Floor tile installation: DIY or hire a contractor?
Do-it-yourself is the latest approach! It is a task you can take on with conviction if you have the required level of skills to complete it in a given frame of time and with a minimal budget. DIY is a fast learning experience and strengthens your problem solving capability. There is certainly not a blind 'Yes' or a 'No' for a DIY. There are many determinants which need to be considered before you take the responsibility of completing a particular assignment. Evaluation of the pros and cons is very essential, or else the end result could be a disaster.
Installing floor tiles requires high level of DIY skills. A neat and precise installation requires a fair amount of preparation and a step-by-step guidance by an expert. There is also an opportunity of learning a new set of skill and acquiring additional knowledge. Besides ability, laying floor tiles needs patience. If you think you can fund these, only then go ahead or else hire a contractor.
Taking up a DIY project depends on the worth of your time invested. Time management is critical here; if you have a daily job, it might get difficult for you to focus on your line of work. In this case, you are better off paying a professional rather than spending those extra long hours and risking your job.
DIY saves you those extra pennies which you would have paid in getting the floor tiles professionally installed. At times, the expense of hiring a contractor gets difficult to fit in a family budget. But if money is not an issue, you should invest in hiring the workmanship of a pro. Also, if you are going to spend money for an exotic natural stone tile, its worth hiring the expertise of a professional tile installer.
DIY has some intangible benefits too. It triggers your imagination to design and conceptualize the end result. You feel satisfied and proud of making something with your own hands. Understanding to install tiles can be a fun and fulfilling activity, and is apt for stimulating young minds. You can have your family or friends involved in this DIY task and spend time learning together. To install floor tiles you have to bend and be on your knees for long hours, and moving the tile boxes/pallet requires strength. The whole activity is an exercise which improves energy and helps in weight loss for some. DIY keeps you fit!
On the flip side of this affair, a DIY might prove to be a costly blunder. If you are not sure of what you are doing, you may probably end up doing more damage than good. Clumsy tile installation with incorrect measurements can ruin the complete look. The professionals know a few tricks of the trade, and the ignorance of which in a DIY might lead to wastage of time, money and efforts.
The biggest advantage of hiring a contractor is the 'warranty' you get on the tiles installed. As long as the tiles are under warranty, and something goes amiss while the installation is in process or in the future, it is the installers problem to rectify it at no extra cost. Contractors are equipped with specialized tools for cutting, setting and grouting. Their team is trained to give smooth tile edges, make precise cuts to fit irregular spaces, and neatly fill in mortar and grout. They definitely finish the assignment faster and save you time.
Therefore, you need to analyse all the factors involved in installing floor tiles and match them with your resources before taking the final call. All the very best!
Recommended Reading
Comments
Post a Comment