At Charlotte Hardwood Floor, we’ve been installing quality wood floors in homes across the Charlotte NC region for the past 14 years. One common question among homeowners interested in wood flooring is what does it cost to have hardwood floors installed in their home. The truth is that it depends on a variety of factors. Below we discuss what factors are taken in consideration when pricing out an installation, as well as provide ballpark figures on what to expect in terms of costs to have new hardwood floor installed.

A typical wood floor installation in the metro Charlotte NC costs between $6 and $14 per square feet. High end installations that demand a higher skill level and top of the line wood planks will usually cost between $14 to $25 per square foot or more. The total price per square foot includes material and labor.

To determine how many square feet of flooring you will need, you can measure the rooms where you want hardwood floors to be installed and add 10% to those measurements for cuts and waste. Some additional factors to take in consideration include:

The cost of removing the existing flooring;

  • The removal of trims and re-installation or the installation of new trims and baseboards;
  • The condition of the subfloors – are they in good shape or do they need repairs and to be leveled;
  • Specie of wood floors you want installed. Exotic species and more expensive than American species;
  • Pre-finished or unfinished hardwood floors. If unfinished, wood floors will need to be sanded, stained and buffed on site;
  • Type of wood floor installation: nailed down, glued down or floating;
  • Hardwood floor layout – horizontal, Herringbone, parquet, etc…

PRICING OUT A HARDWOOD FLOOR INSTALLATION

REMOVAL OF EXISTING FLOORS

The first step in determining the cost to install brand new hardwood floors is to price the removal of the existing flooring. The price will be different to remove floating vinyl planks as compared to tile floors. The more difficult the removal, the higher the overall cost of the installation.

SUBFLOOR REPAIRS

The condition of the subfloor is an important factor to consider when determining the overall cost of installing new wood floors. It might be difficult to determine what that cost will be prior to removing the existing flooring as those types of issues are usually concealed. Subfloors that are damaged or uneven will need to be repaired before new flooring can be installed. When doing an in-home consultation, the professionals at Charlotte Hardwood Floor Specialist will be able to pinpoint issues with the subfloors. Other considerations include the type of subfloors you have, wood or slab which will determine the type of installation needed (nailed down, floating, glued).

WOOD SPECIE

The type of wood you select for your flooring will affect the final price. Exotic species like Brazilian Cherry and Brazilian Walnut cost more than White Oak and American Cherry for example. Keep in mind that exotic species of wood are usually much harder than American species and are more durable.

PRE-FINISHED VERSUS UNFINISHED

Whether you opt for pre-finished or unfinished hardwood floors will affect the final cost of your flooring installation. Unfinished flooring will need to be sanded, stained and buffed on site which will add to the overall cost of the installation. The advantage of unfinished hardwood floors is that you can select a custom stain color and finish it with the stain color of your choice.

INSTALLATION METHODS

Your hardwood floors can be installed in one of several ways for a customized, unique look. Traditionally, hardwood floors are installed laterally using the same width planks. However hardwood floors can also be installed using a Herringbone or parquet pattern, or yet using planks of different width. The more complex and intricate the hardwood floor installation is, the higher the overall cost will be.

Even though the national average cost for hardwood floor installation is between $2,500 and $6,750, there are so many variables involved that it is difficult to estimate the final cost without doing an in-home consultation. If you live in the Charlotte NC area and are looking to get a quote for the installation of wood flooring in your home, contact us today to request your free in-home consultation.