One of the best ways to change the look of a room in your home is to install a new floor. Twenty years ago it took quite a bit of skill to accomplish this task, and was best left to professionals. While many floor surfaces still need a pro to pull off, there are countless do-it-yourself materials out there, and in most cases you can transform your floor in as little as one weekend.

Here are some recommendations to get you started:

Let’s start with a bamboo floor — which will make your home look great, and also is less harmful to the environment. Although bamboo floors have been in the U.S. since the early 1990s, it’s important to remember that not all bamboo floors are alike. Teragren Fine Bamboo Flooring, Panels & Veneer was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Washington state. They manufacture many different bamboo products for both residential and commercial applications. But their focus is not only in creating great products, but being responsible to the environment. Their studio line of prefinished wide plank flooring uses environmentally safe adhesives during the manufacturing process and comes in different colors, finishes and graining. This flooring option clicks together and can be installed by just about anyone. The product itself sells for $6-$8 a square foot and installed the price is about $11-$13 a foot.

Another option comes from FLOR, a company that makes modular carpet tiles that can be used to make area rugs or wall-to-wall floor covering. It is available in several styles that produce countless arrangements anywhere in your home. The prices start at $7 a tile. These tiles are perfect for people with pets or a growing family. If they get dirty (spilled soda or a pet’s mistake) the single tile can be lifted and easily cleaned in the sink or, if necessary, replaced. These tiles are environmentally friendly too; both the fiber and the backing are recyclable and can be made into a new product. The company guarantees that returned tiles will not end up in a landfill. With their "return and recycle" program, you pack up your used tiles and give them a call to have them picked up for free. The tiles will be returned to their distribution center in Georgia where they will be reused and turned into new carpet tiles.

SnapStone is one of the neatest flooring systems I have seen in a while. It is a floating porcelain tile floor. The tiles come in different sizes, and with its backing and border, the tiles can be laid and attached to each other with a mallet. As long as the subfloor is sound below it, the floor will perform superbly. You then apply a urethane grout that stays flexible. This new system was independently tested and rated for “heavy residential” use. Typically an entire room can be installed and grouted in just one day, where a conventional tile floor could take days to complete. The tiles retail for $5-$7 a square foot; you can find a retailer near you on SnapStone's Web site.

If you have more questions or comments, please visit Lou Manfredini at housesmartstv.com.

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