Installing new flooring in the home can be a costly venture. There are many types of flooring available to consumers including hardwood flooring and engineered laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is one of the most affordable types of flooring on the market. Laminate flooring is engineered to mimic the appearance of tile, hardwood or any number of other materials. There are several factors that contribute to the overall costs associated with a laminate flooring installation project. Laminate flooring is just as easy to clean as hardwood flooring; simple laminate floor cleaners are available at home improvement stores.
Cost of Laminate Flooring
In general, it can cost the consumer anywhere between $1 and $7 per square foot to have laminate flooring professionally installed. The thickness of the laminate flooring that will be installed can drive up the overall price of the installation project. Laminate flooring is available in thicknesses between 6 and 12 mm; thicker laminate flooring is more expensive than thinner laminate flooring. Low-end cheap laminate flooring is available in 6 or 7 mm thicknesses while high-end laminate flooring can be purchased in thicknesses that range between 4 and 12 mm.
In general, thinner, low-end flooring can run anywhere between just under $1 to around $2 per sq. ft. Thicker, high-end laminate flooring is available for up to $7 per sq. ft. Having a laminate floor installed will generally cost less than having a wood floor installed. Wood flooring can cost anywhere between $8 and $10 per square foot to have professionally installed.
Additional Laminate Flooring Installation Costs
There are a number of additional costs linked with laminate flooring installation that consumers should consider before committing to a laminate flooring installation project. Some laminate flooring features attached underlayment. Purchasing laminate flooring with underlayment can cost the consumer an extra $1 to $2 per square foot. Having matching baseboards and matching trim can further increase the price of having laminate flooring installed. Laminate wide plank flooring can also be linked with a higher price tag.
Installing Laminate Flooring
Installation costs vary greatly depending on location and regional labor rates. Installing engineered laminate flooring is not exceptionally difficult; handymen that wish to curb the ultimate price tag linked with installing laminate flooring may opt to perform the installation themselves. Installing laminate flooring involves only an intermediate level of skills and can be generally accomplished in a couple of days. Laminate flooring planks are either secured by gluing them together or clicking them in place through the interlocking system offered by many manufacturers. However convenient these interlocking systems are, they are linked with high price tags.
Sources:
Armstrong: Laminate Buyer's Guide
Luxury Housing Trends: Hardwood Flooring, Laminate, or Carpeting?
Cost Helper: Cost of Laminate Flooring
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