Wooden Flooring Installation Cost

How Much is Wooden Flooring?

Let's talk about the average cost for an average-sized room...

For an average-sized room, you’re looking at spending around £1,300 to have oak wood flooring fitted.

The cost of wood floor installation can be affected by the following factors:

• Type of Wood Floor - There are various common wood floor types available, each with its own price tag.
• Finishing Style - Different edging styles are available, such as micro-bevelled, bevelled edge and square-edge wood flooring.
• Pattern of Wood Floor - Various wood flooring patterns are available, including straight, diagonal, random, herringbone, chevron, brick and basketweave patterns.
• Location of Property - Contractors charge different rates depending on where you live in the UK. If you’re based in London or the South East, you’re likely to face higher rates than you would elsewhere.
• Ease of Access - Irregularly-shaped rooms can make laying wood floorboards difficult. Plus, contractors need to be able to access the room itself easily.

Wooden Flooring Fitting Prices

The typical size of a room that often has wooden flooring (i.e., dining room, kitchen, or living room) is 12m² to 18m². The table below estimates the wood flooring cost for a 16m² room in popular wood options:

If you want to estimate your wood floor installation costs based on your room size, here are typical m² prices:

Wood floor installation quotes will usually include the following elements:

• Flooring material.
• Underlay (if required).
• Any adhesive or fixings.
• Basic trimming and finishing.
• Labour for installation.
• Cleaning up the site.

It's always a good idea to check what your flooring quotes include before making a final decision.

Bear in mind that your wooden flooring price is unlikely to include removal and disposal of your old flooring, subfloor preparation, or finishing any wooden boards that may have been unfinished when you purchased them.

Labour Cost to Install Wooden Flooring

Wood floor installation is affected by the cost of labour. Even if you purchase the wooden flooring separately, you will usually need to hire a professional to fit it for you.

The day rate for a flooring fitter is often between £150 and £250. As fitters usually work in pairs, the overall labour cost per day is likely to be in the region of £300 to £400.

In London and the South East, the higher cost of living means that wooden flooring installation will come with higher labour costs.

If you want to see an estimate of how much labour costs are per m² for different room sizes, here are some examples:

How Long Does Floor Installation Take?

Typically, wood flooring installation can be completed in under 2 days.

To have new wood flooring installed can cost anywhere from £100 to £400 in labour costs.

However, there are some key factors that will affect this, such as:

• The size of the room.
• Whether the room is irregularly shaped or has an unusual design.
• The type of floorboards being installed.

Here are some examples based on average flooring installation sizes with a team of 2 fitters working together:

Choosing Wood Flooring

As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of wood flooring types to choose from when it comes to materials. Let’s take a look at each option in more detail. Most wood types are available in solid or ordinary timber flooring, while many also have vinyl or engineered wood flooring options.

Engineered hardwood flooring, for instance, consists of layers combining real wood and plywood, making it more durable and cost-effective compared to solid hardwood, which is made entirely of real wood. Additionally, engineered hardwood can be refinished fewer times than solid hardwood but offers better resistance to moisture and temperature changes.

Oak Flooring Costs

Best for: Budget-conscious projects

Material cost: £35 to £45 per m²

Solid oak flooring is one of the most popular and attractive types available. It has a robust, stylish and beautiful appearance. Oak floorboards are available in a variety of different colours, ranging from pale white to very dark.

There are also options such as those with a range of lines, knots and bands and others with natural markings that are few and far between. This type of flooring has traditionally been used to signal opulence because of its long-lasting ability as well as its capacity to age well.

Pros:

• ✔ Relatively cheap
• ✔ Very durable
• ✔ Range of colours, styles and finishes to choose from

Cons:

• ✖ Not everyone’s cup of tea

Pine Flooring Costs

Best for: Rustic look at a mid-range price

Material cost: £40 to £50 per m²

This type of flooring is a classic option thanks to its affordability, durability and various finishes that are available. It is also known for its environmental benefits and for providing rooms with a homely look and feel.

In regard to the former point, pine trees grow faster than most hardwoods used for flooring, like walnut or oak, meaning that pine forests can grow back more quickly. While it is a widely popular option, pine isn’t right for everyone or every situation.

Pros:

• ✔ Not too costly
• ✔ Aesthetically pleasing
• ✔ Also durable
• ✔ Environmentally friendly

Cons:

• ✖ Finishing requirements are not very convenient
• ✖ Does not age as well
• ✖ Needs plenty of maintenance (e.g. must be vacuumed and dusted regularly)
• ✖ Finishing is required after installation

Maple Flooring Costs

Best for: Light-coloured floors that are durable

Material cost: £60 to £70 per m²

Maple hardwood flooring is a beautiful and easy-to-maintain option for any room. It comes with a warm hue and light colour tone. It can fit with practically any background colour palette. It is an excellent choice if you’d like to add light and warmth to a room.

Maple flooring is also not a difficult type of flooring to look after. The finish will stay fresh if you vacuum or sweep this type of flooring regularly. Such a clean should also involve a decent mopping with the use of water and mild wood soap. One issue with maple flooring is scratching.

Due to having an exceptionally smooth grain, scratches can be noticeable. A rubbing compound wax will be needed to polish out these scratches.

Maple floorboards are also more prone to expansion and contraction in response to changing humidity levels. Further, applying a finish once the installation is complete can be a bit tricky and time-consuming.

Pros:

• ✔ Highly durable
• ✔ Low costing
• ✔ Great colour features
• ✔ Easily maintained

Cons:

• ✖ Scratches are not easy to hide
• ✖ Issues with humidity
• ✖ Staining can be challenging

Walnut Flooring Costs

Best for: Luxury look for living spaces

Material cost: £70 to £80 per m²

This version of hardwood flooring is a particularly unique option. Its colour ranges from brown heartwood to light sapwood. While walnut is a softer type of hardwood flooring, its colour palette has a good ability to conceal dents. That is despite the material itself being prone to dents and scratches.

Since the natural colours of walnut flooring are so out of the ordinary, staining is not often applied. Its rich and beautiful brown tones make it an attractive option among consumers. Its unique visual characteristics make it difficult to replicate with any other wood species.

Pros:

• ✔ Conceals dents
• ✔ Beautiful and unusual look
• ✔ Strong
• ✔ High level of shock resistance

Cons:

• ✖ Susceptible to scratches
• ✖ Softwood type
• ✖ Staining may not be necessary
• ✖ More costly option

Cherry Flooring Costs

Best for:

Material cost: £45 to £55 per m²

Another softwood flooring option is cherry. As with walnut flooring, it too is rarely stained thanks to its natural and beautiful soft colours. With that said, it is also prone to scratches and dents while not having the same ability to hide marks as walnut flooring.

Despite this, it is still a popular choice. Cherry flooring has a unique trait in that it can be installed with a soft pink tone and over the course of a six to twelve-month period, will darken to a rich red.

Two of the most popular grades associated with this type of flooring are prime, which offers a more consistent look and country grade, and adds plenty of character to your floorboards with a variety of colours and knots.

Pros:

• ✔ Natural and beautiful soft colours
• ✔ Darkens from soft pink to rich red
• ✔ Not very costly

Cons:

• ✖ Vulnerable to scratching

What is Engineered Wood Flooring?

This type of wood flooring consists of several layers, hence where the name comes from, and since manufacturers engineer wood flooring into this type. Not only is it less costly than ordinary hardwood flooring, but it is also more resistant to temperature and humidity level variations.

Further, it is still difficult to tell apart from regular wood flooring. To install engineered wood flooring, it is recommended to hire a qualified fitter due to the complexity and time-consuming nature of the installation.

The costs associated with engineered wood flooring can range from £45 to £60 per square metre for a mid-range option, with additional installation costs varying based on the fitter's expertise and the project's specifics.

Benefits of Wood Flooring

Hardwearing

One of the critical advantages of wood flooring is its strength and durability. While it can be dented or scratched, it is less vulnerable compared with many flooring types in general. If taken care of correctly, a hardwood surface can survive and age well over several decades. The fact that timber floorboards are long-lasting also means that they will save you money in the long run.

Appearance

One of the biggest appeals of wood flooring is the aesthetic value it offers. It can provide warmth and an elegant touch to any room. Wood floors can even give the illusion that the room is more spacious, as well as making a great first impression for any visitors.

Can Repair

These types of floors can be fixed and maintained easily. It’s also possible to refinish wooden flooring instead of simply replacing it when problems arise, as you might have to do with tile or carpet.

Improved Air Quality

Another benefit of wood floors is that they can enhance the quality of indoor air. Hardwood floors do not trap pollen, particulate matter, dust, animal dander or any other run-of-the-mill allergens. If you suffer from allergies, you should strongly consider having a lumber-based floor installed.

Wood Floor Patterns

There are many patterns in which wood flooring can be laid. The cost of each design may vary if the job takes different durations, but this will largely depend on the complexity of the work.

Straight Floor Pattern

This pattern is, by far, the most common. It is a well-known approach to hardwood floor installation. As you know, this type of flooring simply involves the boards being laid side by side from wall to wall.

The boards may follow the longest wall of a small room in order to give a more spacious look, and vice versa. Straight pattern flooring is mainly popular because it is plain, easy and effective.

Pros:

• ✔ Straightforward, traditional and effective
• ✔ Easy and quick installation
• ✔ Can add space to a small room

Cons:

• ✖ May not be considered especially interesting

Random Floor Pattern

As the name suggests, this pattern involves mixing things up. While the width of the blocks for each row can differ, the pattern itself is ultimately consistent. It is the size of the boards that varies.

This can give the impression of a large room. Random pattern floorboards can create a diagonal or straight pattern simultaneously. Ideally, this is best achieved by fitting it parallel with the longest wall in the room.

Pros:

• ✔ Provides a room with a unique look
• ✔ Possible in diagonal or straight patterns too

Cons:

• ✖ Trickier to install
• ✖ Not for everyone

Diagonal Floor Pattern

Unlike a straight pattern, this approach involves covering the floor from corner to corner.

This is a more challenging pattern to achieve for sure, and is not something you should undertake DIY unless you are highly skilled with plenty of experience. It requires a lot of precision to execute correctly.

Pros:

• ✔ Gives an interesting appearance

Cons:

• ✖ More challenging installation
• ✖ May cost more to install

Herringbone Floor Pattern

This modern option has gained in popularity. However, it is not very well suited to small spaces. With that said, it provides a high level of dimensional stability since each block is pressed against another to limit its movements.

It may be installed parallel or diagonal to the walls. As an interesting fact, this pattern was used for ancient Roman roads: hence, it really has stood the test of time.

Pros:

• ✔ Provides a unique aesthetic
• ✔ Becoming more popular
• ✔ High level of dimensional stability

Cons:

• ✖ Not easy to fit
• ✖ Not well suited to small areas

Parquet Floor Pattern

This pattern is a geometric collection of wooden pieces. The pieces of timber are arranged to create a very fancy and decorative effect. Parquet patterns tend to be highly geometrical and angular, although in some cases they may feature curves.

Herringbone, as mentioned above, is a type of parquet flooring pattern which in itself is a broader collection of ‘sub-patterns’.

Pros:

• ✔ Fancy appearance
• ✔ Geometric

Cons:

• ✖ Installation can be time-consuming
• ✖ May cost more to have installed

How to Combine Wood Flooring

Mixing different styles and designs of wood floors across your home can create a space that is uniquely yours while still looking great.

However, if it isn't undertaken with careful thought, you may end up with wooden flooring that just doesn't seem to work as a whole.

Here are some best practice tips for combining different types of wooden floors:

• Match undertones of colours by keeping within warm, cool or neutral groups.
• Vary the shades of wood flooring within the same grouping for a cohesive effect.
• Make the transitions between different areas clear by using thresholds or inlays to visually mark the movement from one space to another.
• Ensure there are clear contrasts between one section and another, as floors that are very similar can appear jarring to the eye.
• Aim for consistent plank width and texture across the different wooden floors in your home.
• Don't go overboard with the different wood options - stick to a palette of no more than three.

Ultimately, it's much easier to make these decisions if you have all your wooden flooring installed at once and consider your home as a whole rather than individual rooms in need of flooring.

This may increase your overall wooden flooring cost, as you may be changing some floors when you didn't initially intend to. However, it can work as a way of future-proofing your house and ensuring you won't need to install flooring again anytime soon.

Alternatives to Wood Flooring

If you'd like an alternative to laminate, you could use the following flooring instead:

• Laminate flooring
• Carpet
• Tile flooring

Check out the relevant cost guides for a more detailed breakdown of the costs for each alternative.

Wood Flooring Maintenance and Care

To keep your wooden flooring looking its best, regular maintenance and care are essential. Here are some tips to help you maintain your wood floors:

• Regular Cleaning: Sweep or vacuum your wood floors regularly to remove dirt and debris. This prevents scratches and keeps the floor looking clean.
• Immediate Spill Management: Clean spills immediately to prevent damage to the finish or wood. Use a soft cloth to blot the spill and avoid rubbing it into the floor.
• Use Rugs: Place rugs in high-traffic areas to reduce wear and tear. This can help protect the wood and extend the life of your flooring.
• Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Do not use harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners, as they can damage the finish or wood. Instead, use a wood floor cleaner specifically designed for your type of flooring.
• Apply Finish or Sealant: Consider applying a wood floor finish or sealant to protect the wood and make cleaning easier. This can also enhance the appearance of your floors.
• Control Temperature and Humidity: Avoid exposing your wood floors to extreme temperatures or humidity levels. Use a humidifier or dehumidifier to maintain a stable environment.

By following these maintenance tips, you can keep your wood floors looking beautiful and ensure they last for years to come.

Wooden Flooring Installation Quotes

When it comes to installing wooden flooring, getting quotes from multiple contractors is crucial to ensure you get the best value for your money. Here are some tips to keep in mind when requesting quotes:

• Provide Detailed Information: Make sure to give contractors detailed information about your project. This includes the type of wood flooring you want, the size of the area, and any specific requirements or challenges. The more information you provide, the more accurate the quote will be.
• Breakdown of Costs: Ask for a detailed breakdown of the costs. This should include the cost of materials, labour, and any additional services such as underlayment or finishing. Understanding the cost components will help you compare quotes more effectively.
• Check Certifications: Look for contractors with certifications or accreditations, such as the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) certification. This can be a good indicator of their expertise and professionalism.
• Ask for References: Request references and examples of previous work. This will give you an idea of the contractor’s experience and the quality of their installations.
• Be Wary of Low Quotes: Extremely low quotes can be tempting, but they may indicate a lack of experience or a low-quality installation. It’s better to invest a bit more for a reliable and high-quality service.

By following these tips, you can ensure that you get a fair and accurate quote for your wood flooring installation.

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