Hardwood flooring makes a beautiful addition to any home. As a homeowner, you can be proud of this long-lasting traditional flooring option but you probably would like to know how much it will cost.
As a general estimate, you can expect to pay between five dollars and $20 per square foot on wood flooring. To get a more specific amount, choose the floor that you want to have installed and calculate the cost per square foot. You can then measure your room length and width and multiply those two numbers to get the square footage. Multiply the square footage by the cost per square foot to get your estimate.
You might be wondering why there is such a wide range of costs when it comes to hardwood flooring. Quite simply, this is due to the quality of the floor, which will vary from one type to another.
For example, you may have a thin hardwood floor that will be less costly than a thicker hardwood floor. In fact, the cost is often associated with the thickness of the floor.
You also need to consider the type of wood that is being used. If you’re using a harder to come by wood then you can expect to pay a lot more per square foot. Most homeowners tend to go with engineered wood, which is more stable and costs less.
Let’s consider some of the many different factors that are associated with estimating the cost of hardwood flooring. You can then be in a better position to get the price you need and get started.
Calculator at the bottom of this page. The next lines talks about how it’s calculated.
Hardwood Flooring Cost Estimator / Calculator
The first step in the process of estimating the cost for hardwood flooring is to get the square footage of your room. This is not always a straightforward calculation.
The basic calculation for determining square footage is to multiply the length times the width in feet. You can also do the same in inches, but that you will need to convert it from square inches to square feet.
If your room is not perfectly square but it was intended to be either square or rectangle, measure both widths and lengths and use the longer numbers from each in your calculation. You may have a little overage, but you will need to purchase some overage anyway.
They’re going to be times when you have bump-outs and other odd shaped rooms that need to be calculated as well. These can be calculated separately.
It’s best if you have a basic drawing of the home where you are doing the installation. To the extent possible, break things down into rectangular or square areas to start taking the measurements.
This may mean that you have multiple areas within the home that need to be calculated. It’s much easier to calculate those smaller sections and then add them together than trying to do a complex calculation to get the square footage.
Calculating the Overage
Another factor that needs to be considered in any flooring job is overage. There are going to be mistakes that are made and perhaps damaged products that will require you to buy more than what you will need.
The exact amount of overage is going to vary from one job to another but generally speaking, an average of 15% more than what you will need for the exact square footage is a good place to start.
Talk to the store where you are purchasing the hardwood flooring. There may be instances in which they will allow you to send back a few packs of unopened wood without having to pay a restocking fee.
It is always better to have a little wood left over at the end rather than nothing. If you have some damage to the floor at some point in the future, you can use the extra wood at that point to fix the problem from the same lot.
There are many other factors to consider when you are looking at a cost estimator for hardwood flooring. Sometimes, a simple online calculator is not going to tell the real story.
A good example of this is if you have an old floor that needs to be torn out before the new floor is installed. This can really make a difference in the cost and is not going to be the same price in every case.
Obviously, it is going to cost more to do the demo on an old tile floor and have it removed in comparison with pulling up linoleum or laminate. If you have to pay a contractor to do this, it’s best if you contact them and get a quote in advance.
Other factors to consider include if you need to buy or rent any tools for the installation. You may also have to fix the subfloor so that you have a good, solid base where the new installation will take place.
In the end, remember that any hardwood flooring cost estimator is only going to provide you with an estimate. You can expect there to be some variation in the overall cost, even when you try to get as accurate a price as possible.
How To Calculate Hardwood Flooring Needed
Do you need to calculate how much hardwood flooring you need? The good news is, regardless of the price per square foot, the calculation is the same.
To calculate how much hardwood flooring you need for the project, begin by measuring the square footage of the area. This is done by measuring the width and length and then multiplying the two numbers together. If you have multiple rooms, get a square footage for each room and then add those numbers together.
Even if you have an accurate square footage for the home down to the inch, you still may not have the exact number needed for calculating the hardwood. Why is that?
First of all, there are going to be factors that can change how much wood you are going to use. These can include mistakes that you make when cutting or measuring or it could include damaged products.
Of course, if you have a lot of damaged products, you will need to talk to the store or manufacturer. You can expect, however, for there to be a piece of damaged product here or there that you will just need to eat.
The amount that you need is known as overage. Typically, you will need anywhere from 10% up to 20% of overage. It’s best to go with the higher number if the store allows you to return unused product that is still in an unopened package.
To calculate the final figure, take the square footage and multiply it by 1.1 to get 10% overage or by 2.2 for 20% overage.
How To Calculate Cost Of Hardwood Floors
Now that you have a good idea of the amount of hardwood floor you need, it’s time to begin considering the cost. It’s better to determine the amount first, because the cost will fall in line.
To calculate the cost of a hardwood floor, take the square footage plus any overage and then multiply it by the cost per square foot. Generally speaking, you will find the cost per square foot on the side of the box or it may be listed with the price at the store. Some stores will even break it down as a cost per box and a cost per square foot.
The cost of the material is one of the biggest expenses you will have. It is also one expense that is constant, depending upon the quality of the hardwood floor you are purchasing.
Other things can also play into it, including the cost of removal of old hardwood floor, extra overage that is purchased, materials that are needed, and tools that are needed.
You may also have to consider the installation cost of the floor, which we will look into next.
Calculator at the bottom of this page.
How To Calculate Cost Of Hardwood Flooring Installation
The installation of hardwood floor will add to the overall cost of the project. How can you get an accurate estimate?
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on April 5, 2022.
Calculating the hardwood flooring installation is very similar to calculating the cost of the floor itself. It is often figured in a square foot amount. When you talk to a contractor or to the store where you purchase the wood, they will often tell you how much additional cost it will incur if you purchase installation along with the floor. They will typically break down installation into square footage, although some may go by room.
It may be possible to save money on the hardwood flooring material or you may be able to save on the demo of the old floor. Those prices tend to be more fixed, but you can adjust how much you are spending by adjusting how much you spend on installation.
Before we talk about how to lower the installation cost, it’s a good idea to understand that you have to be happy with the final product. Choosing someone that is less expensive but will do an inferior job is not going to be acceptable.
If you really want to cut down on how much you are charged for the installation, try to go with an all-in-one package. Choose a large store or a contractor that will provide both the hardwood floor and the installation services. They will typically charge less because they make their profit on both.
Otherwise, look into new contractors or use a handyman in your local area. Some may even offer coupons that will save you more money.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on April 5, 2022.
Other Things To Consider When Estimating A Hardwood Floor Project
One important factor to consider when estimating a hardwood floor project is that it is not all about money.
It is a good idea to consider finances when estimating a hardwood floor project. At the same time, however, you may be able to cut corners in one area and save money without having to lower the quality of the job that is done. It is better if you find an option for lower-cost installation rather than going with a lower quality hardwood.
Have you looked into the difference between engineered wood and true hardwood? Most people go with engineered wood because it is more durable and it still has a high quality, beautiful finish.
That is really what you want when all is said and done. You won’t be able to tell the difference between engineered hardwood and a true hardwood floor once it is down.
Then again, if you are just looking for bragging rights, you may want to choose the most expensive hardwood floor you can get and then tell everyone exactly what you have installed in your home.
Estimating hardwood flooring cost is a matter of calculating the square footage of the room and then multiplying that number by the cost per square foot of hardwood. You also need to factor in everything associated with the job, including the removal of the old floor, tools, equipment, and the installation cost for the new hardwood.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on April 5, 2022.