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.
Allie S.
Their workmanship is amazing. Great crews, very professional and the service they give to all customers surpasses your expectations!
Real Remodeling Inc
RHONDA J.
EXCELLENCE IN WORK ETHIC AND QUALITY OF WORK!!
Advanced Home Repairs
M. D.
I needed to get a adu called yor since they were very close to the area. We got a fantastic quote and we went along with them and the final results are just amazing. From the work to the process and the finishing it was very professional.
YOR Construction and Investment inc.
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
Marcos H.
Master builders is absolutely the best of the many contractors we have hired in the past 30 years.Based on our excellent experience when we
first hired the company two years ago to do a significant remodel of our home in Pacific Palisades, we again hired Master builders in the
last few months to do substantial work on a condominium unit we purchased on San Vicente Blvd in Santa Monica. The unit required new windows, bathroom fixtures and other
improvements and--most significantly-the kitchen and dining room had been flooded after a plumbing failure and needed substantial new flooring, cabinets, counter tops, wall, tile and more. Joseph--who was in charge of
the job for Master builders --is a knowledgeable, organized, trustworthy and engaging fellow
with an excellent eye for design and detail. He has particular skills in picking the best experts
(e.g., in tling, flooring, cabinetry etc.) and in efficiently scheduling and overseeing their efforts. In the end, the finished condominium unit is absolutely beautiful. There is no higher
praise that we can offer than this: Joseph applied his considerable skills in a way that he would if he was building a home for his own
family. We enthusiastically recommend him
Master builders a renovations
Jane M.
I had a more old fashioned style reception area office that was very outdated and needed a burst of freshness and Lisa provided just that.
Lisa was a pleasure to work with and had that fresh inspiration that I had been lacking and also worked well with with a few of my own ideas to give it a more personal touch to create a more exciting modern, fresh, updated look. Luv it!
I now love my new reception office and this in turn has brought me more business.
I get complimented on my new decor all the time. Thank you Lisa
Lisa Merkle Design, llc
John De C.
Attention to detail, fast, knowledgeable, communication, went the extra mile, easy to work with, competitive pricing
Prestige Remodel Corp
James L.
Very pleasant manner with good work ethic. Reasonable pricing for the project.
Pierside Pressure Company
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