Cost saving/basement/affordable tiles/sealed screed?

Hi, since my girlfriend wants to spend a bit more money on the parquet flooring upstairs, I have to see where we can make up for the extra costs. One obvious saving point was the flooring in the basement – specifically in the storage room (unheated) and in my planned workshop/office combo (planned with underfloor heating so I don’t get too cold there). The first approach was: anhydrite screed or anhydrite heated screed laid on insulation boards, with cheap tiles on top. But both rooms would also work fine with cheaper floors – if the savings are significant. However, since apparently the screed would need to be sealed differently if tiles are omitted, or maybe even a different screed should be used, it’s not really clear if that would actually save money...

As a construction layman, the question is: what cheaper alternatives are there – and how high are the possible savings compared to cheap (material price <12€/m²) tiles?

Greetings from Lower Franconia
I.

Who lays the tiles in the basement... here is where your saving potential is. I have received offers from €35 to €70 per sqm from different tilers. Then there were often additional costs for adhesive, baseboards, and silicone joints.

The tiler who will also lay all the other tiles in the house is already being considered here. The prices are in the lower range (incl. material), but he is a local craftsman who values good work more than a fancy car. And I lack the time and practice to achieve a comparable quality. Therefore, the question is rather how the corresponding effort for sealing the screed would look like (labor + material) - who seals the screed (OK, I am realistic enough to know that it won’t be me)?

How about cement screed? You can also save some € quickly here

Hello,

Therefore, the question is rather how the corresponding effort for sealing the screed would look like (labor effort + material) - who seals the screed (OK, I am realistic enough to know that it won't be me)?

I don't really understand your question; sorry.

Surely you had to explain to your provider which coverings you want to apply? Then it is within their responsibility to prepare the substrate (e.g. screed height) to receive the covering, or have you made a different agreement? If the latter is the case, ask your future tiler how he would like the floor to be prepared.

Rhenish regards

As far as I understood him, he is considering using the screed as the finished surface instead of tiles to reduce costs.