Flooring

Worn-out stair railings are hazardous and sometimes unsightly, which makes them worth replacing. The cost to replace stair railings averages $900, but it could range from $200 to $10,000.

Styles and designs come and go. If the building materials you’re looking for are discontinued, here’s how to make the best of the situation.

Understanding how prefinished hardwood planks differ from traditional hardwood flooring will help you make the right choice for your next home improvement upgrade.

Hardwood flooring has many benefits: It is beautiful and durable, and more hygienic than carpeting. If there’s a downside to hardwood floors, however, it is that installing new flooring can cost a hefty sum. If you’d like to renew your kitchen, entryway, bedroom—or any room—by adding new hardwood floors, but high costs are preventing you from achieving your dream home, take heart. There are affordable options for hardwood flooring, if you know where to look. When shopping for hardwood flooring, pay attention to the grade and the Janka hardness rating. Grade refers to the quality of the wood, and indicates the likelihood that boards will be marked by visible imperfections like knots, holes, wormholes, and color variation. Because these imperfections do not appeal to all consumers, lower grade wood floors like Natural or Cabin are generally less expensive than higher grade floors like Clear or Select. The Janka hardness rating, on the other hand, is a measure of the durability of the flooring. Trees like Bamboo, Hevea, and Acacia are softer than consumer favorites like Maple and Oak, while Hickory is harder and more durable than almost any other hardwood flooring. Even if you don’t have a big budget to spend on new hardwood floors, chances are you can find something that works for your home and your budget. Check our list to see some of the affordable hardwood flooring options that exist today.

There are many reasons why pros discourage it. Luckily, there are alternatives that offer a similar look.

Replacing or installing carpeting can make a room look brand new. What’s more, you can save quite a bit of money if you do the job yourself.

Offering easy maintenance, sound absorption, warmth, and comfort underfoot, cork is a smart, eco-friendly flooring choice for many of today’s homeowners. Is it the right choice for you? Find out here.

Resilient though it may be, vinyl flooring isn’t invincible. Fortunately, you don’t always need to replace the installation if it gets damaged. Plenty of homeowners have fixed unsightly, trip-triggering tears with this clever, inexpensive trick.

Ready to re-do your flooring, kitchen backsplash, or bathroom walls? Check out our guide to five popular tiling options on the market today.

When the time comes to refinish hardwood flooring, it pays to shop around for the best price. The cost to refinish hardwood floors ranges from $1,098 to $2,653, with the national average at $1,869.