Choosing perfect flooring for the store

Buying a kit home is an increasingly popular way for Australians to achieve the goal of home-ownership without the hefty price tag of traditional building practices. Kit homes come with every single item that you'll need to put your home together, including electrics, plumbing and glazing as well as all the standard building components.

Unfortunately, in kit homes the flooring is often very basic and will generally only be sheets of plywood or chip board. If you'd prefer something a bit more aesthetically pleasing than the basic flooring provided with the kit home, then you will need to pay extra to purchase and install it yourself. Here are two budget-friendly options you might like to consider.

1. Laminate timber flooring

Wood laminate flooring is an effective way to bring the beauty and warmth of timber into your new kit home without the high price tag of solid timber flooring. Laminate timber flooring is made by adhering a photographic reproduction of timber on top of a high-density fibreboard sheet. This sheet is then backed by a waterproof under layer.

Modern laminate timber flooring is top quality and is almost indistinguishable from the real thing. It comes in a wide range of colours and wood grains, so you'll be sure to find a style that suits your kit home's décor perfectly. Make sure that the laminate flooring is waxed or sealed to prevent moisture damage and stains, especially for use in kitchens, bathrooms and areas with high traffic.

2. Vinyl flooring

When you think of vinyl flooring, the dated and unattractive linoleum floors which were popular in the 60s and 70s may be what immediately springs to mind. However, modern vinyl flooring has come a long way and can make a stylish, functional and cost-effective addition to your kit home.

Vinyl flooring comes in a vast array of colours and styles, with the look of natural stone, timber and tiles all being replicated on modern vinyl flooring. Vinyl flooring comes with a cushioned backing layer, so it can be applied directly on top of your kit home's basic flooring. It traditionally comes in large, wide lengths which can be cut to fit the space required, but many companies now also provide vinyl floor panels which mimic the shape and size of the materials they are based on.

Part of the appeal of kit homes is the cost effectiveness of buying a prefabricated home and building it yourself. The beauty of these two budget flooring options is that not only are they inexpensive to buy, they're also simple and fast to install yourself.