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Hi,
I've got what appears to be a horribly bad number for supplying and installing a new engineered hardwood floor in a 750sf NYC apartment: $17,500. Is this as ridiculous as it seems to me? Even though it's NYC, I thought I would end up between $9-$11 installed. The work involves ripping up the entire existing engineered oak floor and putting in a new engineered oak floor. It's in a condo building on the 17th floor. What are the numbers I should be expecting?
As a "by the way", replacing everything is what I was told I need to do to repair a 12' long deep scratch in the living room (someone moved a piece of furniture wrong) that goes across the boards. I was told it would be almost as costly to just replace the boards in the affected area because getting the surface and finish right would be too difficult. Doesn't make sense to me but I thought I'd get other opinions before I throw this group out entirely.
So I guess I'm looking for:
1. typical costs in NYC for hardwood flooring installed.
2. can you readily repair an engineered hardwood floor scratch (at most 1/8" deep) in just the area affected.
Informed help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Get as many quotes as you can. When I did my bathroom and kitchen, was looking for labor quotes and they ranged from 5500 to 24000, lol, for the SAME job. Everyone is just seeing how much they can milk you for.
Need to give some idea of the wood cost, which can vary widely from a few dollars a square foot to $20-$30. Also, any subfloor, replace/refinish moldings, etc.? The straight install of pre-finished flooring should be more like +/- $5 per square foot. Add in the demo costs, finish work, and wood cost, but $17,500 sounds rather high unless this is $10 per foot wood.
As for repair, if you know who made the floor and it is relatively new, replacing boards should not be a big deal. In any event, the idea that you have to rip up an entire floor to fix a 12" scratch is silly. Some engineered floors can be fully refinished. But a good flooring person should be able to repair the floor and match the finish fairly closely. Get another estimate.
If your looking to go cheap on installation and safe route go to homedepot they work with license contractor in the area and charge $2K for installation. They have a return policy which makes it safe compared to independent contractor.
I paid around $6K to renovate a similar size floor. $4k on material and $2K on installation. They removed the wood, cemented the floor, and installed the new wood on top. I used a unlicensed contractor with a good reputation for fixing up luxury apartments.
Friends in Riverdale got amost exactly the same cost, $17K, but that was for REAL wood, 3/4 inch white oak and included the cutting down of several doors.
A truly beautiful job.
Gotta love the euphemism "engineered" instead of the more descriptive term, FAKE.
I would call in several people and ask if they could fill and dye the deep scratch. It seems possible.
And then there is also the charm of a "perfect" throw rug discreetly placed.
No, 17.5K for 750 feet of engineered hardwood? Send them on their way.
Here's a blurb that might be of interest:
Quote:
In New York, hardwood floors cost approximately $10 - $15 per square foot,
installed. The cost will be higher for exotic woods such as mahogany, or for
artistic pattern work, etc. I suspect the costs would be similar in
California.
The factors that need to be taken into consideration are the condition of the
sub-floor, or surface upon which the wood flooring is to be installed. This
sub-floor should be perfectly level and allow for the thickness of the wood
flooring and appropriate underlayment materials, etc. Any imperfections must be
addressed before finished flooring can be installed.
Also, the finish of the selected flooring is also important to consider. Many
people prefer an unfinished wood floor which, after installation, can be stained
any color. This method is very labor intensive, requiring many coats of stain
and polyurethane finishes. But if done properly this method will produce the
best result. Otherwise it is best to select prefinished flooring, of which there
are many types of finishes to choose from.
Last edited by Kefir King; 03-31-2015 at 06:39 AM..
Hi,
I've got what appears to be a horribly bad number for supplying and installing a new engineered hardwood floor in a 750sf NYC apartment: $17,500. Is this as ridiculous as it seems to me? Even though it's NYC, I thought I would end up between $9-$11 installed. The work involves ripping up the entire existing engineered oak floor and putting in a new engineered oak floor. It's in a condo building on the 17th floor. What are the numbers I should be expecting?
As a "by the way", replacing everything is what I was told I need to do to repair a 12' long deep scratch in the living room (someone moved a piece of furniture wrong) that goes across the boards. I was told it would be almost as costly to just replace the boards in the affected area because getting the surface and finish right would be too difficult. Doesn't make sense to me but I thought I'd get other opinions before I throw this group out entirely.
So I guess I'm looking for:
1. typical costs in NYC for hardwood flooring installed.
2. can you readily repair an engineered hardwood floor scratch (at most 1/8" deep) in just the area affected.
Informed help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
There is no higher price or tax for getting flooring installed in NYC. What i mean is you can use a flooring specialist or contractor from anywhere, and it's not like they automaticaly charge you higher because the flooring is going to be done in NYC. I had a guy from Bayside Queens come in and do a 800sq ft apt, solid 3/4" oak hardwood for $8k finished in one day including baseboard. Rule of thumb is to avoid using Manhattan based installers, they assume you will pay high. Do some extra homework and research, there are plenty good guys that do a great job if you look out to Queens, Brooklyn or NJ..
Secondly, if the scratch is only 1/8" or less, you can sand it. Will cost you much less to sand and refnish by a professional.. Most engineered flooring will have a good 3/8" of wood on the surface.
No idea about costs, but I'd get at least four estimates, probably more. If it helps, this is the guy I chose for some floor repairs, after talking to about ten people on the phone and getting about five estimates:
Shalom Flooring
Daniel Koubel
(516) 942-4478
Nice guy AND prompt AND good with follow-though AND attentive AND had the second-lowest price.
They are banging away below me installing a floor for the last couple days, I heard. I am sorely tempted to nosey downstairs and get a quote. I would also have the advantage of being able to see the quality of the installation first hand.
But this morning I hear nothing so perhaps they are done and gone.
Guy next door moved into my identical size and layout apartment (650 total...maybe 450 to be refloored) and put in "engineered" or "laminate" floors himself, I forget which, over a period of a couple weeks, little by little (he works a full time job and repairs are not allowed in the building on weekends or after 5.)
I caught him in the elevator and quizzed him and he said he brought the whole job in for "about $1,000." No subfloor, no gluing,...a floated floor right over the ugly old one.
It is a dark "walnut" and looks very nice.
I was impressed ESPECIALLY with the price.
Last edited by Kefir King; 04-01-2015 at 08:00 AM..
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