Shopping around for a hardwood floor can become very disheartening because of all the misleading information and pricing. The listed price never seems to be the true price!

Most stores actually do not list prices because they claim the price changes too often. Below is a brief summary of what it typically costs for a 1,000 square foot installation of pre-finished hardwood flooring.

The Accessories: To Nail or Not To Nail

In general the price sold by the square foot only represents the physical hardwood flooring material. There are many other factors that determine the final price. For example, if you have a wood subfloor, you will need to use special nailing and stapling flooring tools that can be very expensive to purchase.

The nails and staples are very inexpensive and are typically calculated into the installation cost. If you are looking to purchase your own staples, one box (7,200) of standard 2" staples costs about $50.00. Furthermore, standard asphalt felt paper costs about 4 cents per square foot.

Floating Floors

Now is when the cost begins to rise. If the hardwood floor is being installed as a floating floor, you will also need to purchase an underlayment. An underlayment is necessary to provide that "cushioned" effect and can also be used to offset irregularities in the subfloor. There are many different forms available so prices can range all the way from 25 cents a square foot up to $1.50. Rarely is this price included when a bid is written up.

Floors Glued Direct To Concrete

If your floor will be glued directly to the concrete, the cost will go up even more. Depending on what type of adhesive is used or where it is purchased, costs can range from approximately 35 cents per square foot to $ 1.00 and higher. Installers are generally also going to charge more for this type of installation.

Trim Moldings

All hardwood floor installations will need some type of trim moldings. Whether or not it's needed to trim off the baseboard or install between the ceramic tile and wood floor, extra costs are involved. Let's say you prefer quarter round that matches the oak floor being considered. This extra work can add up the dollar cost of the job quickly. One prefinished stick measuring 78 inches may cost as much as $ 5.00 per lineal foot from a local retailer.

The Big Expense. Labor

Labor for installation can vary significantly. In general labor usually costs around $3.00 per square foot.