How much does it cost to replace floors with hardwood?

How much does it cost to replace floors with hardwood?

You’ve researched hardwood flooring and understand the benefits, from being the longest-lasting floor type to increasing your home value. Now you’re wondering how much it will cost to replace floors with hardwood. There are three main components that will affect the price of installing hardwood: prep work, labor, and materials. Though we can’t give you an exact estimate in a blog post, examining these three areas will give you a good starting point. 

G3 Hardwood Flooring has been serving the Colorado Springs community for three generations. We carry the best hardwood flooring products, from solid wood to engineered hardwood. Our services include installing, refinishing, and maintaining hardwood floors. As Bona-certified craftsmen, you can be confident that we will do the job right.

Preparing Floor for Hardwood


What prep work you need will heavily impact the cost of replacing your current flooring with hardwood. What type of flooring do you have? Carpet, old hardwood, or tile needs to be removed before your new flooring is installed. Home Guide states that carpet removal costs between $1-2 a yard with a minimum charge of $100-$200. 

Once your old flooring has been removed, you’ll need to evaluate whether your subfloor needs any work. If your subfloor isn’t level or has water damage, you’ll need to have a professional repair the damage before you do anything else. According to Forbes, subfloor repairs range from $100 for a small area to around $400 for a whole room. Now you’re ready to buy your materials.

Types of Hardwood Floor: Cost of Materials


Do you know what type of hardwood floor you’d like to install. Prices vary depending on the type of wood you use and whether you opt for solid or engineered hardwood. Prefinished and unfinished hardwood also have different price points.

Solid hardwood usually ranges between $4.50 and $15 per square foot, with pine on the cheaper end and oak and walnut on the higher end.

Engineered hardwood is composed of layers of hardwood and plywood, making it a more affordable option. It usually runs between $3 and $13 per square foot.

Prefinished Hardwood is already stained and sealed prior to being installed. It usually runs between $6 and $12 per square foot, slightly more than its unfinished counterparts but can save you on labor costs in the long run. 

Labor for installing hardwood floors usually runs between $3-$9 per square foot. Here are a few of the factors that can affect labor costs:

  • Wood hardness
  • Angled patterns, like parquet or herringbone
  • Home layout
  • Finishing on-site
  • Custom stain or finish

The more complicated and time-intensive a project is, the more you can expect to pay in labor. If your installation team has to work around kitchen islands or narrow entryways, for example, they will spend more time cutting and fitting the wood into place.

How Long Does it Take to Install a Hardwood Floor?


A team of professionals can usually finish installing your new hardwood flooring in 1-3 days, depending on the size of the space. If they are finishing the floors on-site, you will need to wait a bit before you can use them normally. You can usually walk on a freshly finished floor in 24 hours and move your furniture back after 3 days. 

Replace Your Floors with G3 Hardwood Flooring


If you are ready to replace your old carpet or tile with beautiful hardwood, contact G3 Hardwood Flooring today. We have engineered, pre-finished, and unfinished hardwood perfect for any budget. You can visit our showroom to see available options and envision what they might look like in your home. Our quality craftsmen will then come and install your new flooring for you. Make an investment in your home with hardwood flooring from G3.

Average Cost of Hardwood Floor Installation


Labor for installing hardwood floors usually runs between $3-$9 per square foot. Here are a few of the factors that can affect labor costs:

  • Wood hardness
  • Angled patterns, like parquet or herringbone
  • Home layout
  • Finishing on-site
  • Custom stain or finish

The more complicated and time-intensive a project is, the more you can expect to pay in labor. If your installation team has to work around kitchen islands or narrow entryways, for example, they will spend more time cutting and fitting the wood into place.

How Long Does it Take to Install a Hardwood Floor?


A team of professionals can usually finish installing your new hardwood flooring in 1-3 days, depending on the size of the space. If they are finishing the floors on-site, you will need to wait a bit before you can use them normally. You can usually walk on a freshly finished floor in 24 hours and move your furniture back after 3 days. 

Replace Your Floors with G3 Hardwood Flooring


If you are ready to replace your old carpet or tile with beautiful hardwood, contact G3 Hardwood Flooring today. We have engineered, pre-finished, and unfinished hardwood perfect for any budget. You can visit our showroom to see available options and envision what they might look like in your home. Our quality craftsmen will then come and install your new flooring for you. Make an investment in your home with hardwood flooring from G3.