Articles | Cost Of Hardwood Floor Installation

Hardwood flooring is often considered to be the most beautiful and most durable flooring option. These types of floors will even boost the value of any property. Homeowners find that they can choose between a large variety of styles and finished when it comes to hardwood floors. Some of the woods are engineered while others are solid and there are pre-finished and on-site finished available as well.

There are many different variations when it comes to the overall cost of hardwood floors. One of those variations is the cost of hardwood floor installation. If you consider a 250 square foot room, you will need to think about the type of hardwood used for the flooring, the fees that might be associated with removing the old floors, any furniture moving needed, and old flooring haul away among many other things.

Hardwood floor installation can be a do it yourself project, but because hardwood is so expensive, it is important to have it installed right. The material will have a better warranty if it is handled properly. The average cost of hardwood floor installation will not only include the hardwood flooring itself but also the other materials that are needed to do the job right. Those materials include possible plywood for the subfloor, underlay, sealants, cleansers, and many other materials.

The average carpenter will charge somewhere in the neighborhood of $20-35 per hour for labor in addition to all of the material costs. With experience, installing a hardwood floor in one 250 square foot room should not take longer than one day. It is more cost effective to allow a professional to tackle the job, especially when it comes to man-hours.

Another thing to consider when looking at the budget for the cost of hardwood floor installation is the smell that can permeate the house during the process. Some homeowners want to leave the house for a day or two during the installation process because the glue smell and other fumes can be quite nauseating. If the area that is undergoing installation cannot be isolated, it might be a good idea to stay in a hotel for a night or two until the home airs out.

There are many things to consider when you are thinking about updating your home with new flooring. It is easy to visit the stores and price the actual materials. The harder part comes when you think of cost of hardwood floor installation as a whole. Shop around between the various stores and don't be afraid to ask questions. Many of the installers will even match prices at other stores if you find materials you really like in one location but not another. Remember, you are making a long term investment in your home and when you install hardwood floors, the return you get if you sell your house will well outweigh what you pay in installation and material fees.