A Basic Overview of the Costs of Hardwood Floors

Determining the costs of hardwood floors can be difficult, especially as no price tag is a true representation of what the project will cost. Often times, people will get the price per square foot, multiply it by the size of their room and assume that the cost of the flooring project won’t be higher than this number. However, with hardwood flooring, you will need materials, a quality underlayment and installation. Depending on whether or not you need professional installation will increase the price significantly.

Generally speaking, a solid hardwood floor costs about $8 a square foot with all materials included. This means you can expect to pay approximately $1200 for a 12x12 room. Wider pine planks will cost more, and this type of solid wood flooring is usually installed by a professional. Keep in mind that this type of wood will need to be finished, which will add time on your part. If you’re looking for factory-finished wood selections, expect to spend about $10 to $14 per square foot, which could put you close to $2000 to finish one 12x12 room.

Solid wood flooring is exceptionally beautiful and adds value to the home, but if you don’t have it in your budget, consider laminate instead. Laminate looks just like the real thing, especially with the increase in technology. Plus, these floors are DIY, so you can save on the cost of installation by a professional. For materials, underlayment and flooring, you can expect to spend $7 per square foot, but this price varies with the type of installation. Since most floors do not use glues anymore and instead utilize a snap-and-lock method, installation is especially affordable. With the costs of hardwood floors, you can expect to pay approximately $1000 for a 12x12 room.

Another option is bamboo, which offers the durable and scratch resistant properties of laminate and the naturalness of hardwood. Bamboo, like laminate, uses a snap-and-lock installation method that you can do on your own. The cost of bamboo runs about $4 to $13 a square foot, making this one of the most budget friendly floors. Since bamboo is a renewable resource that is harvested and planted regularly, the source is abundant. The costs of hardwood floors made from bamboo have come down significantly in recent years, and you can enjoy a tasteful variety of styles and species, which is where the high variation of cost is factored in. Expect to spend between $600 and $2000 on a 12x12 room.

If you plan to install the flooring on your own, you’re already cutting down the costs of hardwood floors significantly. While installation of hardwood floors requires basic handyman skills, most people are successful at carrying out the job. There are a few things to keep in mind before tackling the project. Make sure that you buy extra materials, between 5 and 15 percent extra. This is especially true if you’re buying wholesale, as wholesalers tend to carry rarer flooring that may not be available, and they stick with bulk orders.

Also leave yourself some time between the delivery of the materials and the start of installation. The hardwood will need to acclimate to the temperature in the home and will need approximately 5 to 7 days to do so. Finally, have all your trim, molding and transitional costs of hardwood floors available. You can take off and reuse what you already have or buy new. There are some custom borders that may match the flooring perfectly and help everything come together in harmony.