This Is How Much Laminate Flooring Installation Actually Costs
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The average cost to install a laminate floor ranges from about $1,500 to $3,500. However, the costs for this project are affected by a variety of factors including the flooring area, shape, style, and thickness. Generally, the larger the flooring area and thicker the laminate material, the higher the cost of the job. Learn more about laminate flooring installation costs.
Why Choose Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring is often mistaken for a form of plastic flooring, but it's really a combination of wood fiberboard and resins that are layered on top of each other. The core helps to prevent moisture from damaging the laminate, while adding a layer of extra durability to resist creases or indentation. The design layer features the high-resolution print that gives the laminate flooring the attractive appearance, like a wood design.
Laminate flooring is a great option for DIY installers because it's affordable, easy to work with, and installation is relatively straightforward. You don't even need to worry about nails or adhesives because a laminate floor is designed to float on top of the pad and underlay.
How to Calculate Laminate Flooring Installation Cost
Laminate costs about $0.79 to $3 per square foot, while underlayment costs $0.29 to $0.79 per square foot. If you are handling the installation on your own, then you'll only need to worry about the material costs.
However, if you're having the floor installed by a professional, you'll need to add the labor costs as well. Labor costs about $2 to $8 per square foot, though the material costs and labor fees may vary depending on the location.
Laminate Flooring Installation Cost Factors
Flooring Area and Shape
The most important factor for laminate flooring installation is the size and shape of the area. It costs about $3 to $13 per square foot to have a laminate floor professionally installed. Material costs work out to about $1 to $5 per square foot, including the laminate and underlayment.
Use a tape measure to take measurements of the space. Use these measurements to determine the flooring area, then calculate the amount of laminate flooring material required to complete it. Keep in mind that you may need to spend a little more on materials to account for any odd shapes or sharp angles.
Laminate Flooring Style
Laminate flooring has a design layer that is made with a high-resolution print of a specific material or pattern, so you have a wide variety of options to choose from when it comes to style.
Common choices include acacia wood, maple, oak, stone, or even tile. Laminate mimics the appearance of the wood grain, stone flecks, and color, so you can get the look you want without paying high prices for actual hardwood, stone, or tile flooring.
Acacia: $1.00–$2.20 per square foot
Beech: $1.00–$2.90 per square foot
Cherry: $1.70–$2.80 per square foot
Elm: $1.40–$3.70 per square foot
Hickory: $1.50–$4.50 per square foot
Maple: $1.50–$3.80 per square foot
Oak: $1.00–$3.70 per square foot
Stone: $3.50–$4.00 per square foot
Tile: $3.50–$5.00 per square foot
Walnut: $2.00–$2.80 per square foot
Labor and Installation
On average, the installation and labor costs for laminate flooring installation range from about $2 to $8 per square foot. Some companies may also charge a separate fee for the underlayment installation, which can range in cost from about $0.15 to $0.50 per square foot.
Laminate Flooring Thickness
The thickness of the laminate flooring can range from about six millimeters (mm) to about 12 millimeters (mm). The thicker the material, the better the noise reduction and insulating qualities. However, thicker laminate flooring options also cost more than thinner laminate flooring.
6 mm: $0.69 to $0.99 per square foot
7 mm: $0.89 to $0.99 per square foot
8 mm: $0.99 to $1.79 per square foot
10 mm: $1.99 to $3.99 per square foot
12 mm: $2.29 to $5.99 per square foot
Texture and Finish
Glossy laminate costs about $1.70 to $5.60 per square, while matte laminate costs about $1 to $4.40 per square foot. If you want something in between, then a semi-matte finish is a good option. Semi-matte laminate is actually the cheapest finish, ranging from just $1 to $4 per square foot.
Glossy floors tend to scratch more easily, making them a poor choice for high-traffic areas, while scratches and minor abrasions don't appear as readily on semi-matte or matte flooring.
Additional Laminate Flooring Installation Costs
Removing Old Flooring
You can save some money on this flooring installation job by removing the old flooring yourself. However, if you do opt for the professionals to remove it, it will cost about $70 per hour in labor, which works out to around $400 to $600 to remove the entire floor.
Subfloor Repair or Replacement
Minor issues in the subfloor can generally be repaired without much issue, but serious problems, like wood rot or water damage, may required the full replacement. The average cost to replace the subflooring ranges from about $1.50 to $7 per square foot. This works out to a material cost of around $550 for a 300 square foot room, as well as a labor cost between $25 to $35 per hour.
Pad and Underlay
In some circumstances, the existing pad and underlay are in good enough condition that they can be reused with the new laminate flooring. However, if the current pad and underlay are ripped, torn, or otherwise damaged, then you will need to purchase new material and pay to have the pad and underlay installed.
On average, the pad and underlay will cost about $30 to $60 per 100 square feet. This works out to about $0.30 to $0.60 per square foot. Labor costs for pad and underlay installation are about $70 per hour.
DIY vs. Professional Laminate Flooring Installation
Since laminate flooring doesn't need to be nailed, screwed, glued, or otherwise adhered to the underlying floor, it is one of the easiest flooring materials for DIYers to install. In fact, laminate flooring installation is best done as a DIY job to cut down on the total cost.
On the other and, pros will ensure that the finished product is high quality and completed within a relatively short timeframe. On average, you can expect to pay a labor rate of about $800 to $3,500, or 20 to 50 percent of the project cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to install 1,000 square feet of laminate flooring?
Installing a laminate floor in a 1,000 square foot space will cost about $1,000 to $4,000 for materials only and about $5,000 to $12,000 including both material costs and installation costs.
What flooring is most expensive to install?
Hardwood flooring is the most expensive flooring option to install throughout the home. The material and installation for a hardwood flooring job costs about $6 to $18 per square foot.
How long does it take to install 400 square feet of laminate flooring?
On average, it will take a professional between 12 hours and two days to install 400 square feet of laminate flooring. Some DIYers may be able to keep up with this pace, especially if they have one or two experienced helpers.
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Read the original article on The Spruce.
