Hardwood Floor Installation, Refinishing - General Labor Costs
Labor costs for installation, refinishing and related projects shown below are ballpark guesstimates as the hardwood floor industry is widely segmented. This can be noticeable from one end of your town to another or one geographical region to another. Some areas may have a concentration of higher labor costs that correspond with the general cost of living, while others may have stiff competition from immigrants, forcing labor pricing down.
The figures below represent independent contractor pricing only, or those that do not own brick and mortar retail outlets. Retails costs can vary upwards of twice what is shown, or even 50% less than what is shown.
| Description Of Work Performed | Average |
| Nail down | $ 3.25 S/F |
| Glue down | $ 3.50 S/F |
| Floating | $ 2.75 S/F |
| Plywood installation on concrete | $ 1.75 S/F |
| Installing moisture barrier (trowel spread) | $ 1.25 S/F |
| Shoe molding or quarter round installation | $ 1.25 L/F |
| Baseboard installation | $ 2.00 L/F |
| Shoe or base remove and re-install | $ 2.50 L/F |
| Cork Underlayment (sound control) | $ 1.25 S/F |
| Install common borders¹ | $ 5.00 L/F |
| Install medallions | Varies |
| Install hardwood on stairs(3' width) | $ 80.00 ea. step |
| Refinishing | $ 3.50 S/F |
| Refinish parquet floors | $ 3.75 S/F * |
| Screening (buff and top coat) | $ 1.25 S/F |
| Staining floors² | $ 5.50 S/F |
| Refinish steps(3' width) | $ 60.00 ea. step |
| Remove carpet (includes tack strip & pad) | .25 SF |
| Floor preparation | $ 60.00 hour |
| Remove and reinstall toilet | $ 40.00 each |
| Appliance movement³ | $ 30.00 each |
| Furniture movement | Varies |
S/F- Square foot
L/F- Lineal foot
¹ Individual strip or plank, not special designs. Calculated by the running lineal foot.
² Will vary significantly, includes finishing coats.
³ Zub zeros not included
Repair - prices are often calculated by time and material. In other words, total expense of materials used and going labor rate.
Waste Removal & Disposal - Will vary significantly. Often they are not quoted as an individual cost but figured into other expenses.
Electrical, and Gas - Work is not considered within the scope of a hardwood professional.
Other Notes: Depending on what is common in your region, or who is quoting the rates, some labor rates shown may or may not include accessory materials such as adhesives or finishes. Refinishing expenses may be higher depending on whether or not dust control systems are used.
Other Floor Covering Removal
| Type | Average |
| Nail down | $ 2.00 S/F |
| Glue down | $ 3.00 S/F |
| Floating |
$ 1.00 S/F |
| Ceramic tile | $ 3.50 S/F |
From Our Readers:
Subject: Quote Too High. Manhattan, NY
Question: I have a quote for 1,124 square feet of wood flooring to be installed in a condominium in Manhattan. I'm shell shocked with the number. They want $18,000 for the work. My sister had the same floor installed in her home two months ago at a price of $ 12,000 and she only lives 20 miles away. Why is this so expensive?
Reply: I think the word Manhattan can probably add a premium to the cost. Other items that can substantially increase the cost in condos or apartments in urban areas would be sound control. Your contractor may be charging you as much as $ 4.00 for adding a sound control system before the actual hardwood floor is installed. Also if you're installing solid hardwood many applications call for adding a plywood subfloor. That can add to the rate as well.
Subject: Removing Floating Floors
Question: Our installer looked at your quote on removing floating floors and laughed. He said he wouldn't get out of bed for that amount. He wants $ 2.50 a square foot that includes dump fees.
Reply: As shown above some pricing does not reflect waste removal. You could just as easily hire a handyman to take care of the floor. Removing floating floors are very easy but does require some care when actually pulling them up. For instance you don't want the guy destroying your door jambs when they pull the floor out. I've seen that happen far too many times.
Hardwood Flooring Prices Itemized totals
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