Types of Wood Flooring and the Cost of Installing Wood Flooring

Aug 28, 2010
Joe Jaris

How much does wood flooring cost? - Kevin Payravi

Hardwood flooring can be found in homes and businesses across the globe. There are several costs that go into installing hardwood flooring.

Several different types of timber are used in the construction of hardwood flooring unlike laminate flooring, which uses synthetic materials. The overall price tags per square foot associated with each type of timber can be quite different. It can cost several thousand dollars to have a wood floor professionally installed. Installing wood flooring can be a difficult process, however, it is not above the intermediately skilled handyman. Consumers that install wood flooring themselves can enjoy a greatly reduced price tag linked with a wood flooring installation project.

Types of Wood Flooring

Many different species of wood are used in the manufacturing of residential and commercial wood flooring. Consumers have access to maple hardwood flooring, oak hardwood flooring and mahogany hardwood flooring. Walnut wood flooring, pine wood flooring, bamboo wood flooring and hickory wood flooring are other flooring options. Brazilian teak hardwood flooring, Australian cypress hardwood flooring and Brazilian cherry wood floors are types of exotic hardwood flooring. Each different type of wood flooring has advantages and disadvantages.

Cost of Installing Wood Flooring

The cost between different types of wood for wood flooring can vary dramatically. Availability and ease of production are big determining factor in the price of a particular species of wood. More exotic wood species are linked with higher price tags. Wide plank flooring made out of pine can cost around $12 per square foot installed. Australian cypress and Brazilian cherry can both cost between $4 and $13 per square foot installed. Uninstalled, bamboo can cost the consumer between $4 and $6 per square foot. Using discount wood flooring, reclaimed hardwood flooring or unfinished hardwood flooring can help keep costs down. Well-maintained hardwood flooring can increase the value of a home.

Additional Wood Flooring Installation Costs

Regardless of what type of wood is used, there are other costs associated with hardwood floor installation. Having custom borders or patterns installed can drive up the cost by upwards of an extra $2 per square foot. Having prefinished hardwood flooring installed can increase the overall price tag of a flooring installation. Removing and disposing of preexisting flooring can also increase the cost of a hardwood floor installation project. Additional costs should be considered before the consumer makes a commitment to a wood flooring installation project.

Storing Wood Planks

Properly storing solid hardwood flooring planks before the installation process is a critical step. Wood flooring planks should be stored in the room they are to be installed in for a week before they get installed. This is done to let the wood adjust to a home's humidity levels. If wood planks are not given time to adjust to humidity levels before installation, they will warp or pop up from the floor and compromise the integrity of the floor.