What is a Floor Tile?
Tiles are usually thin, square, or rectangular coverings manufactured from hard-wearing materials such as ceramic, stone, metal, baked clay, or even glass. They are generally fixed in place in an array to cover roofs, floors, walls, edges, or other objects such as tabletops.
Cheap Floor Tiles In South Africa
1. Vinyl
Vinyl flooring comes in sheets, tiles, and planks and is predominately manufactured with PVC, resulting in durable, waterproof flooring that can be installed anywhere in your home.
It requires little maintenance, just regular vacuuming or sweeping, and the occasional mopping, and is one of the least expensive flooring options on the market. If installed correctly, you can expect it to last as long as 25 years.
2. Sheet Vinyl
This cut-to-length option has seen major advancements when it comes to design, texture, and quality. Sheet vinyl typically comes in 6′ and 12′ widths, making it heavy and cumbersome to handle, and is best left to the professionals to install.
3. Plank Vinyl
If you’re looking for a realistic hardwood or stone alternative, plank vinyl is the cheapest choice for rivaling the look of pricier flooring.
And unlike sheet vinyl, planks come in small sizes, making the entire installation process easier. Vinyl planks can be glued down or installed with a peel-and-stick, or click-and-lock system. Installation is generally easy to tackle, even for those who may be new to home improvement projects.
4. Laminate
Laminate is made up of a composite of materials and mimics the look of hardwood or stone, thanks to a photographic image that’s embossed on its surface.
While laminate is comparable to vinyl sheets in terms of cost, it is not as durable as vinyl, shouldn’t be exposed to heat, is not waterproof, and lasts only 10 years. Avoid installing laminate in high-moisture or water-prone areas like basements, kitchens, or bathrooms.
5. Carpet
From wall-to-wall to peel-and-stick, carpeting is another cheap flooring option available to homeowners. The choices are vast, thanks to a wide range of materials, and quality levels, and no matter the carpet, you can expect it to last 10 years—longer if you vacuum regularly and immediately treat stains.
And while it’s soft to walk on and great at dampening sound, the carpet does show wear and tear much faster than other kinds of flooring. It shouldn’t be used in bathrooms or other places where the presence of moisture can lead to mold.
How much does flooring cost in South Africa?
R70 – R200/sqm
Flooring installation costs range between R70/sqm and R200/sqm with an average of R135/sqm.
How much does it cost to tile a floor in South Africa?
Tilers charge anywhere from R300 to R1500 per square meter, with typical rates between R450 and R500 per m2.
Some tilers charge a per-hour rate, which might be R450 to R1000 per hour. If you have existing tiles these will need to be removed and will add to the labor cost.
How do I calculate how many tiles I need for a floor in South Africa?
When buying tiles, they usually come in boxes, and you have to buy the whole box. Divide the total square meters of the room by the total square meters of the tile in the box to determine how many boxes of tiles you will need to buy.