Cost to Install Prefinished Hardwood Flooring
| Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Costs | Zip Code | Square ft. | |
| Basic | Better | Best | |
| Prefinished Hardwood Flooring – Material ... | $390.00 - $420.00 | $480.00 - $515.00 | $585.00 - $675.00 |
| Prefinished Hardwood Flooring – Labor Co ... | $105.00 - $110.00 | $130.00 - $150.00 | $165.00 - $175.00 |
| Prefinished Hardwood Flooring – Total | $495.00 - $530.00 | $610.00 - $665.00 | $750.00 - $850.00 |
Full Answer
How much do you save on prefinished hardwood flooring?
Visit every supply house that sell your particular brand of Prefinished Hardwood Flooring products and try to negotiate a better price with each supplier – I save on average 20% .
When to get contractor pricing?
Try to get prices in late Fall, early winter – you should expect aggressive pricing discounts by waiting for a contractor’s down season.
How Much Does Prefinished Wood Flooring Installation Cost on Average?
Plank flooring installation costs on average $6.75 per square foot for materials and installation, or $6,750 for a 1,000 square foot home. However, this doesn’t include, site preparation, underlayment fixes closets and pattern changes.
Prefinished Wood Flooring – Pricing and Installation Cost Checklist
Get at least 3-5 estimates before hiring a prefinished wood flooring contractor — estimates are typically free, unless it’s a service call for a repair.
What are the benefits of unfinished hardwood floors?
The Benefits of Unfinished Hardwood Floors. Complete Sealing: Hardwood floors finished at the jobsite have the advantage of the entire floor being sealed – joints and edges as well. Prefinished floors have only their boards sealed – floor joints are susceptible to damage from water and other liquids as well as dirt and bacteria.
Does hardwood flooring come pre-applied?
With the advent of manufacturers offering hardwood flooring that comes with stain and protective coatings pre-applied, there has been a debate as to whether this offers any benefits over traditional flooring that is finished post-installation. This article breaks down the two options and discusses the benefits of each as well as the costs associated with these two hardwood floor finishing options.
Is a prefinished floor sealed?
Complete Sealing: Hardwood floors finished at the jobsite have the advantage of the entire floor being sealed – joints and edges as well. Prefinished floors have only their boards sealed – floor joints are susceptible to damage from water and other liquids as well as dirt and bacteria.
How much does prefinished hardwood cost?
Prefinished hardwood flooring will typically cost you from $5 to $20 per square foot for the materials. Some quality, custom, or exotic materials could cost you up to $25 or even a little more per square foot.
How much does it cost to install prefinished flooring?
The installation of prefinished flooring will cost you anywhere from $3 to $5 per square foot. Conversely, the installation and finishing of unfinished flooring can cost anywhere from $4 to $10 per square foot. Taking the materials and installation into consideration, prefinished flooring will cost anywhere from $8 to $25 per square foot while unfinished will cost anywhere from $7 to $25 per square foot. As you can see, the costs are similar whatever option you choose.
Why is Prefinished Flooring More Popular?
Because of prefinished flooring’s simple installation, durability, and lifespan, it has become the more popular option.
What are the benefits of unfinished hardwood floors?
One of the major benefits of unfinished flooring is found in the sheer number of options available. You will be able to use a large range of different hardwood species including oak, maple, pine, and mahogany. Additionally, you can customize the floor the way you want and can pick your stain color, sawn profile, and finish system. You can even add customizable personality features like borders or inlay.
Why do you need to prefinish hardwood floors?
However, this may not fit the aesthetic that you are striving for. That’s the point why prefinished has a distinct advantage because you can get prefinished hardwood flooring that has a scratch resistant coating applied to it. Some even have a coating to protect against yellowing caused by the sun. All of this means that your floor will generally last longer until you will have to have your floors refinished or replaced.
How long does prefinished wood flooring last?
The flooring is durable and long-lasting. Typically, you can expect prefinished flooring to last anywhere between 10 and 50 years. However, there is a limitation on the type of wood grain and color that will be available to you.
What is prefinished hardwood flooring?
Prefinished hardwood flooring is stained and sealed before installation. It usually refers to solid hardwood, but engineered wood can also be prefinished. This type of flooring is factory-finished and coated with polyurethane. In addition, some manufacturers include anti-scratch coating or sun guard protection on their products.
How much does prefinished hardwood cost?
Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Cost. Prefinished hardwood flooring typically costs between $3 to $20 per square foot for materials, though many very good products are available at the lower end of this price range. It is the unusual hardwoods that tend to be quite expensive.
How much more expensive is prefinished hardwood?
It is the unusual hardwoods that tend to be quite expensive. These prices make prefinished hardwood roughly 30 percent to 50 percent more expensive than unfinished hardwood, though remember that you will save the time and expense of sanding, staining, and finishing the planks.
What is the most popular brand of prefinished hardwood flooring?
The most popular brands for prefinished solid hardwood flooring include: Bruce: This is the wood flooring arm of flooring giant Armstrong. Bruce offers a massive selection of more than 200 prefinished solid hardwood options, as well as more than 100 engineered hardwood products.
What does it mean when a prefinished floor is thick?
On a prefinished floor, however, the thick seal layer means that when a section of flooring becomes damaged, the only way to repair it is to either sand the finish off of the entire floor or remove and replace the broken section.
What is Bruce flooring?
Bruce: This is the wood flooring arm of flooring giant Armstrong. Bruce offers a massive selection of more than 200 prefinished solid hardwood options, as well as more than 100 engineered hardwood products. Bruce is widely available at the big-box home improvement retails.
When did hardwood flooring become popular?
But since the introduction of prefinished solid hardwood during the 1940s, this newer form of flooring has become increasingly popular, and today you may find ...
How much does it cost to install hardwood floors?
Installation labor generally costs another $6 to $8 per square foot, though you should expect labor costs to be on the lower side of this range for unfinished solid hardwood since the workers won't need to sand, stain, and varnish the flooring.
How much does wood flooring cost?
The cheapest wood flooring is usually pine. It can run from $1.50 to $5 per square foot. Less expensive wood species of hardwood, such as oak or American cherry, cost between $5 to $15 per square foot. More expensive species, such as Brazilian walnut or mahogany can run up to $8 to $18 per square foot. Wood flooring typically comes in boards that measure 3 inches wide or less. Wide plank flooring can cost anywhere from $1.50 to $12 per square foot for the boards and between $3 to $4 for labor. There are fewer boards to cover the area when using wide planks, and in turn, less to pay for labor.
How to figure out the cost of hardwood flooring?
To figure out how much the wood flooring will cost, calculate the square footage of the room, then add 5 to 10 percent for cuts and waste. Take that figure and multiply it by the square foot price of the flooring to find the cost. Don’t forget to add on the price of extras such as nails, moldings, and thresholds. The formula for calculating overall cost is:
What is the best wood for hardwood flooring?
The first thing homeowners may think of when deciding on types of hardwood flooring is the overall color. For a light and airy look, turn to paler woods, such as ash or maple. Hickory or oak add warmth and should work for a room that needs a medium wood shade. For those who prefer a darker wood color, mahogany or walnut will provide a dark, rich tone. Each type of wood will vary in price range, with oak and hickory on the lower end and mahogany on the high end of the price range. Wood grain will also affect the price. Plain-sawn planks, with the grain running across the plank in a wave-like pattern, are the most affordable. Quarter-sawn or rift-sawn planks that have the grain running in lines down the length of the board are more expensive. Some wood types, like oak, will have a tight and highly visible wood grain, while others, like white ash or acadia, will have a variation of grain patterns and contrast.
Why is my wood flooring scratching?
If the wood flooring has chips and scrapes that penetrate deep into the wood, the floor ing becomes susceptible to water damage due to the missing coating or varnish. Worn stain can lead to more serious issues such as splintered or warped wood, both of which call for a replacement.
How thick is 3/4" wood flooring?
The standard thickness for wood flooring is 3/4-inch. Some hardwood flooring can be found as thin as 5/16-inch but this can affect refinishing. Solid 3/4-inch planks can be sanded and refinished up to 10 times. Thinner boards can’t be sanded as much and will not stand up to repeated refinishing.
Why replace hardwood floors?
Aside from floor damage, there are other reasons to replace hardwood flooring. Wood flooring adds to the overall value of the home and helps increase its marketability. Brand new hardwood flooring can transform a home by providing a fresh new look.
What is a select grade for wood flooring?
A “select” grade is given to wood flooring that has more of a natural appearance with knots, variations in color, and mineral streaks.
How much does it cost to install engineered hardwood?
Installing engineered hardwood costs $6 to $11 per square foot on the low end, all the way up to $12 to $23 per square foot for exotic hardwoods. When comparing traditional and engineered wood, the main difference is in the construction of the wood itself. As discussed, traditional wood is just solid wood, prepared into boards or planks.
How much does it cost to install hardwood floors?
Hardwood flooring installation costs $6 to $23 per square foot with most homeowners spending between $8 and $15 per square foot on average. The main pricing factors include the type of wood you select and labor costs for professional installation.
What is engineered wood?
In contrast, engineered wood is constructed with multiple layers of hardwood and plywood. Based on the way these layers are created and positioned, engineered hardwood helps prevent any bowing or warping of the wood following exposure to moisture.
How much does engineered wood cost per square foot?
However, the wood itself is slightly more, costing an average of $5 to $10 per square foot. Highest tier – Top-of-the-line engineered hardwood can have as many as seven layers or more. The top veneer is also significantly thicker, and the layers are often made from exotic woods.
What is traditional flooring?
Traditional flooring is solid wood without any layers – in comparison to engineered wood, which is constructed with multiple layers of hardwood and plywood. Both are durable, high-performance options, so it just depends on your personal preference. Wood Flooring Cost Per Square Foot. Floor Grade.
How wide is a wood floor?
Wood flooring typically comes in 3 different grades. Also, wood floors are available in narrow boards or planks. These range of approximately 3 inches to 7 inches in width respectively. In terms of how much traditional wood flooring costs, the most significant factor is, of course, the type of wood you select.
How much does engineered maple cost?
The coloration ranges from white to a light red tone. Average cost: $3 to $6 per square foot. In comparison, engineered maple typically goes for $10 to $12 per square foot.
How much does prefinished wood cost?
Prefinished solid wood floors initially cost more than unfinished wood flooring—about $2 per square foot for a good grade of red oak. But once you factor in finishing costs, prefinished ends up being less expensive.
Why do I choose prefinished hardwood flooring?
So, when it comes to installing solid or engineered wood planks for new floors, I choose prefinished hardwood floors to simplify the installation, color application, and sealing into one step among numerous other reasons. Some pros may disagree. To decide what will work best in your home, first get to know what separates the two options with these key points in the case of prefinished vs. unfinished hardwood flooring.
How long does it take for polyurethane to dry?
With flooring that is finished on-site using oil-based polyurethane, the homeowner must wait days, sometimes even weeks, before moving furniture back into the room. Even though the floor may be dry to the touch, it will be vulnerable to scraping until the waiting time has elapsed and the finish has fully cured. I once had to shuffle around in socks and remain furniture-less for four weeks after applying three coats of poly to a floor. (Waterborne polyurethane finishes dry to touch quickly but can have varying cure times—some quite long.)
How long does it take to finish a wood floor?
A crew of two had our 300-square-foot solid wood floor installed, with underlayment, in only about two hours.
When to use unfinished floors?
Unfinished floors are preferred when the space is under construction or large renovation. Many contractors prefer to wait until the end of the job to finish the floor. That way, a dropped tool or a mortar pebble under a work boot can’t mar the finished floor—and ruin customer relations.
Is Mullican red oak flooring durable?
Not only are they better than what homeowners or contractors can apply on-site, but these factory-applied finishes are also incredibly durable and often come with a lifetime warranty. The Mullican red oak flooring, shown above, will stay new-looking for longer. It came with a PPG UV-cured resin and nanoparticle coating that is highly scratch- and abrasion-resistant. I can’t even scratch it with my fingernails.
Do prefinished floors have VOCs?
Prefinished floors have fewer VOCs to affect your family’s health. For days after applying an oil-based polyurethane, you will smell and breathe in vapors from polyurethane resins and solvents. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been shown to be carcinogenic, and some waterborne polyurethanes produce them, too.
