Can You Do Floor Covering Installation Yourself?

If you are planning to do a renovation in your apartment by yourself, read our guide. It will be easier for you to determine the scope of work and understand what exactly should be left to professionals, and what you can handle on your own.

Self-Installation of Tiles

Pros of self-installation - saving money. The work of professional tile layers costs on average 900 rubles per square meter. If the tile shape is complex or you have special requirements for cutting and laying - you will have to pay more.

Cons - complexity of self-cutting. To cut tiles evenly or make holes in them, for example, to go around pipes, you need special tools. You will have to buy them additionally.

Conclusion: you can take on tile laying if you have done it before and you have the necessary tools. Also, if you are about to lay tiles of simple shape without cutting, your chances of success are higher.

Design: Natalia Krasnoborodko

What about PVC tiles?

Pros: modern PVC tiles can be laid on any surface, even on old laminate, parquet floor or ceramic granite. Therefore, you won't need help from specialists to remove old covering or level the surface. You can use adhesive - if the floor is even, or a locking system for installation. Besides, it's easy to cut PVC tiles: just a regular construction knife is enough.

Cons: if the unevenness is more than 5 mm wide, an expansion profile may be required. But it's not necessary to hire a specialist - the installation guide for PVC tiles contains all the necessary information.

Conclusion: feel free to take on this task - no special skills or tools are needed.

Design: Cultura Design

Self-Installation of Laminate

Pros: laminate is easy to install by yourself, especially modern materials where planks connect easily to each other with locks. This makes installation faster and the final covering more durable. The aesthetics are also not compromised: laminate with a wood grain pattern always looks beautiful.

Cons: if you violate the installation technology, the covering will start to bubble from water and detach from the floor. Carefully read the instructions - and you can avoid shortcomings.

Conclusion — installing modern laminate by yourself is not difficult, but first study the instructions. By the way, experts recommend reading installation manuals even if you have assigned the task to professionals. It's easier to supervise their work and assess its quality.

Design: Xenia Demina Studio

Laying Parquet Boards

Pros — modern materials are very easy to install. For example, wooden floors can be laid according to the principle of «comb-groove», where planks connect by simple snapping and without glue. This is fast - almost 30% less time compared to traditional parquet installation - and convenient, and it also gives a perfectly flat surface without joints, as the boards don't shift anywhere.

Cons: if you don't follow the technology, seams and joints may bulge or boards may shift. Remember that shortcomings can be avoided if you choose modern materials and high-quality accessories: underlayment and sealant.

Conclusion — experts' opinion is clear: you can take on self-installation of parquet boards, and it won't require much time.

Design: Bureau 'Total Area'

Self-Installation of Linoleum

Pros of self-installation - simplicity. To lay a linoleum sheet, it is enough to level the sheet in the room and leave it in that state for several hours. After that - glue it to the floor with special adhesive.

Cons: if you violate the installation technology, bubbles may appear on the linoleum. Study the instructions for the covering and choose quality adhesive.

Conclusion — laying linoleum yourself is not difficult, provided you follow the installation rules.

Can You Lay Carpet Yourself?

Pros — laying carpet yourself is just as easy as laying linoleum. The principles of installation for these coverings are similar: level the carpet on the floor in the room, leave it in such a state for several hours, or even a day. After that - glue it to the floor.

Cons — possible unevenness of the covering. But to avoid this, observe the temperature regime in the room where you will lay the carpet. The temperature should not be lower than 15–17 degrees.

Conclusion — take on self-installation of carpet, there is nothing complicated about it.

Design: Konstantin Nikiforov

On the cover: design project of Bureau 'Total Area'