Install-Wood-Floors.com

If you’re looking to use solid maple flooring… just the flooring itself will run close to $5 sq ft. .. and that’s unfinished.

HOW you have it installed, and finished.. as well as where… will affect the price a great deal. Labor in my area certainly runs higher than 50cents a sq ft.

Flooring can be nailed down, glued down, or glued together (called a ‘floating’ floor). If you use laminated flooring, you can get the ‘click together’ type, which is very easy for DIY’ers to install. One other choice is “engineered” flooring.. this is wood flooring, but it is built up in layers, like plywood. It can be 3/8″ thin, or 3/4″ thick…prefinished or unfinished.

My suggestion would be to go shopping, well in advance of ripping out your carpet. Go to several flooring stores, look at what is available, and get educated on the material, qualities, etc. I wouldn’t buy a car without shopping first, and flooring will last a whole lot longer than a car, hehehe. While shopping, ask questions. Get estimates. Most stores that sell flooring, will also install. Also get estimates from contractors. ALWAYS ask for references and CHECK THEM. Go talk to prior customers, and look at the work.

When shopping you’ll need to know the square footage of your room, so measure it, and take the dimensions with you. You may also be asked how many doorways, and corners there are, so if you’re handy with a pencil (or an art/drafting program), draw out a sketch of the room to take shopping with you.

Have Fun

You don t state if your doing prefinished or un finished hardwood and what size 2 1/4 wide etc.. You can get a basic oak 2 1/4 inch wide for as low as 3. oo a s/f.. So you know maple will be higher.. Like the 1 st guy said 5 $ a s/f is a good start just for the wood alone(maple) but this will again vary if your doing unfinished or prefinished..All this is just the wood alone labor can start as low as 2.$ a s/f again depending on where you live and the if your doing pre or unfinished wood ..
There are no glue together floating floors it s all self locking .. Engineered wood will come 3/8 and 1/2 inch for the most part and there are no 3/4 inch engineered woods.. The engineered wood can be glued or stapled down All 3/4 regular hardwood must be stapled or nailed(special cletted nail)
You can get some good looking laminates in a maple look so you can DIY if you have a basic DIY skills.. A helper or partner is a big help in doing these floors if your a 1 st timer ..Get the floor that fits your needs.. Real wood for looks and possible resale in 2/3 years.. Laminate for long term durability and kids/dogs etc GL