7 Responses

1. Three_Kings_Clooney

   May 20th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

   1

   I know you want hardwood flooring, that your mind is set on it, but since you welcome any good advice, I’ve got to tell you that you don’t necessarily have to install actual hardwood in order to enjoy the benefit of hardwood, as you can install hardwood-imitation tile or linoleum; having to install hardwood, as you may not know, will require a lot of maintenance to avoid having it deteriorate, etc. Having said that, if you want the actual hardwood flooring, the imitation type, or an entirely different type of flooring product, like tiles, your best action is the easiest thing you can do for yourself: Get estimates, and a lot of them, form local flooring contractors by calling them. The rule of thumb is to get at least three estimates for free.

   Better yet, here’s a very convenient, great handyman site that has a section devoted to flooring. There, scroll down a bit and you’ll find a text-link kind of in the middle of the page that offers up to Four (4) Free Estimates from local floor contractors (who do wood floors and all sorts of other flooring types) in your area who would be in the position to provide you a free, no-obligation estimate of the cost involved in installing WHATEVER kind of wood floor or other flooring you would want, all without obligation to you (the link on the following page will say, "Find Flooring Contractors. Get Up to 4 Quotes Now…Free…"):

   http://yourhandymanzone.com/Your_Handyman_Zone_How_To_Pages_Home_Improvement_Zone_Flooring.htm

   Don’t seek guesses on here. Get free, concrete estimates from local contractors, trust me, I know from experience.

   In exchange for giving them work, you also might be able to get a good deal on the material (i.e., flooring product) from the flooring contractor, since, usually, they have access to wholesale pricing on building material given the great amount of installations they do. That’s the way to go.

   Good luck.

2. Nathan

   May 20th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

   2

   This one really depends on where you live, but in general, though linoleum is really cheap to begin with, it can easily discolor and cause enough of a headache to not be worth it. Many artificial hardwood floor materials are out there now, if you’re up to it, and are actually pretty easy to put in, thanks to pre-foam-backing and tongue-in-groove construction. They run about $2-3/ft., so not too cheap, but Home Depot has sales on that kind of stuff all the time. Linoleum and tile need to be on a sub-floor, which isn’t a big deal in warmer climates, but can cause problems in, say, anywhere in the mountains or north of the Mason-Dixon line. Tile is the longest-lasting, but the most expensive, costing at least $4/ft. plus labor, as you’ll need a mason to install it. Your best bet is probably something like an artificial or even real bamboo floor up north, or a fake hardwood farther south. Check with a local contractor too – most are happy to help give you ideas, especially since most of us have no work right now…

3. chicagirl51

   May 20th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

   3

   Paint it! Clean,etch,prime,paint and seal.

4. GuitarGeorge

   May 20th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

   4

   if you look around, you can find tile for under a dollar per sq ft. You can apply it directly to the concrete with no underlayment. You’ll have a nice floor which will also add value to your home. Get your father or a friend to help you, and you can do it yourself, and save on labor costs

   good luck
   ciao

5. Hondu

   May 20th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

   5

   Chicagirl is right. A properly painted concrete floor is inexpensive and can be quite attractive. The disadvantage is that it is cold and slick. Linoleum or vinyl roll flooring are both relatively inexpensive, can be, and are, used anywhere, not just in the south. All you have to do is etch the concrete and apply a paint-on moisture barrier before laying the flooring.

6. William B

   May 20th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

   6

   buy 5 gal of deck and porch paint, with color chips

7. maplewoodjoe

   May 20th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

   7

   I would put a Pergo type of floating floor