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What wooden flooring costs?
First of all, when was the last time you brought a new jacket, or a new dress, or a new watch?
You know that feeling you get when you wear it out for the first time? You feel a little bit excited.
Well the same feeling applies when you give your home – probably the most expensive thing you will ever buy – something truly special. This “something special” can be in many forms. But just imagine for a moment, that it is in the form of luxurious wooden floor.
You’d be surprised at how many people have never even considered wooden flooring as an option – because they think it is out of their budget.
We’ve all heard of the merits of adding value to your home or property. And wooden flooring can be a fantastic way to do just that.
So in this article is going to break down the different qualities of wooden flooring and how you can find the right one to work for you, within your budget.
Whether it’s re-energising a tired space, laying a practical foundation for heavy traffic or adding that cherry on top to a refurbishment.
There are many options that are suitable for almost every space. But which type of wooden flooring costs more? Is it more or less expensive than carpet? And should you pay someone to install it or try the old DIY?
What does wooden flooring cost?
Costs for wooden flooring are usually broken down into three categories.
The type of wooden flooring you choose will affect costs.
Engineered timber flooring is also a durable flooring option and is easy to maintain. Ultimately, it is its remarkable visual appeal that puts it at the higher end of the market.
The cost of Solid Timber flooring is very much dependent on the type of timber you are laying down, and also the type of finish you choose. Solid Timber Floors have an ageless appeal and can look better over time as they are able to be sanded down and refinished.
Laminate flooring can be a more affordable option, as it is not actually a solid timber but rather a laminate surface on top of fiber board materials. Laminate flooring is popular for its style, durability and incredibly versatile features.
Glued down or floated?
Not all prefinished engineered timber flooring products can be floated. In which case the installation becomes a glue-down installation. If you choose a tongue and groove profile prefinished engineered timber floor (like Euro-PRO), you have to glue it down.
When you glue down your timber floor, it becomes a very permanent fixture of the home, and depending on your subfloor, can take on the “hardness” of the subfloor underneath.
If you are choosing a “Clic” prefinished engineered timber floor, you can either glue it down or float it over a 2mm thick acoustic underlay. If you choose a Laminate floor, you have to float it over the 2mm thick acoustic underlay.
Installation & finishing
Installation costs are dependant on a number of factors, including the type of flooring, the size of the job, preparation time, finishing options and also things like accessibility. Some people can do installations themselves to save costs here, but it is recommended that the costs of getting it wrong are weighed up against the costs saved. Especially for the less experienced DIY types.
Cost of wooden flooring vs carpet?
Side by side, laminate flooring and carpet fall into a similar price range.
Laminate flooring is a lot easier to clean, the structured surfaces can help to hide the dirt, and is designed to look like wooden flooring, providing a higher value look and feel.
Carpet has a lot more variety of options to choose from and is quieter and softer than laminate floors.
If you are on a tight budget then the fact that laminate flooring is a similar price to carpet means you can focus on the qualities you are looking for in your space without getting stuck on the costs.
Solid Timber and Prefinished Engineered Timber flooring are more expensive than carpet. Their high-end finishes and the fact they are made from actual wood makes them a more expensive option.
Both Solid Timber and Prefinished Engineered timber flooring provide a premium, luxurious, rich, timeless look and feel and are more likely to become a value adding feature of your home than carpet or laminate.
Should you pay someone to install it or try the old DIY?
Do you pay someone to cut your hair? Most likely, yes – because getting it wrong can be costly (and ugly!).
The short answer is you should trust the experts to install your flooring for you. While it will cost you more upfront, it will be done properly. It will look good. The “i’s” will be dotted and the “t’s” will be crossed.
You are investing in a product that is going to transform your space, so why wouldn’t you have it installed properly. Additionally, it will save you time now and in the future with problems less likely to occur, delivering longer lasting value.
If you are on a tight budget and consider yourself a bit of a DIY expert, you could probably do some installation yourself. But it will be hard to replicate the workmanship, and detail that an experienced installer will provide.
So which is type of flooring costs more?
1. Solid timber has the most expensive wooden flooring price point – especially if you opt for a New Zealand Native.
2. Engineered timber flooring is generally more affordable than solid timber and is also more sustainable.
3. Laminate flooring is the most affordable and comparable price wise with carpet.
In a nutshell, we say add value (not carpet)
Ultimately wooden flooring looks better and is perceived as a high-end flooring option. The good news is there are a number of options for different people on different budgets looking at alternatives to carpet or tiles.
If you’d like to speak to an expert to find out more about what type of flooring is best for your space, or how to have it installed by a pro, give us a call and we can talk you through all the options.
