How Much Does Flooring Cost In Your Area?

A standard 1,500 sq ft single-story home takes 2 to 5 days for LVP or laminate, 3 to 7 days for engineered hardwood, and 5 to 10 days for solid hardwood that needs sanding and finishing. Tile takes 4 to 8 days depending on layout and grout cure time. Add 1 to 2 days for furniture moving, baseboard removal, and subfloor prep. You can usually live in the home during install if you stage rooms in phases.

LVP at $4 to $10 per sq ft is fully waterproof, scratch-resistant, and the best choice for kitchens, basements, and homes with kids or pets. Laminate is the cheapest at $3 to $8 but not truly waterproof. Engineered hardwood at $7 to $15 looks like real wood and handles humidity better than solid. Solid hardwood at $9 to $20 lasts the longest and adds the most resale value but cannot go in basements or wet areas.

LVP and laminate can float over existing tile, vinyl, hardwood, or concrete as long as the surface is flat within 3/16 inch over 10 feet. Carpet must always come up first. Going over existing flooring saves $1 to $2 per sq ft in tear-out costs but raises the floor height 1/4 to 1/2 inch, which can cause issues with doors, appliances, and transitions to other rooms.

Refinishing existing hardwood costs $3 to $5 per sq ft compared to $9 to $20 for full replacement, so it makes sense if your floors are over 3/8 inch thick and not water-damaged. The job takes 3 to 5 days including drying time, and most homeowners stay out of the house during finish coats due to fumes. Solid hardwood can be refinished 4 to 6 times over its lifetime, which is part of the 50 to 100 year lifespan.

For wet areas like kitchens and basements, yes, every time. LVP is fully waterproof and laminate swells when water sits on it for more than a few hours. For bedrooms and dry areas, the difference is smaller and laminate at $3 to $8 per sq ft is fine. The price gap has narrowed in recent years and most homeowners now spec LVP throughout the main floor for the waterproof peace of mind.

Most contractors include moving normal furniture in the labor cost. You typically need to remove personal items, breakables, and electronics yourself. Pianos, gun safes, pool tables, and major appliances usually cost $50 to $300 extra each to move. Beds and dressers add 1 to 2 hours to the job. Confirm what is and is not included before signing, since unmoved heavy items are a common change-order trigger.

Late fall through early winter, roughly October through January, is the slowest season for most flooring crews and prices run 5% to 15% below peak. Spring and early summer are peak demand because of pre-listing renovations and tax refund spending. Hardwood and engineered installs prefer 30% to 50% indoor humidity, so pick a season when you can hold that range for 2 weeks before and after the install.