Should I do it myself, or hire a pro?

Many people would like to install their own flooring to save money or just to have the satisfaction of accomplishing this themselves. So the question is: "Should I do it myself?"

It's a valid question, but should be given due consideration. Some types of cheap flooring lend themselves quite well to a DIY project, where others do not. How do you know? Let's consider a few things that may help you make an educated decision.

Let's start with carpet. This type of flooring is generally best left to the professional installer. For a really good looking job, it requires specialized tools that are typically not available to the general handy person. It also requires experience in knowing how to stretch and seam each particular style of carpet as well.

Sheet vinyl is sort of a mixed bag. The majority of the sheet vinly floors on the market require a full-spread adhesive and a heavy roller to set the vinyl into the adhesive. They can be somewhat difficult to work with as well. Here again, it is a job best left to the pro. Having said that, I will mention that there are a new breed of sheet vinyls available that do not require being installed with a full-spread adhesive. They can be attached at the edges or even loose laid. That is something the DIY'er can consider doing.

Another one is Tile flooring, such as ceramic tile or porcelain tile. If the job is not too complex with lots of diagonal cuts or patterns with mixed colors of tile, this could a a consideration for the do-it-yourselfer. It is more involved in that you will need to rent a tile cutter, make sure the subfloor is thick and level enough, put down a backer board and grout it. It takes careful planning and lot's of patience and elbow grease, but it is within the realm of doing it yourself.

Let's move on to hardwood flooring. There are two types of hardwood floors available. Solid and engineered. Solid hardwoods require a hardwood nailer to install and may be best left to pros. Engineered hardwoods can be glued down, a job requireing minimal tools. Not too bad for the DIY'er.

Laminate flooring is a good choice for the person wanting install their own flooring. Basic wood cutting tools are what is required along with an inxpensive laminate installation kit. Plenty of videos are available online to show you tips and tricks for a great looking job.

Lastly, let's consider Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT). Another good choice for the do-it-yourselfer. Not too complicated and minimal tools that most anyone already has will work. LVT can make for a beautiful job that will take a lot of wear and tear.

So basically, look at the complexity of the job. Is the room(s) a basic square or rectangular shape, or do they have some oddly angled walls and nooks and crannys? Is the subfloor in good shape and pretty level and flat, or will it need a lot of work before installing the floor? Do you have access to the appropriate tools to do the job correctly? Those are good things to consider first. But certainly don't be afraid to do it. I've seen many, many great looking jobs done by the DIY'ers of the world. The two keywords are: Planning and Patience.