Laminate flooring is an excellent option for homeowners looking for a lower-cost alternative to wood or tile floor installation.
By choosing the right quality materials, buyers can expect their new floor to last upwards of 30 years. If you’ve never shopped for laminate flooring, there can be a dizzying array of options at multiple price points.
Here’s a guide to what to look for and how much it’ll cost to have installed.
Choosing the Right Materials
The major determinative cost factor when choosing your laminate floor will be the quality. It’s available in thicknesses ranging from 3 to 15mm, and this will determine the durability of the floor.
The top layer of the laminate is known as the “wear layer”, and the thicker the laminate, the longer you can expect it to last.
Prices on average range from about $1 to $5 per square foot of coverage, depending on the thickness you choose.
Laminate Installation Costs
The installation costs of laminate flooring can be more complicated to estimate. Depending on the current condition of your floor, the installation process may require repairs or leveling of the sub-floor.
Excluding the preparation work, you can expect to pay between $1 and $3 per laminate installed square foot. If you’re planning to have your laminate flooring extend up flights of stairs and on landings, the costs will be higher due to the extra trim and detail work involved.
If it turns out that you’ll need a new subfloor or major repairs to your current one, expect to add between $3 and $5 per square foot to your project. This is not an area that you’ll want to cut costs on since the quality of the underlayment will play a major role in the durability of the finished product.
Adding It All Up
To give you a sense of how much you can expect to spend on your new laminate flooring, we’ll use the square footage of a living room in an average home, which is about 400 square feet. For a fully installed laminate floor of medium quality, you should plan to spend approximately $2000 to get the job done.
If you need additional preparation or repairs done, it will add about $1600 to the installation cost, bringing the grand total to around $3600.
To make sure you get the best deal, you should request at least three written estimates from prospective installers, and let them know that they’re competing for your business. If you feel capable, removing your existing flooring can help cut down your costs, as long as you’re careful not to damage the subflooring.
By getting a competitive price and choosing materials that suit your specific needs, you’ll end up with a reasonably priced floor that will give you years of beautiful and durable wear. Careful planning will make it an investment you won’t regret.
Get New Laminate Floors with The Carpet Guys!
The great thing about The Carpet Guys is that we make laminate more affordable than most. We go above and beyond what our competitors will and keep laminate floor costs low and budget-friendly.
If the charm of laminate flooring has you captivated, there’s only one thing left to do. It’s time to book a free laminate flooring estimate with The Carpet Guys!
We carry some of the best laminate flooring products from leading manufacturers like Mohawk and Sierra Tahoe.
Not only are our products top-notch, but so are the many services we offer including:
- Expert craftsmanship and installation
- Free lifetime installation warranties
- Pet-friendly flooring options
- Eco-friendly flooring products
- Free estimates seven days a week
- Much more!
Give The Carpet Guys a call and get your estimate set up today. We’ll see you soon.
