How Much Do New Floors Cost?

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If you are currently considering new flooring you probably realize that it is difficult to get an idea of how much money you need to budget for your project. Let's face it, if you walk into a flooring store without a specific idea of what you want it can be overwhelming. In many of the "big box stores" it is almost impossible to know what your bottom line cost will be for any particular project. Many consumers start making product selections without knowing if they are selecting products that are way out of their price range or products that may be inadequate for their purpose. Additionally, because people don't buy floors everyday it takes some time to educate yourself as a consumer to what choices are available. If you are looking for a better way to buy flooring that is less frustrating there is a solution.

I believe the best way to start a flooring project is to determine an approximate budget for your project. Once you have established a budget you can then select products that match the amount of money you have available to spend. The first item in establishing a budget is to determine the amount of square feet you intend to include in your project. Simply measure each room's length and width and multiply them together. For example a room that s 15 X 15 feet is 225 square feet.

Once you have an idea of how many square feet are in your project you need to determine how much a specific type of floor will cost you on an installed basis. Below you will find a guide I like to use for 3 popular types of floors:

Carpet $3-4 PSF installed with pad

Wood $8-9 PSF installed

Tile $6-7 PSF installed with grout

Now keep in mind these are rough estimates of mid-range products. In each category there are products that could cost more and some that could cost less. After you have your budget in mind then you can look for products that are outside of this range.

Once you select the product, multiply it by the square footage of the project and that will give you a budget to use as you select your products. So for the room that was 225 square feet above the product budgets would be as follows:

Carpet 225 SF X $4 PSF = $900

Wood 225 SF X $9 PSF= $2,025

Tile 225 SF X $7 PSF= $1,575

Now that you know an approximate budget for your project you can begin selecting products that will fit your specific need. Good luck and enjoy the process.

What Factors Determine The Price And Quality Of My Wood Floors?

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Walk into a typical flooring store and you will see lots different options for a new wood floor. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine what the differences are and what might be the right selection for you. I will outline some of the differences you may see and how these differences will affect your final price.

What species is the wood - The biggest differentiator of wood flooring is what species of wood is used. Some domestic species include oak, hickory, cherry, walnut, and maple. Some exotic species include Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba), Acacia, Mahogany, and Tigerwood. Wood floor prices vary significantly depending on the availability of the species. Oak is the most abundant domestic wood therefore oak tends to be one of the least expensive floors. Walnut is less abundant therefore you should expect to pay more for it. Don't let the term exotic fool you into thinking it is more expensive. Many of them are very abundant and are very affordable. Species such as Brazilian Cherry and Acacia are priced similarly to our Oak and Hickory floors.

One note of caution is that exotic floors are subject to significant color variation and will change color over time. Many of these woods have natural color throughout the wood and have little or no stain. When exposed to light they can darken over time.

Thickness, Width and Layers - Another set of items that determine the cost and quality of a wood floor is the thickness, width and the number and thickness of layers. Engineered wood floors commonly come in thicknesses of 5/16" to 9/16" with most being 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick. Typically you pay more for thicker products and less for thinner products.

Wood floors will also vary in width. Most floors come in 3" and 5" wide planks though some can even be wider. Typically you pay more for wider products and less for thinner products.

Examine the side of the board and you will see different numbers of layers, different thicknesses in the veneer or wear layer and different types of filler layers being used. Typically you pay more for a thicker wear layer and more for multiples layers of wood. Less expensive varieties have fewer layers and use lower quality fillers.

Finishes - Wood floors vary significantly in their finishes. Some styles are a more traditional or furniture type of finish. The wood is smooth and the finish tends to be glossy. In order to get a smooth finish many of these woods require fillers for the grain. Better quality floors use fillers and will feel less grainy than lesser quality floors.

Handscraped or distressed floors have a wavy and rough finish with more of the natural wood character. These tend to cost more than a traditionally finished floor.

Just like buying most products, when you buy wood floors you are typically getting what you pay for. If a wood is priced much lower than other woods in its class it is because there is a difference somewhere. When trying to make a decision on your floor first determine the style and species you want, then, carefully review the differences in the products you are considering. Good luck - I hope this helps you get a great value.