Flooring Installation Costs Average Price to Install a Floor. On This Page Wood Flooring. Laminate Flooring. Vinyl and Linoleum. Carpeting. Tile Flooring. Other Flooring Options. To effectively install laminate flooring in your RV requires some planning and a bit of patience. It is somewhat of a challenge to get the professional look the. New York importer, distributor and fabricator of natural stone products and ceramic tiles. Supress SoundEngineered Plywood SEP SEPAM Supress SEP are engineered soundproofing wood products and engineered structural wood products that provide. The average cost range to install flooring is 1,5. Consider it as a long term investment, something youll touch more than any aspect of your house, and it might just last for the life of your home. Types of flooring, of course, run the gamut in price and quality. Cost To Install Plywood Underlayment Glue' title='Cost To Install Plywood Underlayment Glue' />The type of flooring you install should reflect your tastes and your lifestyle. Do you need something thats easy to clean Or is it more important that it fit the character of your house Do you have allergies Even once you decide on a material, you wont be able to calculate costs until you settle on the quality of the materials and the level of expertise thats needed to install it. Wood Flooring. There are two primary types of wood flooring available. The first is the solid wood floor. These floors are generally 34 thick and can be purchased raw or pre finished. The average cost of hardwood flooring will sit at the top end of the range. The other style of wood flooring is the engineered wood floor. This is a wood floor that has a top wear layer, usually 18 thick, and more layers of plywood underneath. The top layer is generally made out of oak, maple, cherry, etc. Engineered wood floors are gaining in popularity because they generally cost less than the solid wood floor, but can be refinished like a solid wood floor. However, since refinishing takes off a small amount of the surface each time, an engineered floor may not have as long a life as a hardwood floor. Cost. The average cost of having wood flooring installed in a typical 1,0. However, some people choose to install wood floors only in some rooms. The most common rooms to receive this treatment are living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms for a total average of around 5. The average cost installed then becomes around 4,4. Cost Factors. Typical varying cost factors that can increase or decrease your cost include The type of wood you use. Distance to the job site the more remotely you live, the higher the cost will beAny work that has to be done around existing framing, HVAC systems, electrical, plumbing, or other such systems. Floor registers are a good example of such things. Testing and remediation of hazardous materials. Older homes may have lead andor asbestos. If a general contractor will be supervising the job, add about 1. Sales tax on materials. Permits or inspection fees if applicable. Pros and Cons. Pros. Wood has a classic look that lends warmth to a room. Easier to match furniture to wood because wood is generally of a neutral color. Wood is a great insulator and can hold warmth for a while. Wood floors are very long lasting if properly cared for. Some existing wood floors in Europe have been around since the Dark Ages. They are very easy to maintain. Wood floors can be sanded and refinished many times. Where a carpet might wear out after 1. Wood doesnt trap dust and other allergens. Cons. Very susceptible to moisture and humidity. Even minor leaks can cause significant damage to a wood floor if left untreated. Not suitable for every room. Because of the susceptibility to moisture, wood floors are not recommended for bathrooms or laundry rooms. Before installing, the substructure must be inspected to make sure it is level. An uneven substructure can cause the wood to bend and pop up. Some finishes can scratch easily. The decision here, though, is that the finishes that scratch easily are also repaired easily, such as shellac. Polyurethane, though it doesnt scratch easily, requires a complete refinishing if it does get scratched. They are noisy to walk on. Even the best of wood floors can develop creaks, though this can be mitigated to a degree with area rugs. Materials. There are almost as many different types of wood flooring as there are types of wood. Each one has its own characteristics, so take samples home to see how they look before committing to buy. Here are some of the more popular choices for wood flooring including the increasingly popular cork Maple Very hard, creamy white to pale red in color, can be hard to work with 4. White Ash Pale yellow in color, bold grain, durable and hard to stain 3. Hickory Reddish brown with varying color patterns, very durable and hard 3. Red Oak Reddish, tight but visible grain, ideal for cutting and staining 3. Brazilian Cherry Exotic red brown color, coarse texture but easy to scratch 4. Cork Light, neutral color, resistant to many kinds of damage moisture, scratch, dent, fire, etc., renewable the bark, not the timber, is used, very soft under foot, retains warmth 2. OptionsStyles. Aside from the type of wood, you have many choices for your floor. Distressed, wide planks make for a rustic look. Reclaimed wood comes from old buildings. Its eco friendly and lends a sense of history to your home. Ebonized hardwood takes a dark hardwood and adds a sleek, black finish for a luxurious, modern look. Puzzle cut makes your floor look like a jigsaw puzzle. Perfect for game rooms and childrens rooms, its a real conversation starterParquetry is the art of creating geometric mosaics with wood floors. Different types of woods are used to create stunning patterns. Some patterns may be repeated, such as herringbone, but others treat the whole floor as a canvas to create one large image. It is very expensive depending on patterns and materials. Marquetry is like parquetry, but it is more often seen on furniture. However, when money is not an issue, it sees use on floors. A skilled woodworker can make his or her own, though. Marquetry uses more curves and creates pictures instead of just geometric shapes. Hire a Flooring Installer Near You. Return to Top. Laminate Flooring. Laminate flooring is almost always cheaper than the counterparts it imitates. Real wood, stone and tile are not only usually more expensive materials but are almost always considerably more expensive to install. So if you want the look and feel of wood, stone or tile or at least an approximation, but cannot afford the price tag, laminate flooring might be the way to go. Laminate wood and stone floors are also more durable and made for high traffic areas. Cost. Laminate flooring costs about 2,7. Smaller areas, such as bathrooms or laundry rooms, can cost as little as 7. Cost Factors. Typical varying cost factors that can increase or decrease your cost include Thickness of the laminate. Supplier of the laminate some high end manufacturers do a great job at imitating more expensive materialsAs with all flooring jobs, the following cost factors are pretty universal Distance to the job site the more remotely you live, the higher the cost will beAny work that has to be done around existing framing, HVAC systems, electrical, plumbing, or other such systems. Floor registers are a good example of such things. Testing and remediation of hazardous materials. Older homes may have lead andor asbestos. If a general contractor will be supervising the job, add about 1. Sales tax on materials. Permits or inspection fees if applicable. Pros and Cons. Pros. Laminate is durable with some coming with warranties ranging from 1. Easy to maintain, laminate is stain resistant and can withstand extreme impacts. Void of imperfections. Can be installed over existing floors. Available in a wide variety of patterns and colors. You can match your floor to your furniture instead of the other way around Cons. Hard underfoot, even with a foam underlayment. Unlike the actual materials it mimics, laminate flooring doesnt add much to your homes resale value. Some laminates can feel slippery, though modern techniques have made slip resistant laminates available. Duplex Unit Not Installed Ricoh Aficio. Laminates cannot be sanded and refinished. Any damage requires the damaged pieces to be replaced. Materials. Laminate flooring can be made to look like any other material you might use on a floor. How to Install Granite Countertops Kitchen TileStep 1 Introduction to granite tile. Natural beauty, durability, resistance to heat and a sense of permanence are the hallmarks of a granite countertop. But ordinarily solid stone countertops are a pricey proposition due to the special tooling and installation required. In this story, well show you how to install an alternativea solid granitetile countertop that costs about the same as a professionally installed plastic laminate countertop. Thats for a wide variety of standard granite tile selections, but be aware that you can pay considerably more for premium selections. Well cover preparing a solid subbase of 34 in. Next well add a lightweight tile backer material called Denshield over the plywood. And finally, well lay out and install the 1. The trickiest part of installing stone tile countertops is cutting a crisp, clean countertop nosing or front lip. This difficult task is simple when you use a homemade jig Fig. B thats clamped to a tile saws sliding table Photo 9 to cut perfect 4. To finish off the gap at the backsplash of the counter, weve designed a unique, easy to install detail Fig. A and Photo 1. 6 that efficiently uses the leftover tile trimmings from the nosing cuts. Figure A Countertop Details. To calculate the number of tiles you need, multiply the lineal footage of 2. Then add as many tiles as required to cover wider peninsulas or islands and subtract for cooktops, stoves, sinks or other built ins. Keep in mind that youll probably need partial tiles for filling around built in appliances as well as at least a half dozen more tiles to allow for breakage and miscuts. Have extra tiles on hand you can always return the leftovers. In addition to the tile, youll need A 2. A 5 lb. bag of unsanded grout for the tile joints. Unsanded grout is easier to work into the narrow 18 in. A quart of polished granite sealer to treat the tile and grout surfaces a week or so after grouting the tile Photo 1. It will help prevent stains from penetrating the porous surface and enhance the natural beauty of the stone. A roll of fiberglass mesh tape for taping the Denshield seams Photo 8. A 14 in. notched trowel for spreading the thinset Photo 7. A 4 in. or 6 in. A 2 in. Photo 1. A honing stone to soften sharp exposed edges Photo 1. A grout float for spreading and embedding the grout Photo 1. Color matching caulk to substitute for grout at inside corners Photo 1. Plastic spacers for supporting the backsplash tiles Photo 1. Fig. A Cutaway. Step 2 Cutting granite. At first it might seem intimidating to work with tile thats made from rock, but its not difficult. While you cant score and snap it like ceramic tile, it cuts easily on a conventional diamond tile saw. In fact, youll make all of your cuts that way. Other than that, youll use the same tools, materials and techniques needed for ceramic tile except for the grout and sealer types. In addition to standard carpentry tools, you can rent or buy the tile cutting saw. If youre really organized and have underlayment installed and all the tile laid out and planned ahead of time, you can do all the cutting in one day. But if you want to take more time, it may be worth buying a saw, especially if you plan on tiling floors or perhaps a bathroom in the future. Also buy four rubber padded mini clamps Photo 9 to hold the tiles to the jig. Steel C clamps may crack the tiles. But use a couple of small C clamps to secure the jig to the saw table. Step 3 Preparing the cabinets. Photo 1 Getting started. Move aside stoves and refrigerators and pull the kitchen sink before removing the countertops. Then remove all of the lower cabinet drawers and doors and cabinet contents. Photo 2 Take out the old countertops. Unscrew the old countertops or pry them up with a flat bar if theyre glued. Youll have to climb into the cabinets to access the screws at the corners. Photo 3 Install the blocking. Screw blocking along the backs of cabinets into the studs with 2 in. Screw blocking to hidden cabinet sides. At finished cabinet ends, glue on the blocking with construction adhesive and clamp until it sets. Photo 4 Screw on the plywood backing. Rip 34 in. plywood to project past cabinet fronts 58 in. Put the plywood factory edge to the front. Cut plywood to length so joints meet over blocking. Predrill and screw the plywood to the blocking and cabinet fronts with 1 58 in. Photo 5 Cut out the opening for the sink. Lay out the sink opening following the manufacturers template or instructions and cut the opening with a jigsaw careful, dont wreck the cabinet fronts. Use a clamp and a block of wood to support the cutout until you finish the cut. Removing the old countertop can be easy if its just screwed to cabinet corner braces Photo 2 or tough if its glued down. One peek inside the cabinets will tell you how its secured. If its glued down youll have to pry it loose with a flat bar. Its best to pry from inside the cabinets to avoid damaging the finish. The key to flat, long lasting tile countertops is a solid plywood base. Thin cabinet sides or corner braces simply wont provide enough anchorage to hold the plywood flat and stable. After the tops are removed, youll have to build up cabinet edges with 14 or 24 blocking along cabinet backs, ends and areas where plywood splices will fall Photos 3 and 4. Cut the 34 in. plywood underlayment to length so it splices over blocking using the factory edge of the plywood in the front for straight nosings. Cut plywood to length to fit flush with finished cabinet ends and 1 in. Lumberyard Materials. Its not hard to estimate your lumberyard purchased materials. Heres what you need 34 in. Youll need a full sheet of 34 in. Tile backer Buy a 3. Denshield or cement board if Denshield is not available for every five lineal ft. Pick up enough 1x. Photos 3 and 4. 13 backsplash trim cap Buy enough 13 trim lumber that matches your cabinets along with the necessary stain and finish to cap off the finished backsplash Photos 1. Fig. A. One 1 lb. Denshield. One 1 lb. Step 4 Use cement board or Denshield for the tile backing. Photo 6 Cut the tile backer. Rip 3 12 in. wide 34 in. Score and snap the tile backer to fit flush with the plywood edges. Span over sink openings and mark the underside with a pencil, then flip it over and cut out the opening with a jigsaw. Photo 7 Spread a layer of thinset Mix and spread a 18 in. Embed the Denshield in the thinset and nail it to the plywood with 1 in. Spread thinset over the backsplash and edges and screw on strips of tile backer with 1 14 in. Photo 8 Anchor the mesh tape with thinset. Lay fiberglass mesh tape over the outside corners of the nosings and joints, and over the inside corners of the backsplash. Anchor the tape with a thin layer of thinset, embedding it with a putty knife. Youre probably already familiar with cement tile backer board, which is completely acceptable, but a gypsum based material called Denshield Photo 6 is also a great choice for countertop tile bases. It has a gypsum core like drywall, but the core and the sheathing have been modified to repel moisture and accept a tile overlay with conventional bonding adhesives. If youve ever struggled with cutting and installing cement board, youll appreciate working with Denshield. Its lightweight and you cut, snap, rasp and fasten it exactly like standard drywall. Its sold throughout the country, and home centers usually stock the 3. Splice the Denshield wherever you wish, but keep in mind that all of the splices and the outside and inside corners need to be taped with fiberglass mesh tape and a thin layer of thinset Photo 8, so avoid using lots of little pieces. Figure B Building and Using the Tile Mitering Gig. This miter jig will fit on most tile saws, but it may need alteration for some models. See Fig. B for the cutting sizes of the mitering jig components. Use any flat 12 in.