmark of elegant dining, but you can get the look by installing plastic-composite laminate or luxury vinyl flooring -– without breaking the bank.

Happy flooring

- Danny Lipford