Laminate flooring has quickly become a viable competitor for flooring choices, especially when people want the look of wood flooring without the hefty price tag that otherwise applies to a natural wood approach. Designed in both planks and tiles, laminate has quickly proven to be a very versatile flooring choice with lots of options, colors, textures, and alternatives. No surprise, it is becoming a regular flooring product choice by both businesses and homeowners.
Average Cost of Laminate Flooring
One of the great benefits of laminate flooring is its affordability.
The typical cost for a laminate flooring project varies depending on a number of factors including square footage, brand of laminate flooring, labor cost and expertise of your flooring company. Oftentimes we see laminate flooring jobs run under about $3,000. For a residence, it can be a bit lower at $2,800, but again, that price can depend on the factors previously mentioned.
The range for a facility installation can vary widely, both on the choice of laminate as well as on the amount of space that actually needs to be incorporated into the flooring area. As a result, projects typically reach the upper ranges of $4,000 or $5,000 because far more is needed, or additional quality features are chosen. High traffic zones, for example, might need strong abrasion and traffic protection. There are also going to be some market variations based on location, as some regions see a greater number of laminate installations annually than others.
On a square foot basis, laminate can be bought for as low as $0.70/sq ft to as much as $2.00/sq ft. The far more common products tend to be on the lower end of the cost spectrum, while the harder to find and less produced tend to be more expensive. For example, while maple or light oak will be very affordable, hickory laminate will definitely be in the high-cost range. However, there are quite a number of other choices in the middle of the pack as well to consider, such as beech or acacia.
The timing of an installation purchase can impact pricing as well. When the market is slower, such as during the winter, flooring prices come down. When the summer is peaking, laminate flooring tends to be at its highest price point given the significant number of install jobs taking place.
Space accessibility is an issue as well. Simple jobs with little in the way of challenges or obstacles will be very affordable. On the other hand, installations that require a lot of work, custom pieces and similar will push up the price of a job. Smaller rooms tend to trigger these charges whereas a large room with lots of space tends to be cheaper per sq ft.
The Nature of Laminate Drives Its Cost Lower
Compared to natural wood, laminate provides a very attractive cost point that can’t be ignored. Technically speaking, laminate involves a bonding of thin layers of synthetic flooring material that can also include layers of natural wood and particle fiber as well. Because the overall content of natural wood is far less in laminate, it is able to be sold at a far more affordable price than hardwood flooring, but it provides a comparable appearance. Laminate flooring can be had in all types of wood coloring and appearances from the aforementioned acacia to red oak and cherry to walnut and even hickory.
Labor Costs and Laminate Floor Pricing
Keep in mind, the costs discussed so far above are for the flooring itself only. The installation labor expense also needs to be considered as well in an overall project budget. The typical labor installation range tends to be $2/sq ft on the low end of the picture and as high as $8/sq ft on the upper end. However, it’s good to know that the labor and installation also typically includes the underlayer procurement and install as well.
Quite a number of laminate products put a lot of marketing emphasis on the design fact that they can be assembled in a snap and go approach. This can give a person the impression that laminate is generally a do-it-yourself flooring. However, that would be a mistake. While it is true such flooring does connect and lock together, there’s still a lot of work and skill that goes into the installation itself, including professional cutting and sizing of pieces, accurately fitting the flooring to a room dimension, and finishing the flooring with a professional look. These skills don’t come with a one-time DIY experience. They happen over years of work and understanding the right approach to laminate installation.
Skill & Experience Always Make a Difference
If you want a laminate flooring approach with a wide range of selection and top-quality installation skill, then S & R Carpet and Flooring should be on your call list.
Our teams have been handling laminate since it came out and overall flooring since the 1970s. There are plenty of choices, but when it comes to affordable flooring service, S & R Carpet and Flooring still lands on top. It’s why we’ve been in the flooring business for so long. Customers keep coming back to what’s a proven choice.
For all your flooring needs, laminate or otherwise, contact us today at 978-486-3079!