Wood flooring looks great in any home and doesn’t have to break the budget either. Find out how much wood flooring costs here.
in this article
Wood flooring cost
Wood flooring cost depends on the cost of material and labor work required. The price can vary significantly depending on the type of wood and finish, plank sizes, and the sub-layer of your floor.
Hardwood planks can cost from £19 – £109 per square meter. Engineered wood is usually slightly less expensive and costs from £20 – £50 per square meter. Wood effect laminate prices start from £20. Adding insulation increases the cost from £8 to £27 per meter.
The flooring installer will usually charge £12 to £25 per square meter to install the planks alone. Adding insulation increases the labor cost by £7,5 to £15 per square meter.
Below you can see the cost of different materials for a 16m2 room in a newly built home. In the cost are included all labor, materials and also estimations on breakage and wastage.
| Flooring type | PC sum allowance per m2 | Flooring only | Additional materials | Labour | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid wood | £45 | £720 | £271 | £276 | £1,312 |
| Engineered wood | £30 | £480 | £191 | £276 | £977 |
| Wood effect laminate | £20 | £320 | £149 | £276 | £765 |
Note: who should use the following example only to compare material costs. Original data provided by Build.com
Wood Flooring Installation Labour Cost Per m2
The following table focus on how different materials slightly influence the installation cost.
| Type of flooring | Approximate installation cost (per m2) |
|---|---|
| Solid wood floor, pre-finished, glued, or nailed down | £12.00-£25.00 |
| Engineered wood floor, pre-finished, floated | £11.00-£23.00 |
| Engineered wood floor, pre-finished, glued, or nailed down | £17.00-£24.00 |
| Unfinished wood floor (solid or engineered), including sanding, lacquering, or oiling | £19.00-£29.00 |
Benefits of wood flooring
Most people choose a wooden floor because of its aesthetic appeal – there is a broad range of wood types and colorings available to suit any taste. Another major benefit of wood is that it is an eco-friendly, natural, and sustainable resource that is very hard-wearing.
In fact, if maintained well, a hardwood floor could last a lifetime and is attractive to home buyers – a survey by woodflooring.org found that 58% of estate agents questioned said homes with wooden floors are more profitable than ones without.
Wood is also a hygienic flooring choice; according to the Environment, Health and Safety Online, nearly 100,000 dust mites live in a square yard of carpet, which can irritate allergies and respiratory conditions like asthma. A wood floor, however, is easier to clean and keep dust-free.
Different Types of Wood Flooring
There are many types of wood, but hardwoods like oak, walnut, and maple are the most popular. Softwoods like pine can be used but are less durable. However, you might choose to use softwood to match your existing floors (typical in Victorian Homes) or if you are restoring original floors.
You can pick from different plank lengths and widths and different finishes such as oil, wax, stain, or varnish. The most important thing is to be sure of where you are putting the floor and what you want to achieve.
While wooden floors are suitable for any home, high traffic areas like hallways need tough, dense boards, and you should avoid using them in bathrooms as they can warp from damp. Installing engineered wood for wet rooms is more practical instead, added experts from Direct Flooring Online.
Laminate flooring
Laminate flooring is a piece of MDF with a photographic image of wood grain adhered to the surface. It is also the cheapest version of a wooden floor.
Advantages
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- Cheaper than hardwood and carpet.
- Laminate flooring is sold in a wide variety of wood, stone, and tile finishes.
- Easy to install.
- Easy to clean and maintain.
- Resistant to stains, impacts, and scratches.
- Ideal for people that suffer from dust allergies.
- Environmentally friendly.
Disadvantages
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- Requires the use of a special laminate flooring cleaner.
- Do not tolerate standing pools of water and heavy moisture.
- Laminate wood planks are tough to repair.
- Proper installation takes some skill to achieve a great-looking floor.
- It does not give a very high resale value
Price range: £ 5 – £15 per square meter
Engineered wood flooring
Engineered wood flooring, often called composite wood flooring, is made from wood fibers and other materials that are glued together to form a solid layer that is strong and durable.
Advantages
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- Great looks! Looks like real wood.
- Easy to install.
- Engineered wood expands and contracts less than solid wood.
- Suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms and laundry.
- It is very durable and ideal for heavy footfall in both domestic and commercial environments.
- It can be sanded, which allows it to be repaired and refinished.
- Comes available in wider boards than solid wood flooring.
Disadvantages
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- Quality of materials used in production (depends on manufacturer).
- Limited style options.
- Health issues can be caused by the adhesives used to bond the layers of the engineered flooring.
Engineered Wood Flooring Costs
| Engineered Wood Type | Material Cost Per Square Metre | Labor Cost Per Square Metre |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | £19 – £39 | £12 – £22 |
| Mid | £40 – £69 | £12 – £22 |
| High | £70 – £109 | £12 – £22 |
When you’re considering installing a new wooden floor on your property, you may want to choose an engineered rather than a traditional solid wood floor. Engineered wood comprises a series of layers of real hardwood pressed together on top of plywood, providing extra strength and the appearance of solid wood.
Low: Basic engineered wood flooring material comes with three core layers, and on the top, a layer of wood veneer of 1/16- to 1/12-inch thick. It costs on average between £19 – £39 per square meter, with installation costs running between £12 – £22 per square meter, depending on the complexity of the layout.
Mid: If you are looking for an upgraded version with thicker veneer and five-layers core, expect to pay from £40-£69 per square meter, with installation costs running £12 – £22 per m2.
HIgh: If you are looking for top quality engineered hardwood products, you should expect to pay from £70 – £109 per square meter, with installation costs running £12 – £22 per m2. Luxury engineered hardwood products have seven or more core layers with a top veneer of about 1/6-thick.
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring is without a doubt one of the most beautiful flooring options out there. After years of use, it gets better looking with age and can be refinished for a brand new look. As for installation procedures, hardwood is a time-consuming one.
You’ll need to prep the floor, install the hardwood, then go through an extended series of sanding, buffing, treating, and varnishing steps before the floor can be used. But before any of this, you’ll need to store all of the new planks in your home for a few days (maybe even a couple of weeks) before the install. The wood needs time to acclimate to the humidity in the home before being put down.
Advantages
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- Straight-forward installation for those with the right experience.
- Hardwood floors are easy to clean (they do not accumulate dirt, dust, and debris).
- The Combine high-end aesthetic and style.
- High-quality hardwood floors are very durable and long-lasting when manufactured, installed, and finished to certain standards.
- Hardwood flooring increases the value of the property in the long term.
- Hardwood floors come in a wide variety of colors and styles.
- A great choice for allergy sufferers and healthy indoor air quality.
Disadvantages
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- High cost of installation, deriving from the quality of materials and the expertise of installation.
- They do not absorb heat, light, and noise easily.
- Solid wood floors occasionally need refinishing as they are very easy to scratch.
Hardwood Flooring Cost
| Hardwood Type | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Low Grade | £25 | £49 |
| Mid Grade | £50 | £65 |
| High Grade | £80 | £120 |
Hardwood flooring costs most homeowners between £1,580 and £3,700 for a 16m2 room in the United Kingdom, including material and labor. On average, expect to pay around £2,800 per room. Hardwood flooring installation per square meter ranges from £50 to £65 per square meter (including materials).
While it is certainly not the cheapest option, hardwood flooring is one of the most popular options for its classic and warm appearance, durability, and versatility. Furthermore, wood flooring increases the resale value of a property and makes any space look more appealing.
| Average Cost | £2,800 |
| Typical Range | £1,580 and £3,700 |
| Low | £1,550 |
| High | £8,500 |
It is important to understand the various factors that will affect the final cost of your project. Whether you choose traditional hardwood material or engineered hardwood flooring, you need to find a solution that works best for you and your home. Types of hardwood flooring for those who have pets, hardwood floors might not be the best choice; however, if you are looking for solid wood, be aware that some hardwood floors are more durable than others.
To keep the wood from permanent damage, clean up any liquids immediately. Hardwood flooring isn’t necessarily one solid piece of building material. It is usually made up of dozens of various kinds of trees, with each having a different price, color, and durability.
In terms of your choices for hardwood flooring, below are some of the most popular available on the market, along with their unique features:
Maple: Ideal for high-traffic locations because it is tough and dent-resistant; it ranges in color from creamy white to pale red and can be challenging to work with
Pine: Color ranges from light beige to rich golden amber; this wood consists of warm tones and rustic knot designs and is easily scratched or dented
Bamboo: Comes in many different colors and includes interesting striations; floors made of bamboo strands are the hardest and most durable available
White ash: A durable wood with visible knots that is difficult to stain. It ranges in color from light tan to pale gray.
Hickory: Wide array of colors with remarkable grain designs; ideal for high-traffic locations due to its high density
Red oak: Compact but visible grain with a reddish color; the majority of dark oaks appear to glow in direct light producing a warm atmosphere
Brazilian walnut: A tough and durable exotic hardwood that comes in a wide array of browns; ideal for pet owners as the surface is scratch-resistant wood flooring prices vary depending on the type chosen, and in the case of solid wood, the wood chosen and the thickness.
Other costs to Include
Wood floor installation also involves several other tasks that you can complete rather than the professional tradesman you will hire if you are looking to save any money.
Carpet Removal and Disposal: £2 – £3 per square meter
Skirting Installation: £5 per meter
Beading: £5 per meter
Door Trimming: £30 – £70 per door
Floor Board Replacement: £20 per meter (labor and materials)
Floor Levelling: £15 – £20 per square meter (labor + screeding material)
Furniture Relocation: £25 – £30 per hour
Hardwood floor installation cost per m2
The cost of hardwood floor installation starts from £22 per square meter and can go up to £60, depending on the specifics of your home. The average cost for materials for a middle-sized room is about £400. To get a clear picture of the installation costs, we encourage you to request as many quotes as possible from local experts. Make sure to submit detailed project specifications and have the experts visit your home to examine the space in detail before making an offer. How much extra hardwood floor to orderBefore ordering hardwood floor, consult with the professional you hired about how much hardwood floor supply you need to cover your floor space.
Usually, who will advise you to order an additional 5%-15% for filling in gaps and awkward spaces? However, according to our experience, ordering 10% – 15% additional supply ensures that there will be no delay in the project if you run out of material. It will also help save money by avoiding paying the installers extra money for the working hours or days until the new supplies arrive.
Carpet removal and disposal
Before installing a new wooden floor, you will need to clear the room, pull up the old carpet, and dispose of it. This is not a very difficult job, so if you are looking to save money, this is a good way to start. However, if you do not feel like doing it yourself, you can always hire a carpet removal company to remove and dispose of your unwanted carpet safely and efficiently. They will remove the old carpet along with tack strips, glue, and stapled-down padding used when first fitted the carpet in the room. Remove existing skirting boards. When the wooden flooring is installed, the existing skirting needs to be removed and then thrown away.
Only after the existing skirting has been removed can the floorboards be laid all across the room, the new skirting can be applied, and the threshold strips can be attached directly to the wall. Again this is a job that you can do if you want to save money. Install underlay if you are trying to cut down the cost; installing the underlay yourself can certainly help. The floor needs to be level before the wooden floorboards can be laid.
On concrete foundations, you can use either a self-leveling compound or a damp-proof membrane. On different foundations, you simply use foam underlay, which is also easy to roll out and cut to shape. Always allow a few days for the room to settle before fitting the flooring.
Underlay costs
The cost of flooring underlay is mostly related to the type of subfloor:
-
- Concrete subfloor: £2.00 per m² – £4.25 per m²
- Wooden subfloor: £1.75 per m² – £3.75 per m²
The thickness of the underlay ranges from 2mm to 5.5 mm and depends on its function. For instance, different underlay is required when underfloor heating than when you need to combat dampness.ExtrasWhen you are looking at the wooden flooring installation cost in your home; a solid wood floor can be stained or have a colored finish. It can be left raw and sealed to give a natural warm feeling to a room or stained to match other decor and floor coverings.
A hardwood floor installation cost will include a sealer for the timber, and you will need to remember that that floor will be unable to be walked on for a few days. This floor does come with a 10 to 15-year guarantee to ensure that you have made a good investment in your home.
Keeping costs low by buying and bringing the wood flooring home on your own is one way to save on your budget. The only thing the contractor has to do is the actual installation. Do you want intricate details like inlaid designs or borders? This will cost you more. Save £0,8 to £1,5 per sq. ft. in installation costs when you have a simple layout. Additional ways to reduce costs include:
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- Comparing prices: When you come across a type of wood, color, and style to suit your needs, look at similar kinds online, at discount flooring stores, and at local retailers to find the best possible price.
- Obtaining a few quotes: How much will the actual installation cost? Always get at least three quotes for installation from contractors who are licensed and insured. You can then make an informed decision.
- Minimizing labor costs: Taking out and disposing of the old flooring and having the room clear of furniture etc., will reduce costs as contractors usually charge extra for this kind of service.
DIY considerations & risks
You decided to install hardwood flooring; you need to remember that a DIY project will only apply to some hardwood flooring. A hardwood that has to be glued or nailed down requires specialized equipment, materials, and operating on a subfloor. Use the following steps to install hardwood flooring that has click and lock:
-
- Glue together. On the tongue of every board, apply a bead of glue and tap into position.
- Fasten it—secure boards, to current flooring with a rental compressor and floor stapler.
- Glue down. Similar to tiling, place boards on the glue.
- Click and lock. The tongues and grooves click to each other. It’s fast and tidy.
Sanding or finishing is not required to install prefinished floors, which makes them ideal for DIY projects. If there are issues, you are covered by a 20-year warranty; therefore, you can get assistance without paying outlandish fees. The downside is that these floors can’t be sanded as often, making them challenging to maintain.
There are many risks involved if you don’t have a floating floor that is clicked and lock; therefore, installing it on your own isn’t recommended. DIY installation isn’t recommended for glue-down or nailed-down hardwood floors due to the mess involved.
Putting nails in the wrong spot is also a great possibility, which might result in the flooring bulging, moving too much, or placing the slats in the wrong spot between planks. If there is a concrete subfloor, installing a glue-down or nail-down floor isn’t a good idea. Additional factors that might make a DIY installation risky include:
- Room Design: Rooms with irregular shapes are challenging when installing straight planks, given that you will only be able to cut them once. Therefore, if it isn’t long enough, placing a piece back will make the job look awful.
- Budget: Although a DIY installation might save you money, shelling out hundreds for repairs after a bad installation isn’t worth it. The best way to save money is to replace a floor due to cracking or bulging from humidity.
Although you want to do your own DIY installation on your floor, click and lock flooring requires specialized skills, and what you save initially, you might have to pay even more in repairs down the road. Contact a flooring expert for professional advice once you have a budget and know what kind of floor you want to install. One option to save money is to serve as a helper to the contractor.
References
https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/flooring/install-wood-flooring/
https://www.fixr.com/costs/hardwood-floor-installation
https://www.discountflooringdepot.co.uk/blog/2018/03/how-much-does-it-cost-to-buy-install-hardwood-floors/
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/feb/04/lifeandhealth.consumerandethicalliving
https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/choosing-engineered-wood-flooring/
https://www.britishhardwoods.co.uk/blog/know-your-wood-flooring/
https://www.oakfloorsonline.com/guides/choosing-your-oak-flooring/solid-oak-flooring-vs-engineered-oak-flooring/