House Flooring Help

It is not bad once you do it, but it is not really that easy for someone with no guidance and you need tools that many may not have (like a chalk line, tile saw/grinder). You also need to mix mortar and grout which can be frustrating and messy for someone who is new.

That said I would hang around and watch. You can pickup a ton of knowledge by just watching. I would let the guy know that you are interested in learning and not hawking over his work from the start. Most guys are cool with that if you are not overbearing.

It's really easy. As far as home improvement projects go, it's pretty much one of the easiet things you can do yourself. A chalk line is a couple of bucks and you can rent a saw from the hardware store. The hardest part is starting in the right spot. After that, it flows pretty easy. Mixing mortar and grout is not complicated at all. I'll give you that grouting is messy, so maybe that would deter some people, but if you want nicer things in your home, it pays to do the labor yourself and buy better materials. If you are interested in learning somewhere, tile is a good place to start, in my opinion.

As far as looking for a cheap installer, check the want ads instead of the yellow pages. You will find cheaper labor. Flooring stores will charge you more than a Mom and Pop contractor.