Can’t afford to carpet my council house

[Florafloral]

I have recently moved into a council house with my 5 year old after being made homeless. It’s a new build so All rooms are painted which I’m grateful for but I can’t afford to carpet it. It’s concrete flooring throughout which is impossible to keep clean, is very powdery and dusty. It’s making our clothes and furniture dusty too. I applied for a grant for flooring with the council but was turned down because my DD isn’t under 3 and we have no health conditions. Does anyone have any tips or how I can try and get cheap flooring. I’ve been quoted over £2000 for the whole house. It just seems impossible

What do you reckon, OP?

OP?

Are you coming back?

It's been such a pleasure reading all the helpful, supportive comments on this thread.

Then there's you.

My friend painted the floors too. Just edge with a brush, then use a roller.

Try vinyl - way way cheaper - it's not as nice but it will sort the dust problem. You can also lay it yourself if you're DIY-minded, easier than putting down your own carpet.. lots of videos on youtube if you don't mind a bit of research/have access to a device to watch them, which will save on labour costs.

Contact your local Rotary/Lions/Round Table or other community groups. They raise money for local good causes and often like helping people in your situation. They might not have the funds at the moment but a few minutes googling to find them, or a visit to the library, plus a few emails might get you a contribution towards the cost.

Oh and be grateful you’ve got a house

”Grateful” for having a roof over her head after being homeless 🤔

Dont be a mindless dick!

There is a liquid you dilute and put into a concrete floor which will help with the dust. We did it in ours when we were world for concrete to dry properly before putting wooden floors down.

My first married home was a council house, and we had no money for flooring either. The ground floors were concrete. We sealed the concrete and put down large cheap rugs (IKEA have very cheap flat weave rugs in large sizes - Tiphede for example for £18). The upper floor was wood; I scrubbed the boards down, then painted them and sealed with floor varnish. We did similar with the stairs. This would give you a bit of breathing space to save for carpets if you want to and you could do one room at a time as you can afford it.

https://www.acts435.org.uk/partners/
This is an organisation that may be able to help. Put your postcode in to find the nearest Acts 435 partner in your area and contact them.

https://www.sealantsandtoolsdirect.co.uk/sika-dustproofer-and-concrete-hardener-5-litre-skdust5

This might help to keep the dust down. Vinyl which looks like. Wooden floor would be good for the bedrooms and then add rugs when you can afford them? Ask on Facebook groups etc. People are usually very good at helping. Try a carpet shop for remnants as they usually work out cheaper. And try not to panic, you’ll get there.

Seal the concrete or use garage floor paint. Ikea do reallly big rugs such as this one
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/tiphede-rug-flatwoven-black-natural-20470047/
They also do it in a sheaper smaller size
They are washable.

Read the post yeah.

I’m assuming that you are on an estate if you’re in a new build, if you have an estate Facebook page ask on there. I’m surprised by the number of people who have made alterations, new kitchens etc since the houses were built a few years ago. You might find someone who is changing the carpets.

Not perfect solution, but it is possible to paint or varnish concrete floors fairly cheaply which should bring down the dust. Then go on Freecycle and request some big rugs, some children's rugs or fluffy ones for the bedroom. Even rag rugs work in a kitchen.

As PP said, there could be some Freecyclers or local charities that can supply underlay and carpet offcuts but it is unlikely they will be a perfect fit, so getting some paint or varnish down will at least stop the dust.

It's a real shame that councils can't afford to provide the basics any more.

Where are you located,
I have hallway/single bedroom, large bedroom and living room carpet that is only 18 months old but I won't be taking it to my house.

Haven't read whole thread but you can often interest free credit for this sort of thing. Otherwise do it room by room. Get your measurements and look for remnants or free carpets online. We had no carpet for two years when we purchased years ago ire interest and I put newspaper down in dome parts of the house whilst i saved up.

Back in the late 90's I was offered a council house where they had taken out the carpets the previous person left 'to make it standard'.
Or maybe the real reason was because they were rank....the floorboards stank of urine.

Anyhow, it was all horrible, but I put cord carpet down throughout, no underlay - the soft cord type with wider cords - and fitted it myself using double sided sticky tape. I think there were still nail strips left on the stairs so I reused those.

It did the job for a few years although there was the odd wrinkle here and there.

It's about £3m2 online nowadays. Could that be an option?

Carpet is seen as luxury at the end of the day

I was homeless to for while. We were also very very blessed and given a new build. We had the most amazing local MP who helped us get second tabs carpets. We lived with them for 17 years. Could try that?

Try freecycle and FB market place. We put all our downstairs carpet in alright condition up for free recently and was snapped up straight away! Or do a room at a time.

For my first flat I found a local carpet shop that kept lots of remnants for me of similar carpets and they fitted that, it barely cost more than the fitting. I have friends who have also carpeted with the super cheap cord you can buy online and others who have bought remnants from eBay too.

ever heard of flats?

The op said it's a house.

Sorry,just seen the OP mentioned a house.