The installation of wood floors can enhance any room in your home. An investment in hardwood flooring will not only bring years of lasting beauty and enjoyment to your home but can increase its appeal and its resale value.  

This article will break down the cost of hardwood floor installation to help you decide whether or not new wood floors are a suitable investment in your home.

Average Cost of Harwood Floors

According to data collected by LawnStarter, hardwood flooring prices range from $2,245 to $6,110 in 2023.

The national average hardwood flooring installation costs $4,140 for a 200-square-foot room. The total cost varies depending on the type of wood, the space’s size, the installation complexity, and several other factors. 

So, the average per-square-foot cost of hardwood floors ranges from $7 to $16, including labor and materials.

Choosing The Right Wood Species for Hardwood Flooring 

You can’t always choose the most affordable wood species as it needs to fit and match your home. An important factor you have to consider when choosing the type of hardwood flooring is the climate. Certain types of hardwood will expand and contract as the temperature changes. This can cause cracking and damage. As a result, homeowners who live in extreme cold or hot weather climates will want to choose hardwood flooring best suited for temperatures that fluctuate.

Of course, you want to choose your species wisely, and the cost isn’t going to be the only factor. You will likely want to select a certain hardwood species for your floor based on style, décor, and your home’s individual needs. As an example,  Radiant heating systems may also be a factor, so it is best to consult your professional hardwood floor installation expert for their opinion on the hardwood floor that is right for your individual needs.

How Much Will a Complete Hardwood Floor Replacement Cost?

If you are considering a complete hardwood flooring installation, the prices will vary depending on the project’s size. For example, based on a total of 2,000 square feet, you can expect an estimated price ranging from $9,800 to $24,500. 

Still, the dominating factor in the total price is the wood species you choose. Different wood species have different price points based on quality, availability, and demand.

The most affordable types of wood, such as pine, cherry, and red oak, can cost you between $3 and $10 per square foot. If you choose midrange hardwood floors, like teak, birch, or Brazilian walnut, the cost can run between $8 and $15 per square foot. 

If you decide to go for high-end exotic hardwood flooring, like tigerwood or cabre-uva, it can cost you upward of $20 per square foot.

How Much Will a Single Room Hardwood Floor Installation Cost?

When installing hardwood floors in a small area of your home, say approximately 500 square feet, the price may then be between $3,500 to $8,000.

Determining Hardwood Flooring Costs Based on Other Factors

When determining the cost of a hardwood floor installation, several other factors should be considered in addition to the square footage and the hardwood species you choose for your flooring project.The other determining factors in the price of hardwood flooring installation are: 

• The labor and the type of wood floor design you choose
• Uneven subfloor and joist repairs
• Finishing and coating

For example, if your solid wood floor installation specialist is required to do additional work to your floor’s underlayment, like sanding or other floor prep, expect that you will have to pay even more. This will also be true should you decide to go with a complicated or unique wood floor design, like a herringbone pattern or parquet floor.

1. Labor and Style 

The labor is about 35% to 50% (between $3 and $8 per square foot) of the overall cost. Another factor affecting the cost of labor is the hardness of the wood. 

For example, the Janka rating determines the hardness and density of hardwood floors. A wood type with a high Janka rating, like walnut, is more challenging to install than a softwood like pine, which drives up the cost. 

Labor costs may vary depending on the complexity of the pattern you choose. The simpler the pattern, the lower the price. Some per-square-foot prices for patterns include: 

• Wide Plank – $3 to $15
• Herringbone – $5 to $16
• Parquet – $20 to $45

2. Uneven Subfloor and Joist Repairs 

If the subfloor is uneven, it can drive up the cost by as much as $1,500 to create an even surface needed for the hardwood floor installation. Also, if the structural beams beneath the floor (joists) are damaged, they will require repair. If removing the old floor ultimately reveals more serious issues, such as mold or rot, additional costs will likely be incurred for materials and labor. Joist repair can cost between $40 and $60 per square foot. 

3. Finishing and Coating 

Due to being made of natural material, hardwood floors are more prone to damage, so the installer applies a finish or coating to the surface. There are several types of finishes for hardwood available, including polyurethane, the more expensive penetrating resin finish, or eco-friendly waxes and oils.

Choosing A Wood Floor Installation Expert

According to statistics, half the cost of a hardwood flooring installation job is labor. A respected hardwood floor installer will provide you with a free estimate that includes a complete breakdown of costs so that there are no surprises.  

When deciding who to use as your hardwood floor installation contractor, you should always:

• Shop around: It’s okay to get estimates from one or more hardwood flooring contractors. When it comes to any home improvement job, you should always seek at least of three different job estimates.
• Check reviews and ratings: Before considering a hardwood floor installer for your job, be sure to look for ratings and reviews.
• Ask for references: Most hardwood flooring contractors will be happy to provide you with photos and references from jobs they have completed for satisfied customers. When you hear how a contractor handled a previous project, you’ll be able to make an informed judgment about how well they might complete your job.
• Ask important questions right away: You’ll want to ask the contractor how long they think it might take to finish the job. Ask them if they are responsible for cleaning up the job site and removing debris once the project is complete. You will also want to ask if they do the work

Refinishing Instead of New Hardwood Floor Installation

If you already have hardwood floors and they are salvageable, sometimes refinishing them is an excellent alternative to completely replacing them altogether. The process of refinishing hardwood floors is sanding down the top layer of the flooring and applying a new coating to restore its shine. This will remove scratches and gouges that can accumulate over a lifetime of use. Refinishing can breathe new life into your hardwood floors, giving them a smooth and shiny surface. The average cost of a hardwood floor refinishing project will vary based on how much square footage of floor space needs to be addressed. On average, Refinishing can cost between $3 and $8 per square foot.

Are New Hardwood Floors Worth the Cost?

The truth about any home improvement project is that what may be valuable to some may not necessarily be of value to others. If you are someone that enjoys the look and feel of solid hardwood floors or if your existing damaged hardwood floors are driving you crazy, the installation of hardwood floors in your home may be an excellent option for you.

The hardwood flooring cost may be worth it as it adds value to your home. So, if you decide to sell your house down the line, the added value will raise the price significantly.Often, you can recoup the installation cost through the sale of the home and possibly even get a higher return on the investment. According to the National Association of Realtors, the investment recovery on hardwood flooring is around 106%. But even if you don’t plan to sell, installing hardwood floors is a worthwhile investment lasting decades. 

As noted above, installing new hardwood floors will cost more than having them repaired, sanded, and refinished.

Let the PA Wood Floor Experts at Artisan Wood Floors come in and examine your floors first and help you to decide what is right for you. When looking for hardwood floor installation in PA or NJ, or just a sanding and refinishing, call Artisan Wood Floors at (215) 515-7355 and ask for Steve!