The type of flooring you choose and the location of installation might significantly affect your costs. The price to install 500 square feet of flooring ranges from $1,491 to $4,553, with the national average being $2,985.
- Regular Price: $1,491 to $4,553
- Average nationally: $2,985
No matter what kind of flooring you have now, it will ultimately lose its luster. Carpet will fray while hardwood will show scrapes and wear from foot traffic. There are numerous solutions available if you want to replace the floors in your house for any reason. Additionally, being aware of every aspect of the installation procedure can help you estimate the cost of the flooring.
Expect to spend between $1,491 and $4,553 on flooring installation if you want to have new flooring put in your home. For 500 square feet of covering, the national average is about $2,985; this average price includes both materials and labor. However, depending on a number of variables, such as whether the old floor needs to be taken out, the subfloor needs to be rebuilt because it was damaged, or hazardous materials need to be cleaned up, the price may go up.
Factors in Flooring Installation Cost Calculation
Despite the fact that most flooring projects cost $2,985 on average for 500 square feet, the exact cost will depend on how many square feet you need to cover. This may also differ depending on where in the nation you live, as urban locations have greater labor costs due to increased living expenses. Additionally, if you choose more expensive flooring, the price may increase. How much the installation company may charge to remove the old floor is another important aspect that could increase the cost.
✾ Floor Material
The primary factor that will have an impact on the financial results of a flooring installation project is the type of flooring material used. For instance, adding carpet often costs $3.50 to $11 per square foot, whereas installing hardwood typically costs $6 to $22. Tiles made of natural stone, ceramic, or porcelain are also more expensive options; natural stone tiles can cost anywhere between $6 and $20 per square foot and ceramic or porcelain tiles can cost between $15 and $20 per square foot.
✾ Floor Size
Another key cost element is the area of the floor; installing 200 square feet of flooring will cost less than installing 2,000 square feet. The cost of labor will also depend on the size of the space that needs to be refloored. While one person can install tile in a small space of the house, like the foyer, a big kitchen might need more than one person.
✾ Labor
The size of the floor and the type of flooring contribute significantly to the price of installing flooring. But another significant expenditure that affects the bottom line is labor. Flooring installation labor might cost anything from $0.60 to $4.00 per square foot. Less labor-intensive tasks like gluing down planks or placing heavy tiles are more expensive than simpler installations like floating hardwood flooring over an existing floor. If labor is necessary to remove flooring, there may be an additional fee, and labor prices will depend on how difficult the removal is. At a rate of $60 per hour, it will take around 3 hours to remove a stapled 12-foot by 12-foot carpet. However, it will take longer and be more difficult to remove a carpet that has been glued down.
✾ Location and Travel Distance from Home
You might have to pay travel expenses if you live a long way from the installation of your choice or in a remote location. Ask if you're in the service area of a flooring installation professional before hiring them, and find out if there are any extra fees for travel outside of that area.
Additional Charges and Factors
Like any home improvement project, there may be unforeseen expenses that raise the final total. For instance, you can be charged by a flooring installation business to relocate your furniture. There will be an additional charge if the subfloor needs to be repaired or replaced because it is in bad shape. You could, however, not always require these services.
✾ Furniture Relocation
Moving your furniture is one service that a floor installation company could charge you for. You can avoid this expense if you can move the furniture yourself. Additionally, since most installation teams won't move little or fragile items, you should remove those as well.
✾ Steps and Additional Features
The price of placing flooring on stairways or other elements in your home is an additional expense you can face. For instance, you should budget between $3.50 and $11 per square foot and between $11 and $26 to carpet each step if you want carpet laid on your staircase. The cost of installing hardwood on stairs is roughly $160 per step.
✾ New Baseboards and Subfloor
Since the subfloor is hidden beneath the flooring, finding out if there are any issues with it requires removing the flooring. The subfloor may have concerns with dampness or sinking. Costs will increase if the subfloor needs to be repaired in some places or replaced entirely. A new subfloor will typically cost between $2 and $2.50 per square foot. In addition, there can be extra fees for removing the damaged baseboards and replacing them with new ones.
✾ Underlayment
Usually, underlayment is not necessary for tile, vinyl, or hardwood. However, carpet and laminate typically require it. As a moisture barrier between the subfloor and the flooring, underlayment serves a major purpose. However, it can also improve adhesion, reducing footfall noise and offering a smooth, comfortable surface. Expect to pay an additional $3.41 to $5.32 per square foot of underlayment if it is required.
✾ Taking Down the Current Floor
Some types of flooring could be able to be put down over previous flooring. However, the majority of flooring producers advise removing the old floor first. This is a wise decision because there can be an undiscovered issue with the subfloor. Additionally, the new flooring may raise the floor too much, making it difficult to open and close doors. Depending on the type of existing floor, different floors have different removal costs. For instance, the cost per square foot to remove a tile floor ranges from $1.49 to $3.18.
✾ Testing for Hazardous Materials and Cleanup
A floor installation team cannot start the installation procedure until the dangerous material has been removed if they suspect or find it during the removal phase. Before the flooring installation can begin, you will need to engage a specialized team to remove any mold or asbestos from the area. While asbestos removal costs $75 to $200 per hour, mold treatment costs between $10 and $25 per square foot.
✾ Finish
For natural stone, wood, or concrete floors, a floor finish is advised since it will preserve flooring in good condition even in high-traffic areas. These floor types can be sealed for between $0.84 and $1.75 per square foot.
✾ Additional Resources
Additional materials that you might be paid for include transition strips in addition to any flooring that might need to be replaced. These decorative accents not only improve the appearance of your floor but also stop different types of flooring in your house from cracking, fraying, or peeling. A Z-bar or hardwood trim can be installed by a floor installer to cover the joint between two floor sections. Costs for each transition range from $90 to $139.
Flooring Types and Installation Prices
Despite the $2,985 national average, the price of installing a floor can change depending on the kind of flooring you choose. One of the more expensive options, with installation costing on average $4,540, is hardwood. Choose between laminate or engineered wood for a more economical wood choice. Or you could select a totally different kind of flooring, like carpet or tile. The most common floor kinds that homeowners have put in their houses are listed below.
✾ Hardwood
One of the most popular types of flooring is hardwood flooring. For 1,000 square feet, wood flooring costs between $6,000 and $22,000. However, these prices may increase or decrease depending on the grade and type of hardwood. Pine is one of the less expensive possibilities, with more expensive exotic woods like Brazilian walnut and cypress.
✾ Laminate
Laminate is a kind of artificial flooring that is designed to seem like hardwood. Essentially, it consists of a translucent layer on top of an image of wood with wood particles affixed to it. Laminate wood flooring offers the appearance of hardwood at a much lower price. For 1,000 square feet, installing laminate flooring costs roughly $5,500.
✾ Engineered Timber
Laminate wood and engineered wood are extremely similar. The distinction is that it is attached to a thin natural wood veneer rather than an image. Because of this, engineered wood is more resilient and may be available in a range of widths that solid wood does not. Additionally, it is less expensive than hardwood. However, because the veneer is so thin, the number of times engineered wood may be refinished is constrained. The price of engineered wood per square foot ranges from $4.50 to $16.
✾ Tile
In foyers, baths, and kitchens in particular, tile flooring is a popular choice. Ceramic, porcelain, glass, marble, and granite are the most popular materials for tile flooring. Expect to pay between $6 and $20 for natural stone tile flooring installation and between $15 and $20 for porcelain or ceramic tile flooring.
✾ Carpeting
Carpeting is a different common type of flooring. After World War II, it became fashionable, but in recent years, interest in hardwood floors, which have improved in style, price, and durability, has caused its popularity to decline. For 1,000 square feet, installing carpet will cost between $3,500 and $11,000. The cost of materials alone ranges from $2 to $7 per square foot.
✾ Stone
Stone is becoming more and more fashionable, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens. Natural stone comes in a wide variety of varieties, including marble, granite, limestone, quartz, and quartzite. Because it is more slip-resistant than conventional stones, engineered stone is also becoming increasingly popular in residential spaces like the bathroom. The price per square foot for installing stone tile ranges from $6 to $20.
✾ Linoleum and Vinyl
Linoleum and vinyl are both similar types of materials, but vinyl is more widely used and long-lasting whereas linoleum's prime has passed. Linoleum is generally produced from linseed oil, which is obtained from flaxseed, while vinyl is entirely created of synthetic materials. Linoleum might be preferred by environmentally aware customers despite the fact that vinyl is thought to be more robust and requires less maintenance. For 1,000 square feet, vinyl and linoleum flooring range in price from $3,000 to $7,000.
Is a New Floor Necessary?
You can want a new floor for a variety of reasons. One explanation could be because you're sick of the worn-out flooring you now have. Another reason is that a stager may advise you to replace the floor while you're attempting to sell your house so as not to deter potential buyers. And finally, if your current floor is having issues, you might need a new one.
The most frequent issue with the floor will be general wear brought on by repeated use. Particularly in the case of wood floors in foyers or frayed carpets where the kitchen and living room intersect, some floor surfaces may be substantially more worn than others. Other issues could include excessive wood floor squeaking or cupping as a result of recent water damage.
✾ Flooring that is Dated and Old
It's important to replace your floors if they're old, especially if they have carpet. With the right care and maintenance, carpet normally lasts between five and fifteen years. Replace the carpet if the floor has numerous stains, unpleasant odors, tears, or burns. Additionally, it could be wise to replace the carpet if you think it's contributing to a respiratory condition. You need to replace your old flooring in addition to the carpet. It could be time to replace your vinyl and parquet floors from the 1970s and 1960s, respectively.
✾ Cracks, Soft Spots, Peeling, and Unevenness
Your floors are they level? Does the floor feel soft when you step onto it, particularly near a refrigerator or a washing machine? This could mean that in addition to your flooring being ruined, your subfloor might also be harmed by dampness. Even the presence of soft areas could indicate a pest issue. The only surefire approach to find the source of the issue is to hire a flooring contractor to remove the current flooring. However, if the peeling or cracking is confined to a single location, you might be able to refinish the floor.
✾ Sounds and Odors
Different smells develop in homes throughout time. But a persistent musty odor is one that you must never overlook. Mold or mildew is typically indicated by this. This growth typically occurs between the flooring and the subfloor. If this is the case, your only option to resolve the moisture problem and get rid of the musty smell is to replace the flooring. Similarly, if there is a lot of creaking, this may point to subfloor issues that need to be fixed before installing new flooring.
Gains from New Flooring
The biggest advantage of purchasing new flooring is that you require it. Floors suffer from antiquated designs, stains, burns, cracks, and general wear. You'll feel better about the general decor of your home if you acquire an updated design or completely change the style. Here are a few more advantages of installing new flooring.
✾ Increased Value of Homes
New floors can be a boon for buyers and enhance the selling price for sellers because installing flooring can be a laborious procedure that many potential purchasers may not want to embark on. The typical return on investment (ROI) for new floors is between 70 and 80 percent, and installing a hardwood floor can raise the value of your property by roughly 2.5 percent.
✾ Better Appearance
The stunning effect a new floor installation will have on your area is one of the most obvious reasons to do it. New flooring, regardless of the material, transforms a room without the need for new furnishings or a significant makeover.
✾ Health Advantages
It might surprise you to learn that replacing old carpets could be good for your health. The American Lung Association claims that lead, mold spores, pet dander, and other toxic elements that might be harmful to your health can be retained in carpets. Therefore, changing the flooring or getting a new type of flooring altogether might improve the health of the people living in a house.
✾ Enhanced Effectiveness
You may have heard that replacing your home's doors and windows will increase its energy efficiency, but did you also know that installing new floors can accomplish the same thing? In the harsh winter months, carpets can be extremely useful in keeping heat inside your home. A home's temperature is also controlled by materials like wood, stone, and tile, keeping it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
Cost of DIY Flooring Installation vs. Professional Installation
DIY flooring installation can cost as little as $0.50 to $15 per square foot, while professional flooring installation can cost anywhere from $3 to $22 per square foot. While it may be tempting to choose floor installation based solely on lesser costs, this isn't the only thing you should take into account. It can be difficult to install floors, especially hardwood floors. Before installing the wood, you must not only allow it to acclimate for a few days, but you must also ensure that the subfloor is within the ideal moisture range by using the right tools. Failure to follow these procedures and others that experts are aware of may eventually cause moisture problems with your hardwood. When laying floors, it could be a good idea to use a reputable professional floor installation team. To begin, run a search for "flooring firms nearby."
How to Reduce the Cost of Flooring Installation
Whether you plan to sell your home or not, flooring installation is a big investment that can add significantly to its value. The cost of flooring can add up. It's never a good idea to pay for things that are not necessary, and it's always pleasant to find ways to save money. Here are some tips for lowering the cost of installing flooring.
- Request several price estimates from installers and suppliers of flooring.
- Watch out for any seasonal specials.
- You must relocate the furniture.
- Inquire as to whether you can remove any of the flooring yourself.
- Instead of an exotic hardwood floor, pick materials that are more reasonably priced, like engineered wood.
- Ask the flooring installer about a referral discount if other homes in the area were constructed around the same time as yours and your neighbors are considering installing new flooring.
FAQs
The floor installation procedure involves a lot of moving pieces, which might result in a range of expenses. Additional costs, such as underlayment for carpet or laminate, could appear throughout the floor installation process. Additionally, you can be charged for post-installation services like applying a finish to hardwood or natural stone. The following are some of the most often asked questions about flooring costs, even though this guide covers a lot of the various costs associated with projects including floor installation.
How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring over 1,000 square feet?
Hardwood installation typically costs between $6 and $12 per square foot. Therefore, depending on the grade or kind of wood used, installing 1,000 square feet of hardwood will cost between $6,000 and $12,000.
How do you determine how much it will cost to lay flooring?
By knowing the square footage of the room, the kind of material being installed, and its cost per square foot, like in the example above, you may create a preliminary estimate of how much your flooring installation will cost. However, additional costs for the flooring removal and trim installation could raise the final cost to between $9,000 and $13,000.
What is the typical installation time for flooring?
Installation of most flooring typically takes a day. The installation time may be increased by a day if the old flooring needs to be removed, which can be challenging because the floors are glued down. Hardwood flooring can take one to three days to install. However, with hardwood floors, keep in mind that in order to prevent damage during installation, they must acclimate to the interior temperature of the home. As a result, the wood will often be delivered by the installers three to four days before installation starts.
