Among the most common and popular choices is hardwood flooring, which was previously a standard in aristocratic residences. Hardwood floors in the living room of the ground level are one of the top 10 amenities that prospective homebuyers want nowadays. It is a time-tested option that is difficult to top due to its vintage aesthetic and general toughness.
However, the cost of hardwood flooring is typically high. It’s important to recognize that laying flooring is not a straightforward do-it-yourself project. Knowing the financial cost is important because you’ll probably need to employ a contractor or flooring business for this job. In this mini guide, we are going to spill all the beans about the hardwood floor installation cost in detail, so let’s get started.
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The Overall or Average Cost
When determining the cost of hardwood flooring, homeowners must consider several variables. With so many alternatives available, knowing which factors will affect your project’s overall cost is crucial. The usual price ranges anywhere from $3000 to $7000, while if you’re willing to get professionals involved, the price will be around $6/$7 to $12/$13 per sq foot.
High-quality jobs will cost you somewhere around $27 or could be even more. On average, around 75 % of the cost plan will have to be spent on supplies, with the remaining funds going toward labor costs. Installation for a 500 square foot or smaller size will cost between $3,000 and $7,000. Homeowners should budget up to $25,000 for a 2,000-square-foot area.
The price per square foot
In terms of flooring installation costs per sq foot, hardwood flooring is usually the most pricey option. The prices for laminate flooring can vary from even lower than $4 per square foot to more than $25 per sq foot, with the latter being for high-end, professional work and expensive wood types. Customers spend around $7 and $18 per square foot on average.
The wood type you prefer and the cost of labor for expert installation are the key determinants of price. When using a skilled contractor, hardwood floor installation typically costs $4 to $11 per sq foot of labor. So, about 50% of the total cost of any project should be allocated to labor costs. Always request numerous quotes from different wood flooring providers so you can pick the contractor who is the best fit for your budget and wants.
Factors Affecting How Much Hardwood Flooring Costs
The kind of wood, the board thickness, the color selected, the form of glue, and the floor design can all affect how much hardwood flooring costs. Replacing existing carpeting or wooden floors may be included in the construction and trimming costs in some cases, but it may also be an additional fee in others. Regardless of the type chosen, adding wood flooring enhances not only the room’s overall appeal but also increases a home’s saleability and market value.
Cost Variation According to Hardwood Type
Let’s review the two different types of hardwood flooring and how they impact the overall cost.
1. Real Wood or Solid Hardwood
Real wood is used for solid wood planks. They typically cost between $4 and $9 per sq foot, while installation fees range between $6 and $15 per sq foot. Furthermore, if properly taken care of, these can last for over a century.
There are normally three grades of hardwood flooring. Additionally, hardwood flooring comes in narrow planks or boards. The width of them varies from roughly 3 inches to 7 inches. The type of hardwood you choose will, of course, have a big impact on the price of traditional solid hardwood flooring.
- Grade 1 (lowest grade): Soft woods like pine and poplar typically cost between $3 and $6 per sq foot plus an extra $4 to $7 for the overall installations,
- Grade 2 (Middle grade): American cherry, teak, or oak woods will be common hardwood selections. Comparatively, you should budget $7 to $12 per sq foot for just the flooring alone, plus an additional $5 to $9 per sq foot for expert placement.
- Grade 3 (Highest grade): Exotic and/or expensive hardwoods, like tigerwood, mahogany, or Brazilian walnut, are the best and most expensive options. These normally range in price from $9 to $16 per sq foot, plus installations of $5 to $9 per sq foot.
2. Traditional or Engineered hardwood
Traditional wood, as mentioned, is just solid wood that has been processed into slabs or planks. On the other hand, engineered hardwood has layers. Shaped wood produced of less expensive wood makes the bottom layer. It has a solid wooden surface.
Engineered wood has a price range of $4–$9, including installation charges of $6–$9 per square foot. It has a maximum 50-year lifetime. The biggest advantage of engineered hardwood, apart from price, is how effectively it manages moisture. It can be utilized in rooms with high humidity levels, such as vacation homes, basements, and kitchens, where traditional hardwoods are not normally utilized.
Homeowners can also add engineered hardwood underground with no issues. Since engineered hardwood is able to withstand humidity and heats better than solid wood, this is possible.
There are many finishes, like matte, semi-gloss, or gloss, offered in the most common wood varieties, like maple, hickory, as well as oak. Given the variety of engineered wood selections currently on the market, you have more financial and installation choices offered to you.
Engineered hardwood is also available in a range of grades and costs:
- Grade 1 (lowest grade): The lowest class will be the most fundamental engineered hardwood, with three layers and a veneer topcoat. Materials will cost approximately $3 and $7 per sq foot, and installation fees might range from $3 to $10 per sq foot.
- Grade 2 (Middle grade): The middle grade is a five-layer core and is covered in a stronger veneer. The price of installation is also $4 to $10 per sq foot, depending on the intricacies and the difficulty of the project. The price of the wood product averages from $5 to $11 per sq foot.
- Grade 3 (Highest grade): The most premium engineered hardwood will have seven layers or even more. The top veneer is also noticeably thicker, and the layers are constructed from rare woods. These normally cost between $7 and $15 per sq foot, with $3 to $11 per sq foot. spent on installation.
Features of Wood that Influence the Cost
Below are some of the features of wood that may contribute to the overall price fluctuations.
1. The type of Wood is Relevant
The cost of different types of wood varies. Pine is frequently the least expensive material, with costs ranging from around $5 to $12 per sq foot, while the cost also considerably depends on its width and look. For other, less expensive timber species such as oak and hickory, the price per square foot fluctuates from less than $7 to over $15. The much more expensive hardwoods include cherry and chestnut, while exotic hardwoods can require considerably more.
2. Tree Species Matter
As various tree species are more prevalent than others in different regions, the cost of hardwoods can likewise vary significantly by region. Certain types of hardwoods’ prices might be greatly impacted by travel expenses.
3. Overall Quality
Wood flooring is rated according to its physical qualities. The hue of “clear” wood flooring is consistent, and it is free of cracks and other flaws. The ‘select’ wood flooring will offer a more rustic appearance, having everything from knots to chemical streaks. On the other hand, the “No. 1 common” is for flooring with more color options and designs.
The grade “select” is applied to wood flooring that has a more rustic look, including knots, color variations, and chemical streaks, while the grade “No. 1 common” is applied to flooring with more color variation and potential wormholes. Type 1 common flooring installation costs range from $6 to $11 per square foot. When contrasted with “No. 1 common,” “No. 2 common” flooring is more earthy and ranges between $9 and $18 per sq foot for the overall installation.
4. Wood Thickness
Wood flooring typically comes in 3/4-inch thickness, which can price up to $6 per sq foot. Some hardwood flooring is available in thicknesses as low as 5/16 inch. Up to ten times can be spent sanding and refinishing solid 3/4-inch planks. A thin wood costs $2 to $5 less per sq foot.
Here is How to Reduce the Cost
One of the things that you can do for cost reduction on hardwood flooring is to go beyond only the color and finish, that is you must also consider the materials used in wood flooring. Look for a cheaper texture, hardwood type, and breadth. In addition to this, consider refinishing rather than replacing worn-out hardwood flooring to save money. In principle, refurbishing hardwood is less costly than installing it from scratch.
By choosing engineered wood with common veneers, you can usually save money even if installation costs are higher. Additionally, you can save money by removing the old flooring yourself. Particularly with carpets, it’s usually simple to take them out since the only residue left behind is dust and dirt which you can simply take out with a broom or a vacuum cleaner which makes it a simple option to economize.
Conclusion
The price of hardwood flooring is high, and no flooring choice is perfect. However, there are several advantages to hardwood flooring, including a high rate of return on investment. Additionally, there are other possibilities outside the conventional method of inserting wide boards. Before investing in hardwood flooring, make sure that they are the ones you want for your home. Make sure to talk to professionals and explore different types of hardwoods so you can make an educated decision.