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 |  | Basic Flooring: DIY $1,300-$2,300; Installed $2,500-$4,200 |  | Mid-Range, Installed: $3,300-$6,300 |  | High End, Installed: $5,300-$7,500 |
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Engineered wood flooring has a "wear layer" veneer of real wood (about 1/16th- to 1/6th-inch) bonded to 2-10 layers (piles) of low-cost wood backing. Because it's sometimes referred to as laminated-wood flooring, engineered wood flooring can be confused with laminate flooring, which uses a photo of wood grain instead of the actual wood veneer used in engineered flooring.
Typical costs: | - Materials and labor to install a basic engineered wood floor (typically three piles in the core and a top wood veneer layer 1/16th- to 1/12th-inch-thick) runs about $6-$10 a square foot for an average project, or $8-$13 a square foot with patterns, borders or extensive prep work. Adding in about $50-$250 for baseboard/trim and other needed supplies gives total costs of $2,500-$4,200 for a typical 20x20-foot living room, and 3,300 -$5,500 for a more complex installation.
- Mid-range flooring (about five piles in the core and a slightly thicker wood veneer) costs around $8-$15 a square foot for a standard installation and $10-$18 for a more difficult project, making total costs for a 20x20-foot living room about $3,300-$6,300 with standard installation and $4,100-$7,500 for complex work.
- High-end engineered flooring (seven or more piles, a top veneer layer up to 1/6th-inch thick and possibly an exotic wood veneer) runs $13-$18 a square foot with standard installation and $15-$21 with patterns or other complications. Total costs could be $5,300-$7,500 for an average 400-square-foot living room and $6,300-$8,400 with installation complications. Wide planks (up to 7-1/2 inches wide) are usually in the higher end of the price ranges.
- For do-it-yourself installation, prices start around $3-$5 a square foot for low-end flooring; adding in baseboard/trim pieces and other needed supplies/tools makes it $1,300-$2,300 for materials for a 20x20-foot living room. Mid-range flooring materials run $5-$10 a square foot, or $2,100-$4,400 for the living room. A homeowner[1] installed flooring in an 85-square-foot entrance hall for about $500 (just under $6 a square foot), but ThisOldHouse.com[2] estimates it takes moderate skills, 6 to 8 hours and $8-$12 per square foot to install good engineered-wood flooring.
Related articles: Bamboo Flooring, Cork Flooring, Laminate Flooring, Solid Wood Flooring, Wood Flooring, Carpet
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What should be included: | - Engineered wood flooring is easier to install than traditional solid wood flooring, and it can be used on any type of sub-floor (including a concrete slab) and below ground level. Most engineered wood floors can be refinished at least once (depending on the thickness of veneer). ThisOldHouse.com provides an overview[3] of engineered-wood flooring.
- With professional installation, a company representative should visit to give a detailed estimate. This is the time to confirm who will be responsible for tearing up old flooring and moving furniture.
- HardwoodInstaller.com provides tips[4] for what to do before installation starts, and BobVila.com provides a video of the installation process.
Additional costs: | - There can be extra charges for furniture removal and replacement; ripping out and disposing of old flooring; repairing or replacing a damaged subfloor; removing existing moldings, baseboards or other floor trim; and removing and then re-hanging doors. A Conneticut installer[5] charges an extra 20 cents per square foot to remove old carpet, another 20 cents per square foot for moving furniture, and $15 per appliance moved.
Shopping for engineered wood flooring: | - Look for examples of engineered flooring styles that appeal to you. ThisOldHouse.com provides photo galleries of a range of styles[6] from elegant to rustic, and samplings of specific types[7] and wood species[8] . Flooring manufacturers also post photo galleries; some of the major companies are Bruce (Armstrong)[9] , EcoTimber and Mohawk[10] .
- Engineered-wood flooring is available online and in home improvement centers and flooring stores. The World Floor Covering Association provides a directory[11] of retail floor stores by zip code. Online sources include BuildDirect.com and LumberLiquidators.com[12] .
- Most stores that sell engineered wood flooring either provide installation service or referrals to local contractors. Ask about the installer's training and experience with engineered-wood flooring, and request (and contact) references from satisfied customers. Request confirmation that they're properly insured, bonded and licensed (state licensing requirements vary).
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External Resources: | - answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080524141756AAtfhap
- www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,216032,00.html
- www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,20255324,00.html
- www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwoodinstaller/prep-help-installer-coming.htm
- wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_does_installation_cost_for_flooring
- www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20255115,00.html
- www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20255083,00.html
- www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20055557,00.html
- www.bruce.com/flooring/hardwood
- www.mohawkflooring.com/flooring-guide/hardwood-guide/hardwood-types.aspx
- www.wfca.org/FlooringStoreLocator.aspx
- www.lumberliquidators.com/ll/home
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