Here are the key gene to deliberate when installing new hardwood floors ( and how to budget accordingly ) .
Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular floor options for householder and was once a staple of stately homes . The vintage feel and overall durability make it a classic choice that is hard to beat . But hardwood flooring is also generally expensive . So before you begin your renovation , you ’ll need to decide if the cost of hardwood floor matches the note value .
grant to Thumbtack , the average price to install solid Mrs. Henry Wood floors is $ 5-$10 per square human foot and , slightly less at $ 4-$9 per square foot to install direct wood . The variant is based on the eccentric of wood you use and the complexness of the installation summons . The species , grade , cut , and calibre of the wood plays a large part in shape the total installation cost .
Credit: Anthony Masterson
Consider the Species of Wood
There are many metal money of wood to choose from , but mutual choices for hardwood are cherry , walnut , oak tree , maple , and hickory . Each change in style and damage . There is a cadence of harshness call Janka to order hardwood . The high theJanka score , the more Ezra Pound of force ( lbf ) the wood can withstand . Hickory is one of the hardest American hardwood with a Janka score of 1,820 lbf . Maple is between 1,450 and 1,500 , and reddened oak tree is 1290 . Walnut and cherry red have a lower Janka score but are suitable for floor .
White oak tree , red oak , and maple are some of the most affordable domestic hardwoods . Walnut , cherry tree , and ash can be more depending on handiness . Imported or rarified kind are the dearly-won hardwood metal money , with teakwood , Venetian red , Tigerwood , and Brazilian Ebony among the popular varieties that are more expensive .
Most age , you ’ll want to come out with your druthers of wood mintage first , then feel a supplier . But givensupply chain shortage , you should begin by measure the amount of flooring you call for , then looking for a woodwind instrument variety that is available in the quantities needed . Sir Henry Joseph Wood variety can be stained to match the lifelike colour of another variety . This workaround might be appealing to keep costs low and insure that you have enough Natalie Wood available to fill in the line of work .
Credit: David A. Land
The pattern of pollex is to regularise 5 % to 10 % more than you think you need . This will cover any loss from trimming or the occasional miscut .
Types of Wood Flooring
There are two wood flooring options available : satisfying wood plank and engineered hardwood planks . Solid forest planks are authentic pieces of wood . The average cost for solid wood plank is $ 3-$8 per square foot and installation costs roughly $ 5-$12 per square animal foot . If right cared for , self-colored hardwood planks have a 100 + year life span .
Engineered hardwood has two layer . The lower layer consist of crossed plyboard made from less expensive woodwind . The top stratum is a solid hardwood . mastermind wood costs $ 3-$8 per square foot and $ 5-$8 per hearty foot for installation . The lifespan is 30 - 50 year . Aside from the cost , the most coarse welfare of engineered hardwood is that it handles moisture well . These planks are ideal in bathrooms , kitchens , and other place that pull high-pitched humidity .
Hardwood Floor Installation Considerations
Hardwood installationtypically depart with removing a home ’s existing flooring . The monetary value for removal varies depending on the materials in place and the area covered . Carpet is easygoing to removeand price around $ 1 per square infantry , whereas paste - down coldcock cost around $ 2-$4 per square foot to move out .
The facility cost increases importantly if self - level concrete need to be used to bushel lowly spots in the concrete or if the subfloor involve to be interchange . Expect to give between $ 1,000 and $ 1,500 for material and labor to stream concrete to level the subfloor .
The installation requirements for different type of hardwood , specially engineered hardwood , vary significantly . It is important to always see to it the manufacturer ’s rule of thumb to see if subflooring or other support are commend . Of naturally , these come with a damage tag of their own .
If there are many cut and passementerie of hardwood postulate to cover the storey , installation will take more metre and could cost more money . This might be the cause in a home with a non - traditional layout or spate of alcoves or angles . Also , installing hardwood on stairs is unremarkably estimated separately because installing cost more for this time - consuming work .
Of naturally , if you ’re handy and patient , installing hardwood blow out of the water yourself could shave 100 off the total cost . But facility companionship tend to bring large work party that can apace get the job done , so your family can get back to living faster . DIY projects of this order of magnitude can be disruptive and lengthy than anticipated .
Hardwood Flooring Finishes
Less expensive finishesinclude water - based and petroleum - based polyurethane , which is DIY - favorable and easy to apply . pricy professional - quality finishes include acid - cure and penetrating oil cultivation . Aluminum oxide is primarily available on factory - finished hardwood plank .
The hardwood finish you prefer impacts the cost , but finishes protect the wood so this is not the place to skimp on value . Choose the culture that ’s salutary for the wood kind you have chosen .
How to Save on Hardwood Flooring
For savings , deliberate refinishing instead of replacing haggard hardwood floors . refinish hardwood is generally less expensive than installing it novel .
you’re able to also save by pulling up the exist flooring yourself . Carpets , in particular , tend to be well-to-do to slay , making it an easy way to relieve .
Lastly , grass around for different wood species . remark that the visual aspect of the wood grain can bear on the cost ; the unclouded the grad , the more expensive . And remember : staining a less expensive wood can generate the same aesthetic as buy a more expensive variety with the same hue .
