Solid Hardwood

There are many different grades and styles, with red oak being the most popular and common. Harder wood is more practical for floors as it can resist a variety of punishment. There are also many soft woods like pine and fir being used for floors but their use is uncommon in this area. The hardwood is cut and milled (mostly tongue and groove)  directly from the log at a saw mill. It can be pre-finished at the factory or finished on site. Increasing in popularity is exotic hardwood (fancy name for imported) and reclaimed hardwood (fancy name for things like an old barn cut up for flooring) and bamboo, which is grass and not hardwood at all. The possibilities for design, texture  and color are endless. For the most part this floor requires an additional wood sub floor to nail to and a damp proof membrane under the sub floor in the case of concrete substrates. This adds quite a bit to the overall cost and unless there has been some prior planning, adding over an inch and a half to the existing height of the sub-floor isn't a welcome thought.  A few thinner solid products may be directly adhered to a concrete slab and new adhesive and moisture vapor protection technology are providing manufacturers with enough confidence that they are starting to allow their 3/4" thick solid wood floors to be directly glued to a concrete slab.

Expect to pay on average between $12 to $18 per square foot
for material, installation and finishing combined with an added plywood sub-floor included.  Installation labor for nail down starts at $2.50 per square foot and direct glue down is $3.00 per square foot.

Engineered Hardwood

Sometimes called a wood laminate, but in order to distinguish it from plastic laminates- engineered hardwood is the preferred tag. This is manufactured in layers called plys. Similar to the more familiar plywood used for a variety of construction projects, with the addition of a thin hardwood veneer layer laminated (glued) on the top. This is the wear layer and its thickness varies from product to product according to the manufacturer, milling process and cost. The number of plys and their material vary also, but the general rule of thumb is that multiple plys (5 and more) creates a more stable product. In other words- the wood is less prone to movement (grow or shrink) based on changes in climate. This is a popular choice because it is real wood and offers a variety of pre-finishes and installation options (floating, glued direct, nailed, stapled). Occasionally (becoming more popular) you can find a manufacturer that will supply an engineered product that is unfinished. Site finishing will give you more versatility in terms of color and sheen. Even though not hardwoods, engineered Bamboo and Cork flooring would fall into this price range category.

Expect to pay on average between $10 to $15 per square foot
for material and installation combined. Direct glue installation labor starts at $3.00 per square foot. An average project including preparation and detail work comes in at about 5 or 6 dollars per square foot for labor. 

Plastic Laminate

Manufacturers often refer to this type of product as laminate or laminated flooring. Even though it has a plastic wear layer and composite wood core, manufacturers shy away from the word plastic because they somehow believe that it implies chintzy. Truth is- plastic is all around us and enhances our lifestyles. Plastic laminate flooring is no different. Their are a wide variety of products, colors, styles and qualities available in the market place. One aspect of laminate in particular that is very rarely discussed, but is probably among the most important, is the difference between direct pressure and high pressure laminates. These two terms describe manufacturing processes and the thickness and density of the wear layer.  Overall, the product (much of the time) is designed to simulate the look of wood flooring. Honestly, with the ever increasing advances in manufacturing technology, there are times even I had to get down on the floor to see if it was or wasn't real wood. On a number of occasions clients have mentioned to me that salespeople have sold them laminate on the premise that these floors are not moisture sensitive. This could not be further from the truth- plastic laminate floors are highly moisture sensitive. Not only from topical (moisture applied during maintenance, mopping etc.) but from moisture vapor emissions from a concrete slab and moisture vapor in the ambient air in the form of humidity.

Expect to pay on average between $5 to $10 per square foot
for material and installation combined. Installation starts at $2 per square foot and an average project between preparation and detail work comes in around $3.50 per square foot. The installation labor for laminate is pretty consistent across the product spectrum. In other words- you'll pay the same to have a direct pressure laminate that costs you $1.79 per foot and a high pressure product that costs you $3.50 per foot. Although a high pressure laminate could have twice the life and half the problems as it's cheaper counterpart.

Ceramic Tile

A popular mainstay here in the Valley. Ceramic tile needs a sturdy sub-floor, the abundance of concrete slabs in the area make ceramic a good seller.  Not only that, but a ceramic floor feels cooler and stays cooler to the touch than most other types of floor covering. A bonus here in the Valley where seemingly we always have to be aware of the detrimental effects of the hot things we come in contact with.

Larger format tiles (above 14" X 14") are quickly becoming the preferred choice among homeowners. Maybe because less cement grout is required, and grout seems to be a maintenance issue among many ceramic tile users. Newer epoxy and epoxy modified grouts are changing the face of how grout and grout maintenance is perceived. Maybe more so because the larger glazed tiles resemble stone like granite, marble and travertine. Keep in mind that the larger the tile is that you choose the flatter the slab must be to adequately accept it.

Also more prevalent in the market place is porcelain tile. Porcelain tile is still ceramic, only manufactured differently- usually from a different type of clay or fired at a higher temperature.  Providing in theory anyway, a harder more durable tile. Remember though, just because it's labeled porcelain doesn't automatically make it a better perfoming tile. Much of tile's performance has to do with the quality of the glazing.

Ceramic can be used inside or out, on walls and countertops as well as floors (all depending on it's rating).

Expect to pay on average between $6 to $10 per square foot
for material and installation combined. Labor starts at $2.00 per square foot to install a medium sized tile (12-14 inches) and increases from there depending on the material, site conditions and layout of the space.

Carpet

The least up-front cost in terms of money spent and time needed for installation than the other floor coverings discussed. Style, design, color and fiber content are never ending. There seems to be a carpet for every price point ranging from fifty cents a square foot to $5 for most residential applications. Based on the criteria mentioned earlier there is no ceiling as far as product cost.

   Expect to pay on average between $2 to $6 per square foot
 for material (including cushion) and installation combined. Labor starts at $.50 per square foot to install and increases from there depending on the material, site conditions and layout of the space.

more to come...