What Affects Flooring Installation Cost? A Homeowner's Checklist

Flooring installation cost depends on six things: the material, the square footage and layout, removal of the old floor, the condition of the subfloor, stairs and detail work, and how long the job takes. Any single price per square foot that ignores those is a guess, which is why we give a written quote after seeing the house.

We are not publishing a price list in this article. Prices vary with the product and the house, and a number that fits one home can be wrong for the next. What follows is the checklist we would use to compare any two quotes.

1. Material choice

Hardwood, LVP and laminate are different products with different price ranges, and within each one the range can be wide. Species, plank width, thickness, wear layer and brand all change the material cost. Pick the product first, because every other number in the quote depends on it. If you are still deciding, our comparison of LVP, laminate and hardwood covers how they differ in water and humidity performance.

2. Square footage and layout

Total area matters, but so does shape. Many small rooms, closets, angled walls and doorways mean more cuts and more waste than one open rectangle of the same size. Ask whether the quote includes an allowance for waste and whether the measurements are taken on site.

3. Removing the old floor

Tearing out carpet, old hardwood, tile or laminate takes labor, and the debris has to be hauled away. In our case, the FAQ says removal and disposal of existing flooring is included in the project quote. Other contractors may list it as a separate line, so check that you are comparing like with like.

4. Subfloor condition and moisture

The subfloor is the part you cannot see in a showroom and the part most likely to change a price. Roger Barker writes in Hardwood Floors magazine that subfloors should be tested for moisture, and that conditions above and below the subfloor should be recorded when it sits over a crawl space or unfinished basement. If the floor underneath is uneven, damaged or too moist, it has to be corrected before anything new goes on top. Our subfloor preparation and repair service exists for exactly this, and an in-home visit is the only reliable way to know what you have.

5. Stairs, trim and transitions

Stairs usually take more time per square foot than open floor, because each tread and riser is cut and fitted. Trim, baseboards and transitions between rooms are also detail work. A quote that mentions these specifically is usually a quote that has been thought through.

6. Time on the job

Labor follows time. According to our FAQ, most residential LVP or laminate installations take 1 to 2 days and hardwood installations typically take 2 to 4 days, depending on square footage and subfloor prep. Ask for the expected schedule in writing alongside the price.

Questions to ask when you compare quotes

• What exactly is included: removal, disposal, subfloor prep, trim, transitions, stairs?
• How is the square footage measured, and is waste included?
• What happens if the subfloor needs repair after the old floor is removed?
• What warranty comes with the work, and what is the manufacturer's warranty on the material? Our FAQ describes a 5-year workmanship warranty alongside manufacturer material warranties.
• Is the contractor insured, and does the installer hold a certification? Our FAQ states that we are fully insured in Wisconsin, and Kyle Hedin is a Certified Flooring Installer (CFI #17580).
• How long will the job take, and when can the rooms be used again?

How we quote

Illustrious Flooring gives a free in-home estimate and a written quote before any work begins. Call (262) 683-5301, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, or use the estimate form on this site and tell us the rooms and the product you are considering.

Sources

• Subfloor Focus: Minimizing Moisture - Roger Barker, Hardwood Floors magazine, January 30, 2017.