Hardwood flooring can be expensive, but only for a good reason. It’s a durable and highly versatile flooring option for your home. Unlike vinyl and carpet, hardwood is timeless. Easier to clean and maintain, you could find original hardwood floors from the 1800s too!
Beyond the practical side of hardwood, its aesthetic cannot be ignored. Hardwood’s ageless look feels luxurious and adds charm to your home. Just about any room with hardwood floors is filled with elegance, warmth and comfort. With the wide variety of options available, you could enhance your entire home’s interior. If this isn’t enough to justify the price, read ahead!
Cost
Like most flooring options, hardwood comes in a variety of styles, grades and quality. The biggest factor that determines the price is the grade of the wood. The grade is how natural the wood looks with its streaks and knots. The higher the grade, the more expensive the flooring will. The highest grade of wood will have a one tone color and no blemishes. The cheapest hardwood will have a raw character, multiple tones of color and knots. The species of wood is also a significant factor.
Exotic types like kempas will be more expensive than the commonly available oak or maple in the US. Costs for installing hardwood are typically quoted on a square-foot basis. Unfinished floors, on average, are priced $2 less than finished floors. In addition to these costs, installation, delivery, and labor costs must also be taken into account. Installing hardwood floors in smaller rooms can be more expensive since the wood needs to be trimmed to fit the board.
Type Of Wood
Hardwood flooring can be engineered or solid. Engineered wood flooring has a solid wood layer on the top over a base of plywood and is cheaper than solid wood that—as its name suggests—is a piece of solid, original wood. For a more common hardwood floor option, we recommend oak. Oak flooring is more reasonable than other species like walnut or Brazilian chestnut flooring.
The quality of the wood refers to the finishing after manufacturing. Pre-finished hardwood comes with a protective layer of lacquer and is more expensive than unfinished. However, pre-finished costs less in installation and makes up for the high price. Unfinished flooring is raw and will need a protective layer of lacquer or oil once installed. Hardwood prices also increase with the size of the plank. The wider the plank, the costlier the wood.
Long-term
If you’re planning to stay in your current home for a long time, hardwood is a wise choice. Make sure to remember, your personal preference and comfort matter a lot more than your home’s resale value. But if you’re going to keep living in the same home for many years, then consider hardwood. Hardwood might seem expensive right now but don’t let the upfront cost discourage you.
In the long-term, you’ll save hundreds of dollars on hardwood and enjoy the ambiance it provides. For long-term commitment, it’s important to consider the type of hardwood you install, the rooms in which you install wood flooring, along with the pattern and direction of planks.
At Five Star Hardwood Floor, we’d be more than delighted to help you choose a suitable hardwood flooring with a design and pattern that’s perfect for your home. Our experienced floor contractors in Seattle will sand and refinish your flooring. To learn more about our hardwood floor services Seattle, contact us and get a quote.