What’s the Cost of Replacing Carpet With Hardwood?
The cost of replacing carpet with hardwood depends on the design, flooring area, and location. Replacing carpet with hardwood has its benefits. Finding the true cost of replacement helps come up with a realistic budget. Hardwood installation companies vary in price. Calculating the replacement cost also helps compare installation services from different flooring brands.
Why Replace Carpet With Hardwood?
Replacing carpet flooring with hardwood is worthwhile since they offer more durability and value.
1. Easier to Maintain
Hardwood floors are easier to maintain than carpets. Carpets trap dirt, mud, and debris from outside, especially if shoes are allowed in the house. Homeowners also struggle to tackle large stains from liquid spills on the carpet.
With hardwood flooring, you just need to mop or sweep off dust and debris from the surface. You can also get rid of stains using a damp cloth and vinegar.
2. More Trendy Designs Available
Hardwood is a timeless flooring option. From traditional oak floors, contemporary designs include bold hues and color blends. Some homeowners also prefer to keep natural wood colors. You can also choose finishes on a hardwood floor, including glossy satin and matte finishes.
3. Increases the Resale Value
Wood flooring is luxurious and high-end. While it’s more expensive than carpeting, hardwood floors attract more prospective buyers. Installing new hardwood floors gives an average of 70%- 80% Return On Investment (ROI).
Installing new carpets when selling your house doesn’t affect the resale value. Nonetheless, it creates a good impression when the carpet is clean and in good condition.
4. Better at Handling Heavy Foot Traffic
High-quality nylon carpets are the most durable option for high-traffic areas. Even so, the piles flatten over time and are difficult to clean. Other carpet fibers are prone to matting, crushing, wear and tear under heavy foot traffic.
Hardwood floors last for decades in high-foot-traffic areas. Hardwood keeps its original appearance and texture. Choose a hardwood floor that’s scratch and dent-resistant if you have children or pets.
5. More Natural & Longer Lifespan
With frequent vacuuming and professional cleaning, carpets last up to 15 years. Hardwood floors last for 30 years or more. Replacing broadloom carpets can be costly since you have to install a wide area. When hardwood floors wear out, they’re sanded and refinished.
Natural carpet fibers like wool and sisal and eco-friendly and sustainable. Synthetic fibers are made from petroleum products. They emit toxic gases during production and indoors. They end up in landfills after wearing out. When compared to carpeting, wooden flooring has a significant advantage.
What Impacts the Installation Cost of Hardwood Flooring?
1. Labor & Installation Techniques
Hardwood floors take time to install. Exotic hardwoods take longer to install than softer wood and cost more. You must also factor in the carpet removal, underlays, and staining.
Labor costs range from $3 to $9 per square foot. Installation of expensive hardwoods like Brazilian walnut or mahogany costs around $5 to $9 per square foot.
2. Sub-Floor Type
When installing hardwood floors, contractors check the condition of your sub-floors and joist. Rot, water, and termite infestation are common causes of subfloor damage. Subfloor replacement attracts an extra $500 to $700 per room.
Thick plywood is the best subfloor type for hardwood flooring. Concrete, tile, and vinyl are also ideal subfloor materials. Repairing floor joists costs $10- $60 per square foot.
3. Hardwood Floor Design
Hardwood floor designs vary depending on the placement of planks on the floor. Random planking floor patterns have the lowest installation costs. They also have less material waste. Diagonal, chevron and herringbone patterns cost up to $12 per square foot for materials only.
Parquet is the most expensive pattern, at $20 to $45 per square foot. Parquet made from premade wooden tiles is more popular. They look like hardwood parquet and cost around $7 to $10 per square foot.
4. Size of the Flooring Area
Large flooring surfaces need more materials, which raises the cost of installation. You’ll also incur more labor costs since it takes longer to install the hardwood. Hardwood finishes also determine the installation costs.
Expensive acid-cured finishes and water-based polyurethane finishes have a great impact on the installation cost for large areas. You can DIY the finishing for small flooring areas instead of seeking professional installers.
5. Your Location
Installation costs of hardwood flooring vary from one state to another. Using locally available materials is cheaper than shipping from other countries. For instance, in Alabama, you would spend $3,000 to $6,000, while New York homeowners spend $10,000 on 1,200 square feet.
Carpet vs. Hardwood: Cost
The national average for installing hardwood flooring is $6 to $14 per square foot. When installing exotic hardwood, costs may go up from $12 to $25 per square foot. The difference is due to the higher cost of materials and installation costs.
Carpets cost as little as $1 for materials. On average, carpet materials costs between $2 and $8 per square foot. Including padding and labor costs would cost $3 to $12 per square foot. While hardwood flooring is a pricier investment, it’s more durable and increases your home’s value.
Carpet vs. Hardwood: Resale Value
Hardwood flooring is popular due to its durability and aesthetics. According to real estate experts, installing hardwood floors boosts the selling price by 2.5%. Most homeowners are willing to pay more for homes with wood floors. According to the National Association of Realtors, new hardwood floors have a resale value of 118%.
Carpets have a low Return On Investment (ROI). Yet, having carpet in bedrooms and upstairs rooms attracts buyers. Broadloom carpets also appeal to buyers in cold climates since they have better insulation. When listing your house, ensure your carpets are clean and in good shape.
Carpet vs. Hardwood: Allergens
While both aren’t hypoallergenic, natural hardwood floors harbor fewer allergens. Cleaning hardwood floors removes all surface particles, including dust mites, pollen, and dander. Carpets with long fibers trap dust, pollen, and other allergens.
Vacuuming eliminates allergens on the surface but leaves some in the pile and padding. The allergens trigger symptoms of asthma. Carpets made from petroleum products also emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). They cause contact dermatitis on sensitive skin.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ
How do you transition two types of flooring?
You’ll need a transition strip between carpeting and hardwood floors. Transition strips create a smooth flow on different flooring types. T-molding transition strips are used on hardwood floors.
What’s the average carpet removal cost?
The national average for carpet removal is $190. Carpet removal costs between $1 and $3, depending on location. It costs more to remove carpets from staircases and rooms with furniture. Carpet removal prices include labor, clean-up, and haul-away charges.
What’s the best wood for hardwood floors?
Oak floors are hard-wearing and more scratch resistant than other options. They’re available in red and white colors to match most interior designs. Ebony, cherry, and bamboo are also durable choices.
How long do hardwood floors last?
Hardwood floors last for 20-30 years under normal foot traffic. Over time, fading and discoloration may occur, which damages the surface. Refinishing restores the look and texture of hardwood floors but should be done 3-4 times.