I’ve been dreaming about changing our tile floors for a while, they’re outdated and have really seen better days.

But since we’re on a budget, we need to spend as little as possible. This got me thinking up ways to save on flooring:

#1 Look for discounts

This is the most obvious but often overlooked way to save. Look for wholesale tile, carpet or wood flooring companies. You may be able to get the exact same flooring at a deeper discount than at a regular retailer.

Wait for those sales. Keep a lookout for sales by signing up for the store’s newsletter if they have one. Shop around holidays or ask the staff if they know of any upcoming sales on the particular floor you’re interested in. If you are really friendly you may get a discount just by asking for one.

#2 Scratch and dent

Ask about open box flooring. You may be able to get flooring someone returned for a discounted price. Also ask about imperfect flooring. They may have something that may be deemed imperfect by the manufacturer because it’s a shade off or for some other reason. They may just have enough of it for your space and you could get it at a good discount.

#3 Do the demo

Ever watch ’10 Grand in Your Hand’? I love that show, the host always recommends to do the demo yourself. If you’re having someone else install your flooring, you can save on labor costs by doing the demo of the existing flooring yourself. Remove the old flooring and baseboard (if you’re going to install new ones) yourself. The less the installers have to do the cheaper it will be. But before letting them know you are going to do the demo get a written cost breakdown estimate for demolition and installation. Like that they won’t be able to stick the demo costs into the installation.

#4 Salvaged

Check out your local architectural salvage yard. You may be able to find amazing hardwood that was taken from an old barn or home. The Habitat for Humanity Restore (or something similar in your area) is a great place to look also. They sell left over or donated building materials in their stores. You may be able to get enough tile or wood at a fraction of the price of buying it new.

Also be sure to check out Craig’s list. You could get a great deal for someone’s left over materials.

#5 Hit up your designer friends

Know anyone who’s an Interior Designer, Architect or Contractor? You could get a hefty trade discount if you purchase it through them or have them order it for you. But be sure to treat them to lunch for their trouble.

#6 Think outside the box

If you want a quick and inexpensive fix use something out of the ordinary. I’ve seen amazing floors covered in pennies (which will literally cost pennies to do). If your sub-floors are in good condition, paint them. There are many great examples online of painted  and stenciled wood sub-floors and stained concrete.

Other tips:

Discount and wholesale tile, carpet or wood stores are great and will most likely save you a lot of money. But check for sales and ask for discounts. You may be able to get an even better deal.

If installing it yourself or even if you have someone else do it, always check to make sure all the flooring in the different boxes match perfectly. Like that you won’t find out halfway through the installation that you have two different shades of flooring.

Reasearch your specific flooring type first for specified installation and uses. For example installing hardwood in a damp area would be a bad idea.

Get a sample and take it home before purchasing. It may look great in the showroom but not so great in your home.

Order around 10% more than you need. It will account for waste while installing and extra that you’ll want to keep for future need. You wouldn’t want to have to replace a portion of the flooring down the line only to find that they don’t make it anymore.

This was brought to you by Pro Source Floors.