If you’re in the market for a new floor in your home, then you will likely consider some type of hardwood floor. Hardwood floors are becoming increasingly popular in homes today for a variety of reasons. Most of them are more visually appealing than carpet, they will last longer and they also increase the value of your home.
Installing hardwood floors can be expensive and time consuming. Unless you know exactly what you’re doing, you should definitely hire someone to install your hardwood floors for you. It may not seem like a terribly difficult task, but the margin for error is so small that you won’t want to risk having to spend more time and money doing them yourself. The cost of installing hardwood floors can vary, but expect to spend several thousand dollars to have a professional install them.
Types of Hardwood and Their Costs
There are a wide variety of hardwood floor types that you can choose from, and the one you choose will play a big role in how expensive the floors will be. Maple is one of the most expensive types of wood, but it is also one of the hardest woods and is very appealing. Oak is generally a softer wood and is easier to work with, and it is also available for a more reasonable price. Other types of wood in between include Ash, Cherry, Hickory and a variety of others.
Solid or Engineered Hardwood?
Solid hardwood is the more traditional style of hardwood floors, while engineered hardwood is more of the modern style. Both are durable and have their pros and cons, so most people make their decision based on the appearance. Solid hardwood is known for lasting for decades without showing a whole lot of wear and tear. Engineered hardwood can stand some wear and tear as well, but they also require a little bit more preventative maintenance. Durability and difficulty of installation are factored in to the price of each, but engineered hardwood is generally a little cheaper than solid hardwood.
Determining When to Install Hardwood Floors
Believe it or not, knowing exactly when it’s time to install hardwood floors can save you some money. If you’re building a new home, then you obviously have a specific timeframe that you have to decide when you want your hardwood floors installed. But if you are looking to replace your existing floors with hardwood floors, then you need to look at a couple of things before you pull the trigger on getting a new floor installed.
If you already have a hardwood floor in your home, but think it may be time to get a new one, then there are a few things you need to decide. See whether the floor simply needs to be refinished, or if it is actually necessary to replace the whole thing. Maintenance on a hardwood floor can be expensive, so if your desire for a new hardwood floor is cosmetic rather than a necessity, then you likely won’t be pleased with a simple refinish. But if you are satisfied with the floor that you have, but just aren’t pleased with how it looks due to scratches or dulling, then you may be able to save yourself a lot of money by refinishing it instead of replacing.
Overall Cost of Installing Hardwood Floors
It is difficult to nail down a cost estimate for installing hardwood floors, considering each home is different and there are so many options available. In general, though, you can expect to pay anywhere from $8-$12 per square foot for installing hardwood floors, which includes materials.
This cost can vary greatly depending on the type of wood that you choose and whether you are willing to do a lot of the prep work yourself. You can help save a lot of the labor cost if you remove furniture yourself and do a lot of the cleaning that is necessary before the new floor is installed. People like to save money by doing things themselves, but installing hardwood floors shouldn’t be one of those things. When people try to install hardwood floors themselves for the first time, they generally end up spending more money in the long run because of issues that arise and require more maintenance down the road.