analogmusicman

we're going to pull out the existing carpet in our apartment (we rent it.it's in our home on the lower level) and wondered what the most cost effective way to go is: new carpet or pergo type flooring?
btw:it's a concrete subfloor.

tnx,

jonathan03

Laminate wood floors are cheap but can be a pain to install. Sometimes the pieces don't fit together right. Pergo shouldn't have the problem but the cheaper knockoffs sometimes do. Carpet is probably the cheapest but you are relying that you will have a long term tenant or one who won't ruin the carpet. Home Depot in Ohio has Shaw carpet for 70 cents a foot plus 97 to install. They ding you on the stairs (8 a stair) so you might do those yourself if there are any.

You have a basement, but hardwood floors are actually a great way to go if you don't allow pets. They can just be refinsihed every so often which is cheap if you do it yourself. They aren't meant for basements and are a long term investment. They will outlast any floor assuming there aren't ruined by pet stains.

analogmusicman

I'm going to have the floor installed. normally I'd DIY but with my back the way it is I have to "choose my battles wisely"
I want something that's appropriate for an apartment,nothing cheap,I don't want to have to re-do this for ten or more years.
would carpet really be cheaper than vinyl flooring?

tnx,

rusty baker

That $97 install at HD is a joke. They ding you with so many required extras that it costs you more than it would at a regular carpet store. You don't really think that a professional carpet installer would work for $97 per house.

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analogmusicman

anybody dealt with "Lumber Liquidators"? they've got some "Bellawood" flooring on sale that looks ok. but after checking out some carpet locally, it does appear that carpet is the cheaper way to go. looks like some pretty good carpet would cost around 2k with some good laminate flooring a bit more.

tnx,

jonathan03

I've had Home Depot install carpet and they did a good job. Not to say every Home Depot install is great, but these guys did ok. Honestly, carpet isn't rocket science to install. Especially if you have textured carpet and not carpet with a pattern or berber. Those can be more difficult to seam.

I'm sure the installers get more than 97 per house. Thats probably their base plus an amount per foot. Evertyhing Home Depot and Lowes sell is retail. That means its sold for double or more what they pay for it.

I really think hardwood on a basement floor is a bad idea. Even if your basement doesn't leak, there has to be some moisture. What kind of drains or water hazards do you have? Are they in the middle of the room? You will laugh at me, but I've seen ceramic tile in a basement apartment before and it looked good. I've never done it, but you are supposed to be able to tile right on cement without cement board. Ceramic tile is just about the only floor that can tolerate wet or dampness. Not sure this makes sense for your setup, but throwing it out there.

Sheet vinyl can be good as there are many different patterns etc. Its also very easy to put in if your rooms are rectangular. The downfall is that its hard to seam and it can be cut which ruins the whole floor. The wholesaler here sells it for 2.99 a yard which is 33 cents a foot. Half as much as basic carpet.

I would do sheet vinyl or tile in your kitchen, dining room and bathrooms and carpet everywhere else.

rusty baker

The point I was making is: you do not save labor money using the big boxes. They add the money in as extras. Also google and see how good they are at resolving problems.

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Lord, help me be the kind of person, my dog thinks I am.

analogmusicman

Lowes has some good carpet with a premium pad included (wonder if it's really "premium") with a good installation price so that's a possibility.
got a guy coming over soon to take measurements to give me a bid (not Lowes) but they'll probably come in too high.
pretty much ruled out a composite floor,it'd be too cold down there.

tnx,