Flooring Cost: A Quick Overview
by Matt Goering
As with any major home improvement decision, it's helpful to
compare flooring prices
before making the big leap. When it comes to flooring cost, there's
several things to keep in mind. First of all, regional prices for
materials and
flooring installation
may vary. While the following price estimates make for a good starting
point, it's important to talk to suppliers and installers in your area
to get a more concrete idea of what your final floor cost is going to
be. Also, don't forget that when you purchase flooring, you're making a
substantial investment in your home that you're going to have to live
with for years to come. Budget concerns might influence your decision,
but beware of letting them be your only guide.
Hardwood floors are going to cost $5 to $15 dollars per
square foot for material depending on the quality of the boards and the
width. As for installation, expect $2 to $8 per square foot, depending
on whether your boards are pre-treated or need to be finished on site.
Laminate flooring is very cost effective with a
floor cost of $1 to $6 a square foot for materials. It's also easy to
install, sporting installation costs of $1 to $5 per square foot,
including laying down the sub-floor padding.
Linoleum floors run around $2 to $3 per square foot
for materials, and another $5 to $7 for installation. Expect to pay a
little more for more complicated colors and design schemes.
Vinyl Sheet runs $1 to $5 per square foot for materials and a cheap $1 to $2 per square foot for installation.
Vinyl tiles are the cheapest flooring option on the
market. Your floor cost will run in the neighborhood of $1 to $4 dollars
for materials and $1 to $2 per square foot for installation.
Stone tiles run $7 to $20 per square foot for the
materials and $6 to $8 dollars per square foot, at least, for
installation. Many tilers charge more for installing stone because
lugging around the tiles is a more labor intensive than working with
ceramic or vinyl counterparts.
Ceramic tiles run anywhere from $5 to $15 per square foot for materials and $6 to $8 per square foot for installation.
You Get What You Pay For
On a final note, expect to get what you pay for. Flooring materials vary
greatly in quality, durability and looks, and the less you shell out
the more likely you are to get a product that is going to let you down
in the years to come. Floor cost is one of those things, both with
materials and installation, where the more you pay out initially, the
less often you'll be faced with costly repairs on down the line.
