Your Hardwood Floor Installation questions, answered
Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on HomeGuide.
How much does hardwood floor installation cost?
Hardwood floor installation costs$6 to $12 per square foot on average, depending on the wood species, grade, thickness, and type. High-end wood flooring costs $12 to $23 per square foot installed. Installing unfinished wood flooring costs $2 to $5 per square foot more for finishing. Labor costs about 50% of the total project cost.
Do hardwood floors increase home value?
Hardwood floors increase home value and resale value by 2% to 5% on average. Installing wood floors has a 70% to 80% return on investment. Wood flooring increases home value better than all other materials.
How long do hardwood floors last?
Solid hardwood floors last 100 years or longer. Engineered wood flooring lasts 20 to 30 years for thin planks and 40 to 80 years for thicker planks. Both floor types need refinishing every 7 to 10 years to remove scratches, dings, stains, discoloration, and fading.
What is the difference between hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring?
Hardwood flooring is made entirely of a solid wood species like oak, maple, or walnut. Engineered wood floors have a thin top layer of hardwood bonded over plywood, making them less expensive. Engineered wood floors may be refinished 1 to 5 times, while solid hardwood floors may be refinished 4 to 10 times. Other than refinishing, both types of flooring have similar benefits and drawbacks.
Do engineered wood floors scratch easily?
Engineered hardwood floors scratch just as easily as solid wood floors. Engineered wood floors have a top layer of real hardwood, giving them similar benefits and drawbacks. Engineered wood floors can be sanded and refinished to remove scratches.
How to find the best hardwood floor installers?
Finding hardwood flooring contractors requires planning, researching, and asking questions. To hire the best:
Get at least three in-person estimates to compare.
Ask for recommendations from family, friends, and neighbors.
Verify their insurance, worker’s compensation, and bond guarantees.
Read reviews and check out their previous work on HomeGuide and Google.
Look for contractors certified with the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA).
Ask about their warranties and guarantees.
Ask for a full itemized contract in writing in case of a dispute.
Avoid making large payments upfront. Come up with a payment schedule for work completed.
What questions should I ask wood flooring contractors?
When looking to hire wood floor installers near you, ask them the following questions:
How long have you been in business?
How many similar projects have you built?
Can you provide me with a list of references?
Can I see a portfolio of your past flooring jobs?
Are you licensed, insured, and bonded?
Will the installers remove the baseboards before installing the floors?
Do you install an underlayment or membrane under the flooring?
Do you take the time for proper acclimation or leave room for plank expansion?
Do you use a moisture meter to prevent cupping and buckling?
Do the installers seal off other rooms with plastic to contain dust?
How do you handle damages that happen on the job?
Who's the project manager, and will you use subcontractors?
What hours do you and your crew work?
How long will the project take?
What permits do I need, and will you obtain them?
What does your warranty policy include?
Can you provide me a written estimate with a breakdown of all costs?
What’s your payment schedule?
Do you offer in-house financing?
What do I need to provide to get started?
Reviews for Los Angeles hardwood flooring installers
Recent success stories from people in the Los Angeles area.
Holden W.
Gilmer is very professional and thorough. He inspected the home inside and out. He issued a detailed report complete with photos, descriptions and recommendations for repairs. I receive the report with in the same day of my inspection. I was very happy and would recommend him highly.
GG Home Repair Services
Eric S.
Borja’s Flooring is exceptional!
Without a doubt, Paul and his Borja Flooring team is top class: speed of service, personal customer service, affordable pricing, and quality flooring!
Not only is their service prompt, work high-quality, and craftsmanship second to none, Paul’s personal customer service skills makes him the greatest choice for your flooring needs. Paul was able to walk me through the process of choosing what type of floor would serve me best, how long the process would take, and how best to choose the correct colors based on grain direction, floor size, etc based on my specific interior. He also was able to quickly get a quote to me and work with me for what scope of work would be best for me and my budget.
Paul stops at nothing to ensure that you’re satisfied with your installation. He sends picture updates of the work, does status checks to ensure it’s looking good so far for you, and responds quickly to any of your questions.
He is also connected to other quality service professionals and was able to refer me to other work I needed around my home like painting.
The results speak floor themselves! I love my new carpet free transformed home with squeak free stairs and beautiful 2nd floor!
Overall, I couldn’t be happier. The flooring is beautiful, solid and squeak free. The service was fantastic, the price was affordable, and Paul is excellent to work with. A+ across the board.
Borja Flooring
Adan C.
Very reliable, honest, hard working. Highly recommended. He helped me to remodel my house:
Wall demolition, pluming, electricity, installed new windows and patio doors, etc, etc!
AM CONSTRUCTION
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