Hardwood Flooring Buying & Pricing Guide

The cost of hardwood flooring depends on many factors, and this Hardwood Buying Guide can be your easiest learning tool from which to gain a better understanding of it all and choose the best flooring for your project and your budget. As a general rule, the overall quality of hardwood flooring will have the biggest affect on price.

Grade

• Clear: Clear, or "first" wood, has no visible defects or knots, and little variation in color.
• Select: Select, or "second" wood, features tight knots and color variation.
• Common: Common, or "third" grade wood, has a rustic appearance with darker graining, variations in color, and knots.
• Rustic/tavern: Dark graining, knots, and other visual imperfections feature strongly in this grade. Best for giving a room a warm, lived–in look.

*NOTE on grade: Not all hardwoods have the same grade rules. Exotic hardwoods often have different rating systems than domestic hardwoods. Consult your local retailer or flooring professional for more information.

Origin

Domestic hardwoods are often less expensive than exotic hardwoods. Plus, domestic hardwoods are shipped shorter distances to their destination, which means a smaller carbon footprint.

Engineered Flooring Construction

The quality of components that go into the manufacturing of engineered flooring will determine its pricing level. These components range from the adhesives that bind the layers together to the types of material used as the core layer. Sliced (sawn) veneer engineered floors normally have a higher price than rotary–cut veneers, because of the added stability to the overall product that sliced veneers offer.

Distressing

Distressed or hand–scraped hardwood floors have a higher price point than the same types of floors left smooth, due to the additional labor needed to manufacture.

Finish

When it comes to the finish applied to hardwood flooring, you have many choices. You can choose anything from a basic smooth finish to a textured finish. If you need extra scratch protection, you can choose a finish such as; aluminum oxide or ceramic. Each upgrade in finish, whether it's an environmentally friendly (VOC free) finish, or a scratch resistant finishes, will have an impact on the total cost of the product.

Size

Wider and longer hardwood pieces (planks or strips) will generally be more expensive than narrower and shorter–cut pieces.

Warranty

Depending on where you purchase your materials, different warranties may be offered. Be sure to ask if there is a warranty included and if your local retailer or flooring manufacture offers an extended warranty.

Brand/ Label/ Manufacturer

Certain brands or manufacturers that have more recognition are generally more expensive than plain label or unknown entities due to their professional reputation, time in the industry, and proven quality product. By default, a lesser–known brand may not necessarily have a lower quality product, but the popularity and therefore usage and proven quality may not be a comparable to a company with a well established reputation.