So, you are thinking about tackling your first DIY home improvement project and you are starting with the floor.  Well, the floor is an excellent place to start since you can build the rest of your decor from the ground up.  Even if you only plan to do the floor it will add beauty, warmth and value to your home.  

There are several types of floating floors that are great DIY projects. That being said, there are still a few things you need to consider before you buy and decide on installation.

Research Which Type Of Flooring Is Best For Your Application

There isn't an easy answer except do your research and base your decision on where the flooring will be installed, kids, pets, allergies and type of subfloor. Thankfully, all of the following are sturdy wear resistant, can be installed on any subfloor with underlayment and snap or click together with tongue and groove. This is called a floating floor.  The more adhesive and/or nailing needed, the more skill you need.  If you are good a jigsaw puzzles-floating a floor will be a breeze. 

• Laminate 
• Engineered Wood 
• Luxury Vinyl

Weigh The Pros and Cons

• Do you enjoy physical labor? 
• Are you patient and have time to commit to finishing project (most can be done in a day but depends on how many rooms/floor you have to cover)
• Do you have something better to do?
• Do you have the tools necessary to complete the job -oh, and do you know how to use them
• The cost of having a pro fix you mistakes could cost more than having a pro do it in the first place.
• Will you use what you learn on future projects?

Real Life Example

I will share my personal experience of first time floor installation. I was planning to sell my house and wanted to increase the value and appeal.  I decided on laminate first because of the cost and second because I wasn't going to stay there -okay cash flow was an issue so I decided to do it myself.  I had the tools and some of the skills because I had experience building Habitat for Humanity Homes.  You dont need that kind of experience but some basic knowledge of tools and how to use a calculator is very helpful. I installed a large living room, hallway and bedroom floor in 2 days. Really with a floating floor the hardest part is knowing where to start your first piece, how to measure the width of what the first and last row should be and getting the transitions in the correct position. You can easily learn how to do these things by watching YouTube videos. Most flooring manufactures have videos in addition to detailed installation instructions online. Use them! Good or bad, I have since installed laminate in 2 rooms at a friends home and we are still friends. 

If you still have questions about the skills needed then check out this handy assessment from Shaw Flooring:

DIY Skills Assessment