Laminate Vs. Ceramic – Cost Comparison

One of the great things about being a homeowner is having a wide variety of flooring options to choose from. However, for many homeowners, there are two choices that are better than most: Ceramic flooring and laminate flooring. Both of these flooring option provide excellent appearances and quality performances, which is why the remain so popular year after year.

If you’re considering either of these flooring options for your next home improvement project, then one of your most important tasks is to examine the cost of each to make sure that you get the most bang for your buck. Compare ceramic flooring costs and laminate flooring costs so that you can be certain you’re making the smartest flooring investment for your home.

Ceramic Flooring Costs

The reason that so many homeowners choose ceramic flooring for their homes is that it is very affordable and provides excellent durability. For a 120-square foot room, you can expect to pay a material price ranging between $188.00 and $1,503.00, which is between $1.57 and $12.53 per square foot. If you find your prices on the higher end of the price scale, then it’s likely you’ve chosen tiling with more intricate designs and natural texturing.

In addition to the material costs, it’s important that you examine the labor costs of installing ceramic tiling. When you hire a contractor to complete your ceramic tiling project, you can expect installation costs for a single 120 square foot room to be between $243.00 and $843.00, or $2.03 and $7.03 per square foot.

While a ceramic tiling project can end up being a little expensive, it’s one of the smartest investments that a homeowner can make, especially in terms of performance of years and decades.

Laminate Flooring Costs

If you’re a homeowner who is focused on choosing the most cost affordable flooring option possible, the best choice that there is laminate flooring. Laminate flooring costs are often much lower than other flooring types, making it important to look at how they stack up to ceramic.

In terms of materials, laminate flooring is extremely affordable. The per square foot price range for laminate flooring material is usually between $0.76 and $1.49, which is between $91.00 and $179.00 for a 120-square foot room. Installation costs are also much cheaper than ceramic tiling, typically costing $1.82 to $3.03 per square foot, which would be $217.80 and $363.00 for 120-square feet.

However, there are certain costs that will be the same no matter which flooring type you choose. For example, preparing your flooring for a new installation cost the same for both flooring types, including removing your furniture ($11.50 to $26.50 per piece), removing your old flooring ($0.04 to $1.03 per square foot) and leveling your subfloor ($80 to $150 per hour) if it is necessary.

Choosing the Right Flooring for Your Home

Selecting the right flooring for your home really comes down to how large of a budget you’re working with. If you have a limited amount of funds, then laminate flooring and laminate flooring costs will be much more attractive. On the other hand, if money isn’t a concern, then you should pick the slightly more expensive ceramic flooring costs because of the higher material quality.

However, no matter which flooring type you choose, you’ll be getting an option that will make your home look great for years to come.