What is inside an installed price
The installed figure covers labour, fasteners, underlay or adhesive, and the material. Material alone swings from around $3 to well over $9 a foot, which is most of the range on its own.
Site-finished solid carries a sanding job afterwards, so comparing it to prefinished means adding $2.75 to $5.50 to the site-finished number before the two are the same thing.
- How it is done
- priced per square foot installed, material and labour separated
- What goes on the floor
- species and width move the material cost more than anything else
- Ready to use
- n/a
- Typical cost
- $7 – $12 per sq ft installed
- Service life
- n/a
Real numbers for a real room
A 500 square foot living and dining space in solid oak, prefinished, sits around $3,500 to $6,000 installed. The same room in engineered over a slab is a little less, and in LVP roughly half.
Subfloor preparation is quoted separately at $2 to $5 per square foot, and it is the line most likely to appear after the old floor comes up rather than before.
Removal and disposal of the old floor is its own number too. Carpet and pad is quick, and glued-down tile over a slab is a day of work by itself.
Prefinished against site-finished, honestly
The comparison people get wrong is prefinished against site-finished on price per foot alone. Add the sanding cost to the site-finished figure and the two are close, and then the decision is about bevels and flatness rather than money.
The line a quote has to name
A quote that does not name the wear layer on engineered board is not a quote you can compare. Two millimetres and five millimetres are different products at a similar installed price, and only one of them can ever be refinished.
Where these prices apply
We cover Des Moines, the western suburbs, the Ankeny corridor and the older neighbourhoods inside the city, including and 18 more areas.
Questions we get asked about hardwood floor installation cost
What does it cost to install hardwood in a 500 sq ft room?
Around $3,500 to $6,000 for solid, less for engineered, roughly half for LVP. Subfloor work is on top.
Is prefinished cheaper than site finished?
Per square foot installed, yes. Add the sanding and finishing cost to site-finished and they end up close.
Does removing the old floor cost extra?
Yes, and it varies a lot. Carpet is quick, glued tile over concrete is a day on its own.
Get a free estimate
Tell us what you need. We answer the same day, the free estimate is on site, and nobody chases you afterwards.
Get a real number for your floor
Call and we will come out, measure, and leave you a written quote. There is no charge for the visit and no obligation afterwards.