Cost To Install Engineered Hardwood Floors

Engineered hardwood is a type of flooring that contains at least 80% wood. Its installation is relatively simple, however, people who do not install engineered hardwood frequently may encounter difficulties. Below you can read some information about the costs related to engineered hardwood flooring installation.

How Much Does It Cost to Install Engineered Hardwood Floors?

The cost of engineered hardwood floor installation is affected by various factors such as how much the product costs per square foot, the labor cost, and so on. But you should expect to spend anywhere between $2,150 and $7,150 for an average room. The average cost would be $5,300.

Cost per square foot

When talking about engineered hardwood floor installation, one of the biggest cost factors is the size of your room and this is calculated in square feet. In order to get an idea about how much you would spend on this project depending on how large your room is, you should know that that cost per square foot would be anywhere between $3 and $4, with an average cost of $3.5 per square foot.

Also, there are some other expenses you can estimate by the square foot, like the materials and labor. In general, for a 300-square-foot room, you will spend anywhere between $2,000 and $2,950, including the needed materials and labor. So, the average cost of installing an engineered hardwood floor in a 300-square-foot room would be $2,500.

Cost by type of engineered hardwood

When talking about the type of engineered hardwood, you need to take into consideration the Janka scale. The engineered hardwood will be stronger as it goes higher on the Janka scale. In general, the Janka scale runs from 600 on its lowest end to 3800 on its highest end.

Also, when choosing the right type of engineered hardwood, you will need to know the veneer. Veneer floors have that gleaming natural hardwood look.

Heart pine or Longleaf pine

This type of wood has a cost of anywhere between $1.80 and $4.75 per square foot. The Janka scale rating for this type is 1225 and it has a darker color.

Hard maple

The cost of hard maple-engineered wood is anywhere between $3.75 and $6.50 per square foot. The Janka scale for this type is 1450 and it comes with higher installation costs because it is more difficult to finish.

You might also like our articles about the costs of hardwood stair installation, floor joist repair, or vinyl plank flooring installation.

Brazilian Koa

The cost per square foot for Brazilian Koa engineered hardwood is anywhere between $4.50 and $9.50. The Janka scale for this type is 2160.

Brazilian Cherry or Tigerwood

Expect to pay anywhere between $5.50 and $9.75 per square foot for the Brazilian cheery or Tigerwood engineered hardwood. The Janka scale rating for this type is 2350 which is the highest score in this list.

Acacia

Acacia engineered hardwood is sold for $3.50 to $8.50 per square foot. This type has a Janka scale of 2220 and its color ranges from cream to dark brown.

White ash

The white ash engineered hardwood can be bought for $5.50 to $6.50 per square foot. The Janka scale for this type is 1320 and it has lower installation costs.

The cost of job supplies and equipment rental

If you choose to install the engineered hardwood yourself, you will need to consider the job supplies and equipment rental costs, as well. But there are also some contractors that may charge additionally for these.

You should expect to pay anywhere between 5% and 10% of your entire cost for job supplies and equipment rental.

Labor costs

When talking about the labor cost for engineered hardwood installation, a good rule of thumb is that this represents 50% of your entire cost. So, if you spend around $2,200 only on the engineered hardwood floor, the labor costs will be almost $2,000.

Per project or hourly flooring contractors

There are flooring installation companies that may charge per project or hourly. In case they charge per project, you can just ask them how much they charge for your project. They may have different rates, depending on the type of wood and square footage.

On the other hand, if they charge per hour, the costs will vary significantly because if they need to work more hours than what you have budgeted for, you will spend more.

But you can avoid these kinds of problems by asking the contractors to come by your house and give an estimate.

Costs of flooring products

The costs of flooring products will greatly depend on the engineered hardwood you choose. When purchasing flooring products, you will have to decide on prioritizing quality or price.

Low grade

The low-grade engineered hardwood will be the simplest and cheapest option. In general, low-grade engineered wood has three layers inside its core and the thickness of its veneer is anywhere between 1/16 and 1/12 inches. Expect to pay anywhere between $3.5 and $9.8 per square foot for low-grade engineered hardwood.

Mid-grade

If you want a more qualitative engineered hardwood, but at the same time stay within a budget, you should purchase the mid-grade type. It is resistant to foot traffic and scratches. Also, it has five layers inside its core and a thickness of 1/12 to 1/8 inches. The cost of a mid-grade engineered hardwood floor is anywhere between $6.5 and $13 per square foot.

High-grade

The most qualitative and resistant engineered hardwood floor is the high-grade type. In general, it has seven layers inside its core and has a thickness of a minimum of 1/6 inch. The cost of high-grade engineered hardwood is anywhere between $9.50 and $17 per square foot.

What are the extra costs and factors?

There are some extra costs and factors you need to consider when installing engineered hardwood floors. For instance, you have to decide whether you want to do this project yourself or you will hire a contractor.

Obviously, DIY projects might be more advantageous in terms of costs, but if you don’t have experience with this kind of job, you will probably make mistakes that will cost you much more in the end.

Also, you have to consider the place where you are living. The costs will be higher if you are living in an expensive city.

How can I save money?

If you want to save some money on engineered hardwood installation, you should shop around and ask for quotes from multiple contractors. Compare the costs and choose the one that is more advantageous for you.

Where can the engineered hardwood be installed?

In general, engineered hardwood can be installed in almost any type of building or room. It can be an excellent choice in classrooms, in office spaces, but mainly in individual environments such as personal homes – in homes, apartments, hotels, and even holiday homes.

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Alec Pow

Alec Pow is a thorough and methodical Financial and Business Analyst with over 15 years of experience in financial statement analysis, Foreign exchange derivative hedging instruments analysis, modeling, and risk management, with a long history of writing for big news publications like Forbes, MSN.com, Washington Post, and many more.