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Kukun's flooring cost estimator is a useful tool to help you calculate your renovation costs instantly. The calculations take into account the area zip code, labor costs, and other relevant parameters. Simply enter your specifications and get a realistic estimate of your flooring cost right away!
Getting an estimate with Kukun's floor installation cost estimator is simple, is a confidential address-based estimator. Just follow the steps below to get the remodeling cost.
- 1. Choose whether you want the floor replacement of the whole house or just a few rooms
- 2. Add your address to calculate the recoup value
- 3. Enter your home size
- 4. Mention your property value
(You can rest assured, we do not share this information. It just helps us give you a better cost estimate because labor and material prices vary widely by geography.)
And there you go! A cost estimate for your flooring installation and recoup is ready!
What's more, you can personalize the data based on different finish levels - Value, Quality, and Luxury. You can choose and save your remodeling plan!
With this free estimate, you can analyze your finance options or hire a professional for their installation services. You can explore each contractor's profile, check out their online reviews, and view all their previous permits.
Well-installed, beautiful flooring improves the look, value, and comfort factor of your property. Once you make the commitment to install your new flooring, you need to know how much of an investment you require for this home renovation.
An estimate helps you organize your home improvement project and effectively manage milestones and costs.
Moreover, acquiring a free estimate for your flooring cost will help you create a realistic budget - getting you quality work at a fair price. It's also the best way to ensure that you don't stumble across any unwelcome surprises during the execution of your project.
The average cost for new flooring installation ranges from $6 to $10 per square foot. That amount can go as high as $18 per square foot depending on the materials chosen. Flooring for a medium-sized living room or dining room of 330 square feet will cost you approximately $1,660 to $4,650 for installation and materials.
Your complete flooring cost takes a number of factors into consideration, such as the total square footage of the space, the scope of renovation, your zip code, local labor costs, and the finishing details.
What are the factors that increase the total flooring cost?
- Size of the area.The cost per square foot typically decreases as the space gets bigger.
- Room shape. A flooring installer may charge you 15% to 25% extra in labor costs if the space has multiple corners or is oddly shaped.
- Condition of the existing floor. You will have to pay more if the subfloor needs to be leveled or repaired before laying the new flooring material.
- Ease of access. Roof repair or replacement on the second floor or higher stories will mean extra charges for you as the contractor will have to haul the flooring materials and equipment upstairs.
- Bathroom or kitchen flooring. Because of the permanent fixtures, the contractor will need to work around them and hence will charge more.
- Geographic location. Labor costs vary by as much as 12% to 20% in different zip codes - with contractors charging much more in high-income cities and neighborhoods than in less affluent areas.
The flooring material
The most relevant cost factor includes the type of flooring material used. For example, hardwood floor refinishing cost will be much higher than laminate flooring installation cost.
Here's a quick look at some popular flooring materials with their cost per square foot.
Flooring material | Cost per square foot |
---|---|
Hardwood | $10 to $18 |
Engineered wood | $6 to $20 |
Laminate | $6 to $9 |
Ceramic tile | $2.50 to $3 |
Porcelain tile | $3 to $10 |
Carpet | $1 to $3 |
Let's explore these flooring materials in detail:
- Wood flooring
Wooden flooring renders a feeling of warmth in a room. The neutral and natural material is not just pleasing to the eye, it's long-lasting, too. Usually, the thickness of solid wood floors ranges between 3/4" and 5/16".
Here are some wood species with their costs per square foot
Wood type | Features | Cost of refinishing hardwood floors per square foot |
---|---|---|
Brazilian walnut | Straight grain. Medium to rich deep brown. | $5 to $9 |
Pine | Rustic knots. Reddish brown hue. | $2 to $4 |
Hickory | Medium grain. Mid-tone, rustic look. | $3 to $6 |
Maple | Subtle grain. Natural creamy color. | $3 to $6 |
Red oak | Medium to heavy grain. Light pink to brown hue | $2 to $6 |
White ash | Fine grain. Soft tan to pale gray color. | $5 to $6 |
Bamboo | Vivid patterns. Pale to natural-brown shade. | $2 to $4 |
Here are some pros and cons of wood flooring to help you make an informed decision:
Pros | Cons |
Rich-looking, adds high value to a home | Needs to be sanded and refinished regularly |
Easy to maintain | Costly option |
Can easily create patterns such as herringbone, crosshatch, plank style, staggered, or parquet | May absorb moisture and warp |
Long-lasting | Can be noisy |
- Laminate flooring
The cost to install laminate flooring runs about $6 to $9 per square foot with labor cost of $34 per hour plus the contractor's fee of 15% to 20%.
Interestingly, laminate flooring is made when bits of wood left over after cutting lumber are subjected to high heat and pressure to form particle boards. These are then covered with a high-quality photograph of wood or stone and a transparent plastic layer.
This eco-friendly flooring is easy to install and doesn't require any nails or glue. Instead, it comes with a tongue-and-groove connection that snaps into place. Laminate flooring cost is more affordable than refinishing hardwood floors cost.
Pros | Cons |
Easy to install and easy to remove | Cannot be refinished, must be changed if damaged |
Easy to clean | Does not add value to your home |
Water resistant | Not waterproof |
Comes with a good warranty | If it's not tightly sealed, excess moisture can cause the laminate to swell |
- Vinyl flooring
The average cost to install vinyl or linoleum flooring ranges between $3 and $10 per square foot. This flooring is completely synthetic. It comes in a variety of thicknesses, patterns, and colors.
Pros | Cons |
100% waterproof | Can have off-gassing |
Quite durable | Tears or gouges can occur easily |
Soft surface | Adds no value to the home |
Easy maintenance | Difficult to remove |
Can be directly installed over your old floor | May fade in the sunlight |
- Carpet flooring
Carpet installation costs range between $1 and $3 per square foot on average. This amount doesn't include the cost of the carpet, the pad, the tack strips, or moving furniture. Keep in mind that if you want carpeting on stairs, around pillars or floor registers, or in small spaces or tricky corners - the installation price will go up.
You can choose between acrylic fibers, polyester, olefin, nylon, wool, or cotton carpets. Moreover, carpets come in a variety of styles known as cut, loop, or cut and loop. These are also known as piles. Keep in mind that the denser the pile, the better the grade of the carpet.
Pros | Cons |
Available in a huge range of colors, patterns, and styles | Seams may show if not professionally installed |
Soft and comfortable | May develop wear patterns in high-traffic areas |
Adds warmth to a room | Prone to staining |
Economical compared to hardwood or tile flooring | May attract bugs such as carpet beetles, fleas, and dust mites |
Absorbs noise |
- Tile flooring
The cost of tile flooring varies depending on the type of tile. While ceramic tiles run $2.50 to $3 per square foot, porcelain tile flooring averages $3 to $10 per square foot. Installation charges are about $5 per square foot on average. Keep in mind that tiles cannot be installed on an unlevel subfloor.
Pros | Cons |
Available in a wide variety (ceramic, porcelain, stone, clay, glass, and handmade tiles) | Hard and cold surface |
Durable, long-lasting | Installation and repair require special tools |
Easy to clean and repair | Need to be sealed every few years |
Water resistant | Slippery when wet |
Allergen-free | Not a DIY project |
- Measure the width and the length of the floor.
- Multiply the width by the length.
- Multiply the total square footage by the cost of material you want.
Flooring prices, including material and labor costs, are based on square footage. Flooring must be trimmed to accommodate floor registers, stairs, pipes, corners, and alcoves - that's why correct measurements are important.
Pro tip: It's a good idea to add 10% more to your total estimated square footage. This will factor in any flooring materials waste. And, if you're installing tiles, add up to 20% in square footage. You will need extra tiles for any wastage or cuts.
What are some of the additional floor installation costs?
Apart from the actual flooring, there are some tasks that require your effort and money. Some of these include:
- Leveling concrete subfloor: $2 to $3 per square foot
- Removing and disposing old flooring: $1.50 to $4 per square foot
- Repairing plywood subfloor: $1.70 to $2.15 per square foot
- New plywood subfloor installation: $2 to $3 per square foot
- Repairing single floor joist: $100 to $250 each
- Floor joist replacement: $300 to $1,000 each
- Vapor barrier installation (to reduce moisture and prevent leaks): $0.5 to $1 per square foot
What's the best flooring for resale?
When it comes to resale value, you'd want to invest in a flooring material that gets you the best returns (ROI).
According to real estate experts, natural hardwood floors fetch the biggest returns - about 70% to 80%. Installing new hardwood flooring can boost the value of your house by as much as 2.5%!
Pro tip: It's best to opt for darker floors as most prospective homebuyers prefer these.
The next best flooring options include natural stone tiles (offering an ROI of 60% to 70%)
You may even try high-end carpeting, engineered wood flooring, and porcelain tile. If your home floor is durable and looks attractive, you'll get good resale value.
It's very important that you plan your flooring project well in advance. Here are some tips to make the process easy and quick:
- If you're contemplating other renovation projects as well, remember that flooring should be the last item to be installed. Floors are prone to damage during construction.
- Measure the total square footage of the room carefully before beginning the work.
- Decide on the right flooring material according to the traffic flow.
- Prepare and level the existing surface before installing the new flooring.
- Make sure that the new floor is installed over a flat, clean, smooth surface.
- Plan your floor layout by pre-laying the boards - without securing them - to get a good idea of how it will look later on.
- Set a realistic home remodeling budget. Always include leeway for some surprise costs - experts advise adding 20% extra to your existing budget.
- Check your local building code for permit requirements.
- Work with expert flooring contractors. A professional finish goes a long way in adding to the beauty and value of your home.
- Get a warranty or guarantee and a written contract from your contractor. The document should detail the complete schedule, deadlines for milestones, and payment information.
- Maintain a timeline in order to manage a seamless job. If you want non-hurried remodel work, try to avoid the busy spring and summer seasons.
These steps will help you avoid unexpected hassles and issues - making your flooring project go smoothly. Happy renovating!
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- Appliances
- Basement Remodel Cost
- Bathroom Renovation Cost
- Bedroom Remodel Cost
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- Countertops
- Dining Room Remodel
- Door Refinishing
- Electrical panel upgrade
- Exterior painting
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- Flooring replacement
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