Prices for hardwood floors have increased anywhere from 15 to 70 percent. The increased lumber costs are due to species scarcity, fuel inflation and a lack of truck delivery. But even if you're not getting all-natural hardwood floors, you may still see a price increase.
“Hardwood prices go up and down more slowly, but we've seen the same, not as rapid, movement as softwood prices go up. We've seen a steady increase in hardwood prices over the last 18 months, and 18 months ago, we were probably at the bottom with fairly inexpensive pricing—most of it has gone up 50 percent or more.”
Cutting down all of the old growth timber has made it to where there are far less large trees. This means less hardwood over all. This has resulted in major increases in prices for all hardwood products. The cost of hardwood flooring has increased drastically since the year 2000.
Demand spurred by pandemic leads to shortages, delays. More than a year after the coronavirus oubreak in the U.S., the hardwood flooring industry is continuing to face supply shortages—and experts say the delays many wood floor pros are experiencing could continue through at least the rest of the year.
The inventory is low, the demand is at an all-time high and so are the prices. Many are surprised to learn that the availability of white oak is not the issue— as many as 5.2 billion white oak trees cover 235,000 square miles in the United States.
Both hardwood types are affordable, but red oak tends to be less expensive than white oak. Prices, however, do fluctuate, and red oak might become more expensive than white oak depending on lumber availability. Prices vary, and brands, retailers, wood grade, and even plank dimensions can influence pricing.
Many designers are pushing modern flooring ideas that include cool and desaturated tones (dark browns, grays, white washes, light browns). On the flip side, some warmer tones are also trending as well. Medium wood in shades like honey, copper, and blonde are gaining popularity because of their light and airy feel.
Expect to pay between $4,500 and $30,000 for 1,500 square feet of solid wood flooring. The species of wood you choose for your home can be a big determinant of the installation costs.
Typical costs: Installing a standard solid-strip hardwood floor averages about $8 a square foot for materials, insulation and site finishing, and up to $12 a square foot for wide pine planks, or $1,150-$1,750 for a 12x12-foot room.
Installing hardwood flooring averages between $6 and $12 per square foot. On average, wood flooring costs between $3 and $7 per square foot for materials and $3 to $5 per square foot for labor. An estimate for installation of 1000 square feet of hardwood flooring runs between $6,000 and $12,000.
The increased prices and supply shortage slowed down construction. Then, in summer 2021, prices fell back to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Now, lumber prices, like most commodities, are rising again.
Lumber will be strong through 2021 and this drop in lumber prices is great news for homebuilders and real estate developers alike if they choose to take advantage of their low rates now.
To cover 1,000 square feet, you can expect to pay $6,000 to $20,000. For materials alone, you'll pay $2 to $15 per square foot.
And additionally, hardwood flooring will never go out of style. If you're looking to replace your flooring in your home, hardwood flooring may be at the top of your list. Of all the flooring trends in recent years and historically, hardwood flooring has become a mainstay in homes all over the world.
Dark stained hardwood flooring is by far the best selection when it comes to overall popularity and resale value. Some of the best darks stains for wood are espresso, dark walnut, and antique brown. These darker colors often give way to more color combinations since they do not lean towards a yellow or orange tint.
Both cool and warm tones will be trending across the wood flooring market in 2022 and, if you go the warm route, I would recommend a honey wood or wood look. Honey wood is not just a trend; it's a color classic.
The big question is, should flooring be the same throughout the house? The quick answer is YES! Using the same flooring throughout ties rooms together, improves flow, makes the home seem larger, simplifies cleaning and maintenance, and is often easier on the budget.
Dawn Wilson, Keller Williams: “Most buyers prefer hardwood. For selling purposes, it is better to have hardwood. If there is not hardwood in the home already, and it is cost prohibitive to put hardwood in, then in most cases, new carpet should be put in prior to resale. Buyers like tile flooring in the bathrooms.
The answer is – no! The oak trim and oak flooring finish (the golden color known in the industry as “honey”) will never come back in style. Today, there are many beautiful versions of stained oak on the market that allow it to appear more contemporary and aesthetically pleasing.
Telling white oak and red oak apart: Check the endgrain
If you look at the endgrain and see that the pores are open and uncovered, it's red oak. The pores in white oak are filled with tyloses, which are outgrowths of the tree's xylem vessels. The pores of red oak lack this outgrowth, which makes them appear to be open.
Good news, they're not. Both light colors and wider planks have been the hardwood styles of choice with designers and architects for years, however 2020 forecasters predict that this will be THE hot look in flooring for consumers.
Grades are based on the amount of usable clear material in a board. The highest grade boards are FAS and Select, followed by #1 Common and #2 Common.