How Expensive is it to Install Hardwood Floors?
If you’re considering having hardwood flooring installed, you’ll undoubtedly want to know what it’s going to cost you up front. There are many things to think about when making your decisions. You can start by visiting a home improvement store to get flooring prices. Depending on the brand of flooring, the material it’s made of, and if it’s interlocking or not, the prices often vary from about $5.00 to $15.00 per square foot.
All of the different options need to be explored in order to make the best possible decision. Comparison shopping is always a good idea. You may be surprised at the difference you can find in both the price of the flooring and the price of the installation between two similar companies. In addition, talking to a manufacturer’s representative will give you in-depth information about the flooring that store personnel can’t tell you.
With any hardwood floor you’ll find that the flooring material is just part of the installation cost. Some types of hardwood are intended to be glued to the sub-flooring so that there won’t be any screw holes visible. Other types need to be secured with countersunk screws and the holes then filled with wood putty. The floor will also need to be coated with a heavy-duty urethane so that it is protected from spills and general wear-and-tear.
You’ll be able to buy screws at a hardware store either in bulk or by the box. No matter whether you use glue or screws, however, it’s probably going to cost you about $30.00. In addition, your wood putty will run from $4.00 to $6.00, and the urethane coating will likely be between $30.00 and $60.00, depending on the size of the floor. If you’re going to do your own installation, add in another amount for the supplies you’ll need to sand the entire floor prior to putting on the final coating.
Tongue-and-groove flooring might be a good option for you if you’re trying to work within a budget. Since the flooring strips interlock, you won’t need to buy either screws or glue. In addition, this type of flooring is pre-finished, so you won’t have finishing costs.
If your budget isn’t quite as restricted, you may want to consider having your floor installed professionally. Costs will vary from company to company, so you’ll be doing yourself a favor by getting bids from several different contractors. Make sure they all quote the same flooring material that you have chosen.
All contractors will give you a quote that includes labor costs based on the number of man hours they estimate it will take to complete your job. The current cost of labor will run you between $30.00 and $60.00 per man hour. Of course, these charges will also include other costs, such as what the contractor has to pay for insurance for the job or travel expenses based on the amount of travel that is necessary.
In a nutshell, the cost of installing a hardwood floor will depend on the amount of square footage you are planning to cover, the brand of flooring you choose, and whether or not you do any or all of the work yourself. Keep in mind that the more labor equity you’re willing to put into the project, the lower the cost will be.
