Hardwood floors, acclimatised and laid flat
Subfloor preparation, boards left to acclimatise, and expansion gaps that stop a floor buckling in its first summer.
- Typically $6–$14 per sq ft installed
- 2–4 days for an average room
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What hardwood floor installation usually costs
$6–$14 per sq ft installed
Engineered at the low end, solid and patterned at the high end. Removing old flooring and levelling the subfloor are usually extra.
A typical US range to plan around, not a quote — every professional on Task Masters sets and publishes their own price, and you see it before you book.
What a hardwood floor installation job normally includes
- Lifting and disposing of the existing floor covering where agreed
- Checking the subfloor for flatness and moisture, and levelling it
- Acclimatising the boards in the room before laying
- Laying with correct expansion gaps at every perimeter
- Fitting beading, thresholds and trims to finish
About hardwood floor installation
Laying a hardwood floor is mostly about what happens under and before it: a subfloor that is flat and dry, boards allowed to acclimatise to the room, and correct expansion gaps at the perimeter. Wood moves with humidity, and floors that cup, gap or buckle almost always trace back to one of those three being skipped rather than to the boards themselves.
Hardwood installation typically runs $6 to $14 per square foot installed, materials included, so a 400 square foot living room commonly lands between $2,400 and $5,600. Engineered boards sit at the lower end; solid hardwood, wide planks and herringbone or parquet patterns at the upper. Removing and disposing of existing flooring is usually extra, and so is levelling a subfloor that turns out not to be flat — a genuine and common surprise once carpet comes up. Expect boards to be delivered several days before installation to acclimatise; a fitter who wants to lay them the day they arrive is worth questioning.
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Questions about hardwood floor installation
Solid or engineered hardwood?
Engineered is more stable with humidity and temperature, works over underfloor heating, and suits below-grade rooms and basements. Solid can be sanded and refinished more times over a very long life. Engineered is the safer default in most modern installations; solid is the choice where longevity and refinishing matter most.
Why do the boards need to sit in the room first?
Wood expands and contracts with the moisture in the air. Acclimatising the boards to the room for several days lets them reach equilibrium before they are fixed down, so the floor does not gap in winter or buckle in summer. Skipping it is a leading cause of failed floors.
Can hardwood go over an existing floor?
Sometimes — over sound, flat plywood or existing hardwood, often yes. Over carpet, no. Over tile or an uneven slab it depends on flatness and moisture, and usually needs preparation first. A fitter will check both before committing.
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