When it comes to flooring, there is nothing like the traditional look and feel of real hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring is a big investment and an important one when deciding the style and value of your home. However, hardwood flooring oftentimes requires a decent budget when compared to other popular flooring options available in the market today.
If you are set on installing hardwood floors in your home and are looking for ways to save money on hardwood flooring costs, you have a few options.
- Get a few estimates from local flooring companies. You don’t have to go with the first estimate you receive, so shop around for a good price that suits your budget; however, make sure the company is legitimate and has good reviews – check out their previous work. Unfortunately, sometimes you get what you pay for and hardwood is not something you want someone to do a poor job on.
- Rip up any carpet and move furniture out of the way yourself. Flooring companies will charge you to rip up and remove any existing carpet if you are replacing it with hardwood. They may also charge you if they have to move any large furniture out of their way. It is best to handle these items yourself to avoid added costs.
- Make sacrifices on the type or grade of wood. If you are unsure what this is, do some research on the types and grades of the wood style you desire. For example, if you are in the market for oak floors, changing from Select Grade oak to No 1 Common oak can save you a chunk of change. Do research into the type of hardwood you want, then see your options. You will want to choose type and grade that is still hard, but maybe a slightly different color variation to get costs down.
- Compromise on plank size. Plank size can help save you money on hardwood floors. If you originally wanted a large plank, you can save money by selecting a smaller plank. Why? Because you end up paying for extra adhesive and added labor by going with a thicker plank.
- Install in some rooms now and other rooms later. While consistency across your house may be a concern, you can get more strategic about which rooms to install flooring in first and which ones can wait for later until you have the funds again. This can oftentimes allow you to choose the exact flooring you want, but get smarter about ways to save money on the project rather than going the cheaper route.
- Schedule the job for off-season. Schedule the flooring company to do your hardwood flooring installation during their slower months vs. prime season. During a lull, contractors are more willing to reduce their prices to secure a job, especially if you have a larger project. Sometimes, due to lower demand, you can also get hardwood at better costs. However, keep in mind that if you receive three quotes and one is way lower, that could be a red flag about the contractor. Be cautious when scoping out “cheaper” work.
Hatcher’s Floors has been installing hardwood floors in the Virginia, metro DC area for over three decades. Our team is dedicated to working on a hardwood flooring budget that suits your style and doesn’t hurt your pockets. Contact us today for a free flooring estimate!
