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| Typical costs: | - Installing a standard solid-strip hardwood floor averages about $8 a square foot for materials, insulation and site finishing, and up to $12 a square foot for wide pine planks, or $1,150-$1,750 for a 12x12-foot room.
- Factory-finished wood starts at $8 a square foot installed, but generally runs $10-$14, or $1,140-$2,000 for a 12x12 space.
- Bamboo runs $4-$6 a square foot, uninstalled, or $575-$865 for material for a 12x12 space Other pre-finished, environmentally-harvested exotic woods such as Brazilian cherry or Australian cypress are $4-$13 a square foot, or $575-$1,870 (installation extra) for 12x12-feet.
- Complete installation of laminate flooring is $7-$11 a square foot, including foam underlay and glue, or $1,000-$1,585 for a 12x12-foot floor.
- HardwoodInstaller.com lists estimates for various installation tasks. Fees in urban areas may be higher and rural projects can cost less.
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| What should be included: | - Wood floors can be solid, engineered or laminate; BetterHomesandGardens.com gives a good overview of each type as well as a quick list of exotic options, such as cork or Santos mahogany. ThisOldHouse.com gives ideas for custom-designed laminate projects with borders and multiple patterns, as well as how to choose environmentally-friendly "green" flooring.
- Floor installation takes as least intermediate-level handyman skills; detailed do-it-yourself instructions for laminates are provided by DIYNetwork.com; for solid hardwood floors visit HomeTips.com.
- New wood flooring should be stacked inside the room for up to a week before installation to allow it to adjust to your home's indoor humidity level. Always buy a waste allowance of 5 to 15 percent extra, depending on the project's complexity. Unfinished floors must sit for a week or two after being installed, the finishing process can require several coats, and the floors can't be walked on for several days. The fumes can be strong, and some people aren't able to stay in a house where the floors are being finished.
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| Additional costs: | - Custom borders and patterns can look fantastic but bump up installation costs by $1-$2 or more a square foot, adding at least $144-$288 for a 12x12-foot room. The more custom the project, the higher the additional expense. Ripping out old flooring, moving furniture out of the room, odd-shaped layouts or steps can all add to the bottom line.
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| Shopping for hardwood floors: | - HoskingHardwood.com, consultant to the This Old House television show, provides a wide range of products, available with installation; iFloor.com also features a range of wood floor products and brands.
- Check a company with the Better Business Bureau and ask for and contact references. Get at least three on-site estimates where they measure the room and see all aspects of the project. Ask about experience, training, licensing and insurance. If you can see a previous flooring project, notice the finishing touches on the edges of the room, at thresholds and along stairs.
- Ask if the installer will move furniture, seal off nearby rooms with plastic, cut the wood outside (it's an extremely dusty process) and if the estimate includes quarter-round trim to cover gaps between the wood flooring and baseboards. Finishing details vary widely, know exactly what approach each contractor plans to use.
- A written contract should include all specific materials to be used, the work to be done, cost, dates within which the project will be completed and a payment schedule. Try for the minimum possible deposit, and tie payments to actual material deliveries and specific work done.
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Article updated November 2006 |
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