Choosing the right wood flooring for your home could not be easy. Which type of wood is most suitable for your floor. If you’re looking for authentic solid wood which is low maintenance and easy to clean or engineering which has lower cost compared with other types of wood but still has many advantages as solid wood. In this article we will give you information about the world of hardwood flooring with our guide covering types, costs and color selection tips. Apart from that, you can learn about wood varieties, installation expenses and how to choose the perfect color to match your personal style and decor
What is the meaning of hardwood flooring?
Hardwood flooring, crafted from solid wood, stands out as one of the most popular flooring options. Typically made from hardwood species such as maple, oak, or walnut, it offers a significantly longer lifespan, allowing for repeated sanding and refinishing. This durability and timeless appeal make it a favored choice for homeowners.
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How Much Does Hardwood Flooring Prices?
Hardwood flooring costs typically range from $7 to $25 per square foot, averaging about $16 per square foot. Known for its elegant and timeless appeal, hardwood flooring can be a significant investment. This guide delves into the key factors that influence hardwood flooring costs, including floor size and wood type, to provide a clearer understanding of this home improvement project.
Cost by Area Size
Project size significantly impacts hardwood flooring installation costs. Here’s an overview of expected costs based on the area size:
| Area Size | Cost Range | Average Cost |
| 500 sq ft | $3,500 to $12,500 | $8,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $7,000 to $25,000 | $16,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $10,500 to $37,500 | $24,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $14,000 to $50,000 | $32,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $17,500 to $62,500 | $40,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $21,000 to $75,000 | $48,000 |
Cost by Hardwood Type
The type of hardwood flooring also plays a crucial role in cost variations. Here are some common types and their costs:
| Type of Hardwood | Cost Range | Average Cost |
| Engineered hardwood | $4.50 to $16 per sq ft | $10.25 per sq ft |
| Solid hardwood | $5 to $28 per sq ft | $16.50 per sq ft |
| Prefinished hardwood | $6 to $12 per sq ft | $9 per sq ft |
| Faux parquet | $7 to $15 per sq ft | $11 per sq ft |
| Parquet | $20 to $45 per sq ft | $32.50 per sq ft |
- Engineered Hardwood: Uses multiple layers for stability, moisture resistance, and cost-effectiveness.
- Solid hardwood flooring: Offers longevity and the ability to refinish, making it a premium choice.
- Prefinished Hardwood: Comes ready for installation, saving labor costs.
- Faux Parquet: Mimics traditional parquet at a lower cost using durable materials.
- Parquet: Features intricate patterns, adding a luxurious touch with higher installation costs.
Labor Costs
Labor costs vary based on installation complexity and installer experience, typically ranging from $3 to $10 per square foot.
Additional Cost Factors
- Floor Removal: $1.50 to $3.50 per sq ft for hardwood, $0.70 to $1.60 per sq ft for carpeting.
- Subfloor Replacements: $2.20 to $4.75 per sq ft.
- Material Grade: Prime Grade is more expensive due to quality, while Select Grade is more cost-effective.
- Room Size and Layout: Larger, more complex rooms increase costs.
- Type of Installation: Glue-down is more labor-intensive and costly compared to nail-down.
- Wood Type: Exotic woods like hickory or teak are pricier than common species like red oak or maple.
Understanding these factors can help you budget effectively and make informed decisions for your hardwood flooring project.
What is the cheapest hardwood floor?
Additional factors that can influence the price of wood flooring include the finish and the colour of the wood. Finishes such as oil, lacquered, varnish, and wax have their own advantages and disadvantages, and while they may affect the price, the impact is not substantial. The colour of the wood can also affect the price, with coloured wood flooring potentially carrying a higher price due to the techniques involved in colouring the planks.
Engineered wood flooring is the most affordable type of wood flooring. This is because it uses a top layer of natural wood, typically spanning 2mm to 5mm, with a man-made core comprised of plywood and MDF.
> Read more: MDF Vs Plywood: Is MDF Better Than Plywood?
What type of hardwood flooring is best?
When choosing the best hardwood flooring, consider wood species that are readily available and known for their durability. Oak, maple, and cherry are excellent choices due to their hardness and widespread availability. Other good options include walnut, ash, and mahogany. Bamboo, although technically a grass, also offers a durable and sustainable flooring alternative. Each of these options provides a unique aesthetic and varying levels of hardness, ensuring a suitable choice for different preferences and requirements.
13 Types Of Hardwood Flooring And How To Choose
With a million and one options available, selecting the right hardwood flooring colors can be a bit challenging at times. And we’re sure you’ve found yourself contemplating the countless options hardwood has available for colors, textures, undertones, and finishes.
So, to help you find the perfect floor, we decided to break down all of the hardwood flooring colors available on the market today:
1. Light and Natural
White tones, currently a popular design trend, seamlessly enhance various settings. For instance, light-toned ash wood flooring exhibits a natural, nuanced variation with visible darker knot holes, enabling the inherent character of the wood to radiate. This feature not only allows the floor to harmonize with both light and dark tones elsewhere in the kitchen but also adds to its aesthetic appeal.
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2. Rustic Variation
This reclaimed wood floor showcases abundant natural patina evident in the planks. Over time, wood undergoes a transformation, acquiring a darker, richer hue influenced by its environment and usage. Such flooring exudes an array of colors, variations, and character, offering flexibility to incorporate a diverse range of colors and wood tones throughout the room.
3. Gray Undertones
Gray has emerged as a prominent color in interior design over recent years, extending its influence to wood flooring in various forms such as washes, solid colors, and blends with warmer tones. This rustic-style flooring, for instance, features a nuanced gray undertone that allows the natural color and grain to remain visible, enabling the incorporation of both warm and cool tones within the room’s decor palette.
4. Smooth and Light
Similarly, this floor possesses a subtle gray undertone, albeit more restrained. The surface has been meticulously sanded to achieve a smooth and uniform light tone, with only the inherent blue/gray hues of the oak floor’s veins peeking through to impart any color to the flooring.
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5. Rich and Dark
Dark floors evoke a sense of authenticity and timelessness, as if they’ve endured a century’s worth of wear and tear. This rustic living room floor boasts a deeply rich, dark hue that appears almost black at the grain. This intense color imbues the floor with opulence and character, further enhanced by the captivating herringbone design. Such a dark-colored floor serves as an ideal backdrop for jewel-toned wall paints, while also contributing to a more formal ambiance in the room.
6. Warm Red Tones
Certain floors develop warmth as they age, displaying rich red and orange tones. This antique floor, with its abundant color variation, becomes the focal point of the room. When aiming to maintain simplicity in the rest of the decor, a floor like this can elevate the entire space with a significant style boost..
7. Classic Warmth
This floor exudes a timeless warmth, characterized by its red and gold undertones and subtle variations between the planks, which enhance its attraction and appeal. Its color complements cream tones and lends itself well to sunny accents within the room.
8. Rustic Taupe
Rustic floors aren’t limited to dark shades. Take this reclaimed floor, for example, boasting a cool overall tone comprising a blend of gray and brown hues reminiscent of an old-world aesthetic. The outcome is a neutral floor with cool undertones that harmonize effortlessly with grays, browns, taupes, and an array of other wood tones.
9. Rustic Variation
This floor exhibits abundant traces of its past history and character, with prominent saw and nail marks still visible. These marks boast a deeper patina compared to the rest of the floor, imparting a formal sense that makes it well-suited for dining rooms and other semi-formal living spaces.
> Read more: 20 Types Of Plywood And Grades Used In Interior And Exterior
10. Classic Pine
Few wood floors are as iconic as the classic pine. This wide plank floor, while predominantly light, exhibits enough variation in grain and knot holes to prevent it from being mundane. It provides a delightful contrast to the contemporary bar stools, contributing to the creation of a harmonious blend of styles within the room.
11. Cherry Toned
Even if it’s not originally cherry wood, it can still be finished with a cherry-toned stain. Take, for example, this reclaimed red oak floor with a reddish finish. The hardwood floor’s formal appearance is further enhanced by the colors in the room décor.
12. Moody Grays
The grain in this floor serves as one of its lightest tones, creating an intriguing and captivating pattern. While the floor itself boasts a rich, smoky gray color, the lighter natural tone subtly peeks through, adding a distinctive and unique character.
13. Multi-Color Character
Choosing the best type of flooring for your home depends on various factors. Take into account your home’s traffic level, the aesthetics you desire, the room where the flooring will be installed and your budget.Visit our website Vinawood.com to choose what the best type of flooring that suites you.
