Can I DIY My Basement Coatings or Do I Hire Floor Installers?
New basement coatings can make a world of difference. Not only do these coatings enhance your basement floor’s appearance – but they also protect your floors from a variety of threats, including moisture, dust, and impact. When the time comes to update your basement flooring, you’ll have to make a decision: should you attempt to install fresh basement coatings yourself, or are you better off hiring floor installers? Exploring the pros and cons of each decision will help you make a more informed decision.
Pros and Cons of DIY Basement Finishing
We’ll start by considering the upsides and drawbacks of taking the do-it-yourself approach.
Pros:
Save Money in the Short-Term
What is the cheapest way to finish a basement floor? If you’re looking to keep costs low, no one would blame you for tackling this project on your own. No two flooring professionals will charge the exact same rate, but you’ll still end up spending more in the short run by hiring a contractor as opposed to doing it yourself, mostly due to labor costs.
Feel a Sense of Accomplishment
There’s a reason so many people prefer the DIY lifestyle over the alternative – getting things done on your own feels good, especially if you take the time to do it right. DIY basement flooring is no exception. If you’re looking for another project to be proud of, this might be next on your list.
Cons:
Work on Your Own Dime
Sure, any DIY project will allow you to save some money on labor costs, but that’s only because you’ll be the one doing the labor. This is par for the course, but not everyone will be up to the task, let alone have enough time to set aside for such a project.
Run the Risk of Costly Complications
Be careful not to get so caught up in short-term thinking that you fail to consider the long-term implications of DIY basement floor coating. While going the DIY route helps keep initial costs low, you might end up spending more in the long run on maintenance, repairs, and replacements should something go wrong.
Lack the Best Products and Equipment for the Job
No matter how much you research the best products and tools for a DIY basement coating job, you won’t know all the ins and outs of certain brands and products to the same degree a professional would. As a result, you might miss out on the best coating for your basement, or you might end up using sub-standard equipment for the task at hand. Either way, the results will suffer.
Pros and Cons of Hiring Professional Floor Installers
The pros and cons of hiring a contractor rather than doing it yourself are essentially the inverse of the ones mentioned above.
Pros:
Proper Floor Preparation
Proper floor prep is essential for achieving the best floor coating outcomes. Professional flooring contractors have the knowledge, experience, and resources to ensure that this prep work takes place.
Quality Products
As mentioned earlier, you might not be aware of all the great basement floor coating products out there. At Anderson Painting, we primarily use Penntek polyurea concrete coatings for such purposes, as they offer superior strength, flexibility, aesthetics, and longevity.
Warranties and Other Assurances
Every project is prone to human error, and even the experts make mistakes now and again. If you mess things up on your own, you’ll be responsible for correcting your mistakes, which can be costly and time-consuming. Hiring a reputable contractor, on the other hand, grants some important assurances, such as warranties. This way, should anything go wrong during or after the project, your contractors will promptly resolve the issue at no extra charge.
Let Someone Else Handle the Hard Stuff
Simply put, hiring pros means you don’t have to lift a finger. And who couldn’t use a break?
Cons:
Pay More Upfront
The only real downside to hiring professionals for your concrete floor coating needs is that it costs more initially. Keep in mind, however, that these short-term costs are offset by the long-term advantages of a guaranteed quality job.
The Verdict
So, to DIY or not DIY? As always, the choice is yours, and it depends on your priorities. If you’re set on saving money upfront and you’re confident in your own abilities, the DIY route might be right for you. If, on the other hand, you want to ensure the best outcomes for many years to come, you’ll want the knowledge, skill, experience, and resources offered by a professional contractor like Anderson Painting.
For more on us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
