Cost for hardwood floor install in SA? (San Antonio, Van: rent, how much)

[scuba steve]

I've been trying to get a rough estimate for how much it'd be to install hardwood flooring in San Antonio. It'd be a floating install on plywood over a concrete slab foundation. Is $10 / square foot about right? Is it worth the savings to order the wood online and then go find an installer?

[kevcrawford]

That's probably fairly accurate. Check places like Floor Depot. Pretty agressive pricing. Not sure about the cost of an installer, but if you're just putting down a floating floor, many of them are becoming very easy to install. If you have a mitre saw, or can rent one, they've got the tounge in groove on the planks and it goes right together. It's really easy to do and you'll save yourself a ton.

[scuba steve]

When I said $10/sqft - that was my guess for the wood + installation, with it being split more or less 50/50 (or maybe 60/40 with 60 being the install+subfloor of 1 layer plywood)?

I keep thinking about DIY - a coworker has the nailgun needed and my father has the saw (and I have a fairly large air tank and compressor). It's a pretty long run because I'd be going straight from the front door through the hallway and two rooms, which is a little intimidating. Once that long straightaway is done it'd be pretty easy from there to just fill in the rooms. Not sure if solid wood comes prefinished or not, but that would be nice.

Finishing it out would be easy because I'm redoing the fireplace surround + hearth at the time or just prior to this and the floor will extend slightly under it. I'm going with shoe molding painted white to match the baseboard. 3 doorways to deal with + the front door + a long interface with carpet (living room) + where it meets tile in the kitchen. Not a lot of the special trim would be needed.

I spent a lot of time on http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com this weekend. Great site.

[kevcrawford]

It really depends on what type of wood you're going with. They can vary so much. I've seen it at $6/ft and I just sold a house that has $18/ft wood. Most of your wood will come pre-finished, so once it's down, you're done with it. That's great that you're doing under the hearth, as that's the only way that it'll look truly finished.

The long runs and semi-rectangular rooms are the easy part. It's when you get into the rooms that have a lot of funky angles that it gets tough.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by scuba steve

When I said $10/sqft - that was my guess for the wood + installation, with it being split more or less 50/50 (or maybe 60/40 with 60 being the install+subfloor of 1 layer plywood)?

The cost for the wood will vary substantially depending on the type of wood you get. $10/sf for installation is probably about right, depending on the difficulty (corners and such).

Your best bet is to pick your wood then start pricing it out at each place in town. Depending on their mood, you may get a great deal.

[V3rtigo]

Originally Posted by Chaka

The cost for the wood will vary substantially depending on the type of wood you get. $10/sf for installation is probably about right, depending on the difficulty (corners and such).

Your best bet is to pick your wood then start pricing it out at each place in town. Depending on their mood, you may get a great deal.

no, $10 per foot for install is highway robbery. even the flooring stores will do it for 5-6 which is also highway robbery for snap-together wood.

[rd2007]

check out Lumber Liquidators for the wood and that Floor and Tile place just inside 410 off Bandera for the installation. You don't have to buy floors there to get their installers and you still get the installation warranty as well. I looked everywhere for my floors and unfortunately went to LL last. It would've saved a LOT of time if I would've gone there first because their selection and prices were the best I found (within my price range). I also got my whatever that plastic stuff is that you line the floor with from the floor and tile place. I did not find one place that had everything for the price I wanted.

[NierCosan]

I recently shopped around for hardwood, avg price was $6-$9 sq. ft. I found some for $5.30 sq ft. for 500sq ft. Got a price break. Good luck.

[pobre]

Originally Posted by rd2007

check out Lumber Liquidators for the wood and that Floor and Tile place just inside 410 off Bandera for the installation. You don't have to buy floors there to get their installers and you still get the installation warranty as well. I looked everywhere for my floors and unfortunately went to LL last. It would've saved a LOT of time if I would've gone there first because their selection and prices were the best I found (within my price range). I also got my whatever that plastic stuff is that you line the floor with from the floor and tile place. I did not find one place that had everything for the price I wanted.

How are you liking your LL floor? What type did you get? I have read some negatives, so I'd love to hear from happy customers Their prices are fantastic. We have located an excellent installer via word of mouth. Checked him on Angie's List, all positives there, too.

[SAFD_Wife]

In the past two weeks we shopped for laminate wood floors at Lumber Liquidators, Floor and Decor and the flooring place at the corner of 410 and Vance Jackson next to Northern Tool Co. We found the best price at the place next to Northern Tool Co. Sad, I can't remember the name.

We got an amazing deal on install! We put the floor in a 375 sf bonus room with two landings and 17 stairs. We paid $1k for install! Every other installer we talked to charged $75 per stair, which made the total install price come out to over $2K. The guys we used did a fantastic job. Get this...the step part of every single stair stuck out too far so the guys pulled up the front board on every step and cut it flush and nailed it back before laying the laminate. They finished in a day and a half.

We are using them for the tile on our bathroom walls too. They are just so clean and detailed in their work. I am really happy they were recommended to us. If you would like their number please DM me. I haven't asked them specifically if they install hardwood, but I remember them making a comment that the only type of stain they deal with is refinishing floors (when my hubby asked if they stain concrete). We have a great guy for that too!