Hardwood floors are a beautiful addition to any home, offering a timeless look and increased home value. However, before you decide to invest in hardwood flooring, it’s important to know what you’re getting into, especially when it comes to the costs. Hardwood floors can be a bit pricey, but their benefits often make them worth the investment.
In this guide, we’ll break down the costs of installing hardwood floors and help you understand what factors affect the price. Whether you’re planning a full installation or just looking to replace a few sections, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
Why Is Hardwood Flooring So Expensive?
The price of hardwood floors may be very different based on a number of factors. That is why hardwood flooring is more costly than the other types of flooring:
- Quality of the material: This is one of the factors that can significantly influence the price. Exotic wood, such as teak or walnut, is relatively more expensive than such typical woods as oak or maple.
- Durability: Hardwood floors are considered to be durable and long-lasting. Hardwood floors are a long-term investment in that, although the initial price is expensive, they can last the entire life as long as they are maintained.
- Installation: This makes installation of the hardwood floors more intricate than installing either carpets or tiles, contributing to the cost.
- Finishing: Most hardwood floors are left unfinished, thus needing more time and money to sand down, stain, and seal.
What Affects the Cost of Installing Hardwood Floors?
Having known the reasons behind the high cost of the hardwood floor, it is time to dig deeper to find out what actually influences the cost of installing the hardwood floor. The amount you will pay for your new hardwood floors will depend on a number of factors.
1. Type of Hardwood
The wood you use is another factor that contributes significantly to its price. Types of hardwood flooring include common flooring as such as oak, and more exotic flooring, such as teak or bamboo. The following is a preview of the impact of various types on the price:
Oak: Oak flooring is one of the cheapest types of hardwood, and the cost of oak flooring materials is about 3-8 per square foot.
Maple and Cherry: This price is a little higher and costs between 5-10 dollars per square foot.
Exotic Hardwood: such as walnut, teak, mahogany, the cost of such wood ranges between 8-20 per square foot or higher, depending on the availability and the quality of the wood.
2. Size of the Area
The bigger the area to work with, the higher the cost of materials and installation would be. Installation of any floor will take a per-square-foot charge provided by most flooring contractors; hence, depending on the size of your room(s), the final cost will be directly proportional.
Like as an illustration, when installing hardwood floors in a living room that is 200 square feet, the cost of the wood flooring installation fee will range between 600 dollars and 4000 dollars, depending on the cost of material and labour charges.
3. Installation Complexity
It is also determined by the complexity of the job, which will affect the cost of the installation. In the case of a big and open area, the installation can be less complicated and quicker. Nonetheless, smaller rooms, oddly shaped rooms or houses with existing flooring that should be removed can contribute to the price.
The complexity of installation is as follows:
Easy installation: Easy, rectangle-shaped rooms or areas with minimal preparation. Lower cost.
Complex installation: Room with a complicated arrangement, trim or flooring strip. Higher cost.
4. Finish and Coating
The majority of hardwood flooring needs to be coated with some form of a finish in order to guard against scratches, dampness and dirt. You may purchase pre-manufactured flooring or unfinished wood, and you will have to stain and apply a seal after the installation. The cost of the finish will influence the total cost:
Pre-finished hardwood: These are floors that have been sanded, stained, and coated in the factory, and are somewhat more expensive in the initial investment, but they are less expensive in terms of labour.
Unfinished hardwood: These will take more time and effort to finish on the site, and this makes the installation expensive.
5. Labour Costs
The cost of labour is also different with the place of residence and the experience of the contractor. Installation labour costs are on average of 3-6 per square foot. In case you will require other services such as floor preparation or custom work (e.g., stairs), there might be an increase in labour costs.
What is the cost of installing hardwood floors?
It is time to deconstruct the expenses according to real-life situations. The following are approximate costs of installation of hardwood flooring in typical home sizes and materials.
Cost of Materials
Normal Hardwood Flooring (e.g., oak, maple): $3-8/ sq ft.
The Mid-range Hardwood Flooring (e.g., cherry, walnut): $5-12/per square foot.
Hardwood Flooring (high-end) (e.g., teak, mahogany): $8-20/per square ft.
Installation Costs
Simple Installations: $3 -5 / sq ft.
Elaborate Installations: $5-10 per square foot (e.g., complicated designs, staircases, or old floor removal)
Overall Expenses of a 200-Square-Foot Room
Budget (Oak): $1,200-2,000 (materials + installation)
Mid-Range Alternative (Cherry, Walnut): available: $1,800–3,000 (materials + installation)
High-End Choice (Teak): $2,800-5,000 (materials and installation)
These are estimated figures of what you can expect, but remember that the actual cost can be different depending on your location, the complications of your house and the materials used.
Advantages of Hardwood Flooring
There are several advantages of having hardwood floors that may make you realize why the investment is worthwhile before you make your decision:
High Home Value: Hardwood floors are able to increase the home resale value. Hardwood floors are popular among most homebuyers, and they can assist in selling your home.
Durability: hardwood floors are durable and can withstand high foot traffic, and therefore are ideal for busy households.
Simple Cleaning: Hardwood floors are simple to clean. Their appearance can be maintained by a quick mop or sweep.
Aesthetic Appeal: Hardwood floors are considered to be elegant in any room, and therefore, they are a good option in both homes with modern and traditional designs.
Hardwood flooring installation price-cutting ideas
To save on the total price to install hardwood floors, here are some of the strategies:
Select a cheaper Wood: Stick with standard hardwoods such as oak or maple, which tend to be cheaper.
Install Yourself: You save money on labor, in case you are a handyman and install the floors yourself. But be sure that you have the suitable tools and capabilities to do the job.
Buy in bulk: There are suppliers that will give you a discount when you make a large order, hence you may save some money by purchasing all your materials at once.
Check Sales: Sales are made when there are seasonal sales at many of the flooring stores, and as such, it would be wise to time your purchase and thereby save a lot of money.
Conclusion
Hardwood floors may be very expensive to install, but they are always worth it due to the beauty, longevity, and value hardwood can give to your house. The overall price will be determined by the nature of the wood, the size of the area, the complexity of the installation, and the pre-finished or unfinished flooring. Being informed about these expenses and having an option in mind, you will be able to make a wise, informed choice and choose something that suits your budget.
ACE Wood Flooring is the place to visit today to see more and to get the best deals on hardwood flooring.
FAQs
Depending on the type of wood, finish, and installation difficulty, the cost of hardwood flooring installation is between 6 and $20 per square foot.
Yes, in case you are accustomed to DIY projects, you can install hardwood floors on your own in order to save the working fee, but be sure that you possess the necessary tools and expertise.
Yes, hardwood flooring is long-lasting and simple to take care of and may add value to your house, and therefore it is worth the investment to many people in their houses.
Oak and maple are also typically the lowest-priced hardwood flooring, usually ranging between $3-8 per square foot.
There are hardwood floors that are already pre-finished and those that are unfinished and need sanding, staining, and sealing after fitting. Ready-made ones would save on labor but could be slightly expensive to purchase initially as well.
Although the use of hardwood floors is applicable in the bathroom and kitchen, care should be taken to select waterproof ones, such as teak or bamboo, in order to avoid the damage caused by humidity and spillages.
