Pick flooring options for your house according to your budget

If you’ve been planning to revamp the flooring in your house, you should probably sift through this story. We shall not only tell you about the flooring options on offer—from marble and granite to glass mosaic—but more importantly, their cost, so you can pick the one that suits your budget.

If you’re partial to the old-world charm and want wooden flooring, but can’t afford it, go for the laminated version. The latter is synthetic but looks like real wood. It’s cheaper and durable as it is more resistant to moisture.
The good part is that re-flooring doesn’t take too much time. As most floors can be easily laid on the existing one, a 12’x12’ room would, on an average, take 1-2 days to be renovated.

However, heavier material like marble and granite would take longer. If you prefer to do it yourself, go for vinyl flooring. It’s available in rolls and tiles and can be applied with an industrial adhesive. Besides enhancing the appearance, flooring also helps hike the resale value of your house. You can easily get back 60-70% more on your investment.

Here’s a ready reckoner to help you decide which floor suits your needs and budgets.

Which Floor Suits You?

Tiles

Types: Ceramic, vitrified and glass mosaic.
Finish: Glossy
Durability: 10-15 years
Usage: Tiles are mostly used for exteriors such as lobby and verandah and can be fitted with cement.
Installation time*: 2 days
Cost (per sq ft): Ceramic: Rs 15-40; vitrified: Rs 32-150; glass mosaic: Rs 275-1,200
Labour cost: Rs 10-25 a sq ft
Installation cost for a 12’x12’ room: Rs 5,120#

Keep in mind: The tiles need to be laid down smoothly. If uneven, air pockets between the tiles will lead to cracks.

Wooden

Types: Laminated, grooves, rough, parquet and real wood.
Finish: Satin
Durability: 5-6 years
Usage: Wooden flooring is mostly used in bedrooms or stairs. It helps keep the room cool in summers and warm during winters, and can be easily laid on the existing floor by using foam.
Installation time*: 1 day
Cost (per sq ft): Laminated: Rs 40-60; grooves (4”x8”): Rs 175-200; rough (4”x8”): Rs 200-350; parquet: Rs 50-60; real wood: Rs 300-1,200
Labour cost: Rs 10-15 a sq ft
Installation cost for a 12’x12’ room: Rs 7,560#

Keep in mind: You can use a damp cloth or mop, but never drain it with water for cleaning it.


PVC or Vinyl

Types: Rolls and tiles
Finish: Matt
Durability: 4-5 years
Usage: Vinyl flooring is not as hard as marble or tiles and is water-resistant. So, it’s suitable for children’s room and the kitchen. It can be easily applied with adhesive.
Installation time*: 1-2 days
Cost (per sq ft): Roll (6”x50”): Rs 22-25; tile (4”x8”): Rs 60-90
Labour cost: Rs 10-15 a sq ft
Installation cost for a 12’x12’ room: Rs 4,968#

Keep in mind: The flooring can be easily dented or scratched if you use or drag heavy material.

Marble

Types: Sandstone, composite, Kota stone and white marble.
Finish: Satin, though you can opt for a glossy one by polishing it or a matt finish through a honed polish.
Durability: 25 years
Usage: Marble is fitted with cement and is suitable for both the exterior and interior of a house.
Installation time*: 8-10 days
Cost (per sq ft): Sandstone (2”x2”): Rs 22-25; Kota stone (2”x2”): Rs 25-28; composite: Rs 175-600; white marble (9”x9”): Rs 60-80
Labour cost: Rs 10-50 a sq ft
Installation cost for a 12’x12’ room: Rs 7,488#

Keep in mind: It needs regular maintenance and can be easily damaged by acidic chemicals or liquids. It’s also slippery when wet.

Granite

Types: Crystal, honed, polished. It also comes in various colours.
Finish: Glossy
Durability: Lasts a lifetime with good care.
Usage: It’s handy for the kitchen as it is resistant to oil spills, sugary drinks and acid. Honed granite is good for the bathroom.
Installation time*: 3-4 days
Cost (per sq ft): Grey: Rs 70-120; pink or white: Rs 70-110; black: Rs 110-190; earthen: Rs 175-300
Labour cost: Rs 10-50 a sq ft
Installation cost for a 12’x12’ room: Rs 14,400#

Keep in mind: Though it doesn’t crack or damage easily, it needs regular cleaning. Polished granite is very slippery when wet.