You’ve probably already beautified your walls to your wanted shade, the lighting is perfect, windows are installed well, and your furniture’s about to grace rooms. But wait, have you put thought on the floors, which will tie your rooms together? That is where hardwood floors come along, which holds numerous benefits, such as adding texture and warmth to rooms.
However, it would cost about $2,40 to $4,000 to purchase and install 200 square feet of this flooring, which adds up to around $12-20 per square foot. This overall cost would depend on the following:
- The type of wood
- The wood’s grade and cut
- If the wood were solid or engineered
- How much preparation, work, and cleanup contractors need to do
This means it can go beyond $4,000 to have hardwood floors installed! This is quite a lot to many homeowners, but fortunately, there are ways you can save money on the total costs. Here are a few tips to follow:
Refinish over replacing
Instead of completely replacing floors, you can opt to refinish worn-looking hardwood floors instead. This is the least expensive option, which will work best if you’re confident that your current floors will look great after it’s gone through sanding from reputable places like Max Francis floor sanding services. After sanding, apply 1-2 fresh coats of finish.
What’s great about hardwood floors is that they last long and can still look close to new ones after being refinished. You can refinish solid hardwood multiple times, while engineered hardwood can be refinished less than solid.
Shop species
Homeowners are already shopping with a look and style in mind. Look into the colors and shades that will look attractive with the home design you currently have.
If you love light-colored floors, then you may want ash or maple wood. For medium-shade lovers, opt for hickory or oak. Those who love dark-colored floors, you’ll like mahogany or walnut.
Take note that each type of species would have its own price range. Hickory and oak are usually at the lower price range, with mahogany being more expensive.
Consider the grain
- The wood’s grain, coming from how wood is cut from the sawmill, would affect its price.
- Plain-sawn cuts are when the grain would run across the board, usually in wavelike patterns. These are less expensive.
- Quarter or rift-sawn cuts mean that the grain is running lines down the board’s length. These are more expensive.
Selecting the grade
Hardwood floors have their own grade, based on their physical characteristics. Planks would be graded clear if they feature uniform colors without knots and/or wormholes. Select grade has more of a natural look, having different color variations, mineral streaks, and knots.
Number 1 common grade would have more knots and color variations, with the risk of wormholes. Number 2 common is the rustic version of number 1.
That said, a clear grade is pricier per square foot compared to select. Common grades are the least expensive, though you may find sales that offer discounts on clear or select graded wood.
Solid or engineered?
When you have considered the appearance and grade of your hardwood floors, the next part is to choose between solid or engineered hardwood. Solid wood, as the name suggests, is a board or plank cut straight from its tree. Engineered wood would have a veneer of hardwood on top of layers of plywood, making it resistant to moisture.
If you want hardwood floors underground, like in a basement, do have it engineered. As for the prices, there are different qualities of both types of wood, so it’s difficult to know which is more expensive than the other.
Remove and dispose of existing flooring yourself
Another way to save on money is to rip out your old flooring, disposing of it correctly. This is because contractors would charge homeowners doing this service, often being pretty pricey.
If you are knowledgeable and able to do this yourself, then this can save you a few hundred dollars.
Consider installing the floor on your own
If you’re familiar with how to install hardwood floors on your own, you may want to try this option, which can save you a lot on service fees. However, take note that installing hardwood floors isn’t a simple DIY project. When laying hardwood floors, you’ll need more experience that goes beyond gluing boards and nailing them to subfloors!
With that in mind, you can find a lot of YouTube tutorials on installing hardwood floors, or how to remove your current floors. Home improvement stores may also offer lessons on how to do this.
I don’t recommend this tip to every homeowner, though! If you have a lot of patience, adequate tools, and DIY skills, you may want to try installing it yourself. But if you’re not a DIY person and lack the knowledge, time, and tools, then you are better off paying a reputable yet affordable contractor to do the job.
Wrapping It Up
Hardwood floors may be pricey, but you get what you pay for! By choosing the right type of material and opting for less expensive options without scrimping on quality, you can save a lot. And if you are skilled in doing some of the labor when installing hardwood floors, you can get a head start and save on the labor fees.
Follow any of these tips to save on your hardwood flooring installation now!