If you're looking to invest in your home, installing new hardwood floors is a smart move. Due to their durability and elegance, hardwood flooring adds value to your home. But this type of flooring can cost more than other flooring, such as laminate.
With a larger financial commitment, you may want to consider how to save money in the long term when shopping for the species of hardwood. You'll also want to consider installation fees, since they can get quite expensive as well. Luckily, there are ways to curve the steep prices of buying new hardwood flooring.
How much is hardwood flooring? We'll go over the average cost of hardwood flooring species as well as installation costs. Plus, we'll explain helpful ways to stay within budget while shopping for your new hardwood floors.
The Average Cost of Wood Species
How much is hardwood flooring? There are many different types of hardwood species available. Depending on where the species is grown, the cost may vary. You can expect to pay anywhere from $3 to $12 per square foot of wood.
Domestic hardwood species are trees that are grown in North America, like Oak, Maple, and Cherry. If you're on a budget, then you'll appreciate the prices of domestic hardwood species. Since this type of wood is grown close to home, the price stays affordable. Domestic hardwood usually stays on the lower end of the price spectrum.
Exotic species of hardwood are more expensive than domestic hardwoods. Typically, exotic species are grown in South America, Africa, or Asia. Because they cost more to ship and aren't as available as domestic hardwoods, they are quite expensive. You should expect to pay more for exotic species than domestic species of hardwood.
Engineered domestic hardwood is typically priced similarly to solid hardwood. But, engineered exotic species hardwood is sometimes significantly cheaper than its solid wood counterpart. Because of its plywood core, engineered wood uses less of the expensive, rare wood. So, if you love the look of a particular exotic hardwood species, but it's out of your price range, you should check out an engineered option to see if you can save money that way.
Installation Costs to Consider
Unlike other types of flooring, such as laminate, installing hardwood floors takes a bit of skill and expertise to get right. If you are confident and have installed hardwood floors before, then you can save on labor costs. However, most people should consider letting a professional install their new hardwood flooring.
How much is hardwood flooring installation? Labor can cost anywhere from $3 to $8 per square foot. If you are planning on redoing the floors throughout your whole house, the total price of the project is going to be significant. But one of the most important advantages of professional flooring installation is no costly errors. It's easy to make an error when installing hardwood and end up costing a lot more money than hiring installers to do it, especially when you are working with expensive hardwood.
The Overall Lifespan of Different Types of Hardwood Species
Installing hardwood flooring is an investment. You should consider the longevity and maintenance of various hardwood species to ensure that you are making the best long-term decision. One of the ways to prolong the lifespan and quality of your hardwood is to sand down stains or scratches and refinish the floor. This can be done a few times during the floor's lifespan, so you can keep your floors looking new decades down the road.
Much like hardwood, engineered wood requires little daily maintenance beyond vacuuming and sweeping. However, when dealing with damage to the floor, like scratches or stains, engineered wood cannot be sanded down and refinished like solid hardwood. The real wood veneer is often not thick enough to allow much sanding. You might be able to sand and refinish engineered hardwood one or two times before having to repair the planks altogether.
Because of this feature, solid hardwood floors have a longer and better quality lifespan than engineered hardwood. If you plan to stay in your home in the future, then you should consider the long-term benefits of solid hardwood over engineered wood.
How to Stay in Budget
Staying within budget can be challenging with such an expensive investment as hardwood flooring. However, there are ways to offset the initial cost, as well as choose long-lasting wood options. If you're looking to find ways to stay within budget, then you'll want to consider factors like how long you plan to stay in your home, your style preferences, and installation costs.
If you're looking to save money on installation costs, then opting for engineered domestic hardwood might be the best option for you. Some engineered options are sold as a click-together installation process. Like vinyl or laminate flooring, this method is DIY-friendly and takes a lot less time and hassle to accomplish.
You can also save money without sacrificing style by opting for engineered exotic hardwood species. These types of flooring often cost significantly less than solid exotic species. So, if you have your heart set on a specific style, like Tiger wood, then you can opt for an engineered version and save a lot of money per square foot.
If you plan to stay in your house over the course of your lifetime, then you should consider solid hardwood flooring. Since it can be sanded and refinished many times over the years, you won't have to worry about costly repairs or replacements.
Overall, if you are considering investing in hardwood flooring for your home, it's an excellent idea. Hardwood floors add sophistication to any space, plus they're durable and easy to maintain. How much is hardwood flooring, though? It is oftentimes a pricey type of flooring. But depending on your needs and preferences, you can find an option that works for your home and budget. We have a wide range of hardwood flooring options available at different price points and styles.
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