How Much Does Hardwood Floor Installation Cost?

It’s hard to beat the natural beauty and allure of hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring comes in a wide range of colors, grain patterns, plank sizes and wood species. It is typically easy to find a style that adds classic appeal to your home’s interior. Before installing, it is important to consider hardwood floor costs. Continue reading to learn more about the cost to install hardwood floors, pros and cons, and more.

How Much Does Hardwood Flooring Cost?

The cost of your hardwood floor installation will vary depending on the type of hardwood planks you choose. Solid hardwood planks can cost around $4 to $12 or more per square foot. Higher-end hardwood options, such as imported walnut and mahogany, often cost more than $12 per square foot. Engineered hardwood often costs less than solid hardwood at around $3 to $14 per square foot.

Hardwood Flooring Installation

Hardwood is one of the most popular flooring options for kitchens and living rooms

• Easy to Clean

• Great Value

• Multiple Wood Options

• Lasts 10+ years

Average Cost per sq. ft:

$3 - $14

Hardwood Flooring Cost by Type

While hardwood flooring generally costs between $3 and $14 per square foot, costs can vary greatly by the type of hardwood you choose to install. Hardwood varies in quality by the type of wood, the finish, durability, and more.

Below is a general guide to the costs associated with different types of hardwood flooring. All prices are given in a range, reflecting the low end (more basic options) to the high end (luxury options), per square foot:

Keep in mind that engineered wood flooring is an option if you like the look of hardwood but have a smaller budget to work with. Engineered wood looks and feels much like real hardwood. Lower-end engineered hardwood can cost as little as $3 per square foot.

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Hardwood Flooring Installation and Labor Costs

In addition to the cost of hardwood itself, you will also have to factor in labor and installation costs to the total price of your project. Below you can explore the most common labor costs associated with hardwood floor installations:

• Installation: $3 to $10 per square foot. This cost can vary based on the complexity of the installation (e.g., a simple room versus a pattern like herringbone), the condition of the subfloor, and local labor rates.
• Underlayment: $0.30 to $0.80 per square foot. Some types of hardwood may require an underlayment to be installed underneath the flooring.
• Trim and Molding: Costs for trim, molding, and thresholds can add up. Expect to pay between $5 and $10 per linear foot, depending on the material and design.
• Old Flooring Removal and Disposal: If you are replacing flooring, you will likely need to pay for flooring removal. Costs for this service can vary but might be around $1 to $3 per square foot.

Remember to ask your local contractor if the price they quote includes installation, underlayment, and trim, or if those are additional costs. Prices can vary significantly by region and contractor, so it’s always best to get three to four quotes. Always check for sales or discounts, and don’t forget to factor in the cost of removing and disposing of your old flooring if necessary.

Keep in mind that while hardwood flooring can be more expensive upfront compared to other flooring options, it is also known for its longevity and ability to be refinished, which can make it a cost-effective choice in the long term.

Hardwood Floor Trends to Be Aware Of

Our most recent survey data reaffirms hardwood flooring’s timeless appeal. In a survey of thousand of Modernize homeowners, 16% indicated they already had hardwood floors in their home. Of more than 2,500 homeowners who plan to replace their floors in the next year, an additional 15% say they will choose hardwood flooring.

7 Factors to Consider Before Installing Hardwood Floors

If the time has come to replace worn or outdated flooring in your home, there are many reasons to consider hardwood over other flooring materials. There are so many options available – it’s important to choose the right kind of hardwood flooring for your needs. Here are some factors to consider:

Design

Hardwood flooring offers nearly limitless design options since wood species vary by color, grain pattern and texture. Different types of finishes also can compliment the wood’s natural luster.

Plank Size

Hardwood planks vary in width, and that size has a tremendous impact on the visual appearance of the flooring once it’s installed. Traditionally, floor planks were milled to 3-inch widths, but wider widths such as 6, 8, 10 and 12 inches are more commonplace today. Wider planks have fewer seams and can make small rooms and narrow hallways appear more spacious.

Solid or Engineered Hardwood

Solid hardwood planks are milled from single pieces of wood and have a tongue on one edge and a groove on the other. They are either prefinished or sanded, stained and finished on site after installation, and they can be sanded and refinished multiple times if necessary. Engineered hardwood, meanwhile, is made by gluing together alternating layers of plywood or fiberboard underneath a hardwood veneer. The alternating layers make these planks much more dimensionally stable. They will not contract or expand. However, the thin hardwood veneer does not lend itself to sanding and refinishing.

Wood Species

There are many types of domestics trees harvested for wood flooring. However, the most common include oak, hickory, maple, ash, birch, cherry and walnut. Each species has different qualities and characteristics such as appearance, grain and color. 

Finish

Plank flooring can be finished in a clear gloss with high or low sheen, or it can be distressed by hand scraping or wire brushing, techniques that will change the overall appearance of the floor.

Durability

Wood’s hardness is rated by an industry standard called the Janka Hardness Test – the amount of force needed to mechanically embed a steel ball into the wood. Red oak, at 1290 on the Janka Hardness Scale, is the industry median. Ash (1320), maple (1450), and hickory (1820) exceed that mark. Brazillian cherry is the hardest flooring on the market at 2350 on the Janka Hardness Scale.

Cost

Hardwood flooring can be either moderately expensive or extremely pricey depending on the species you choose. Domestic hardwoods tend to be less costly than imported hardwoods. Installation, meanwhile, usually varies by the complexity of the job. For instance, prefinished planks are typically easier to install than unfinished planks that are completed onsite.

Discuss these factors with a flooring contractor prior to beginning your new project to help ensure you stay within budget and fully enjoy the final results.

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Advantages

In addition to style and beauty, hardwood floors offer many benefits for homeowners. These include:

• Easy to clean. Like concrete floors, hardwood floors are easy to maintain. Sweeping or vacuuming removes daily dust and dander, while regular damp mopping with a wood floor cleaner can remove any built-up grime or stains. Some hardwood flooring shows streaks, so you may have to use a dry towel after mopping.
• Long-Lasting. We mentioned above about hardwood’s durability ratings. There’s a reason why many homes on state historic registers still have their original flooring – hardwood lasts. To achieve the optimal lifespan, make sure to care for your hardwood floors routinely.
• Hypoallergenic. Wood doesn’t trap dust, dirt, dander and similar allergens. So long as you routinely clean your floors, you can enjoy fewer allergens present in your home.
• Value. Wood floors are an excellent investment. On average, homeowners can expect to recover between 70 to 80 percent of their original investment, as well as appeal to a wider range of potential buyers during resale.
• Aesthetics. Hardwood flooring’s visual appearance seamlessly blends into both traditional and modern design schemes.

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Disadvantages

Hardwood does have some potential drawbacks to keep in mind. A few disadvantages include:

• Cost. Exotic wood species, while beautiful, can make your flooring renovation budget soar. Likewise with top-quality domestic hardwoods. Natural hardwood planks also are very labor-intensive to install, which further escalates the total cost of new hardwood flooring.
• Noise. Hardwood doesn’t dampen ambient noise like other flooring options. Area rugs can help improve a room’s acoustics.
• Damage. Even the hardest wood flooring is susceptible to scuffs, scratches, dings and dents, especially in high-traffic areas. It is also prone to water damage. You may have to refinish your hardwood flooring down the road.
• Limited Usage. Hardwood floors are a natural fit for most areas of the home. Although hardwood can be installed in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms, you should pay heed to the fact that wood and water don’t mix. Water leaking or spilled from bathtubs, showers, toilets, sinks, dishwashers and washing machines will likely cause unsightly buckling and warping in your hardwood floors over time. Also, replacing even one or two damaged planks is a difficult repair job.

Pre-Finished vs. Unfinished Hardwood Planks

When choosing hardwood for your flooring installation, you will have the choice of either pre-finished or unfinished hardwood planks. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages.

Pre-finished Hardwood

Pre-finished hardwood planks are stained and sealed prior to being installed in your home. Any type of hardwood species can be pre-finished. Pre-finished hardwood planks allow for an easier, less messy, and less smelly installation process. It also comes with a more durable surface that is scratch and stain resistant, and can be refinished when necessary. On the downside, pre-finished hardwood comes in less design options and typically costs more than unfinished hardwood.

Unfinished Hardwood

Unfinished hardwood planks will arrive to your home in their natural form, free of any sealant or finishes. You might want to choose unfinished hardwood if you want a custom stain or finishing applied. Typically, unfinished hardwood is sanded and then sealed with protective finishing in your home during the installation process.

Unfinished hardwood planks may be desirable to you if you prefer the beautiful seamless look of no lines between hardwood boards. This will result in a flat flooring featuring planks that blend well. On the other hand, unfinished hardwood installations take longer to complete and are also a bit messier, since sealing and finishing happens in your home.

How to Find Local Hardwood Professionals

Wood flooring is one the most beautiful coverings you can install in your home. However, due to the incredible range of products available, choosing the right hardwood flooring can be intimidating.

Modernize can put you in touch with great flooring contractors in your area that can help you pick out the perfect hardwood for your flooring renovation project and budget, as well as get the installation done correctly.

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