What’s the Cost of Replacing Carpet With Hardwood?
The average cost for carpet removal is $180, or $1-$5 per square foot. Average hardwood flooring costs are $3 to $13 per square foot for material and an additional $4 per square foot for installation. Add this up, and the average cost to replace carpet with hardwood floors is $7 – $22 per square foot.
Here’s the average cost of replacing carpet with hardwoods depending on square footage:
- 2,000 square feet = $14,000 – $44,000
- 1,500 square feet = $10,500 – $33,000
- 1,000 square feet = $7,000 – $22,000
- 500 square feet = $3,500 – $11,000
- 250 square feet = $1,750 – $5,500
If you need to cut down on costs, consider DIYing your carpet removal and hardwood flooring installation.
What Impacts the Installation Cost of Hardwood Flooring?
1. Labor & Installation Techniques
Labor costs to install hardwoods range from $3 to $9 per square foot, with $4 being the average.
2. Sub-Floor Type
When installing hardwood floors, contractors check the condition of your sub-floors and joists. Rot, water damage, and termite infestation are common causes of subfloor damage. Subfloor replacement attracts an extra $500 to $700 per room.
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, parquet, and herringbone patterns are more difficult to install and produce more waste, therefore, requiring more material.
4. Size of the Flooring Area
Large flooring surfaces need more materials, which raises the costs of materials and labor.
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: Resale Value
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.