Before diving into a home renovation project or upgrading a commercial space, it’s important to assess the flooring cost.

The prices of flooring vary, depending on many different factors, such as the room size, type of flooring materials, cost of installation, and location of the property.

Whether you’re a homeowner, property manager, or just someone with a curious mind, join us as we break down the financial aspects of purchasing, installing, replacing, and maintaining various types of flooring.

What Is the Typical Cost of Buying New and Replacing Flooring?

Buying new flooring to replace the old one ranges between £400 to £3,000. However, the total amount depends on the following factors:

• Size of the room
• Type of flooring material
• Quality and brand
• Number of supplies
• Location
• Old flooring disposal
• Labour

What Are the Different Types of Flooring and Their Cost?

Various flooring options are available for residential and commercial buildings. They include hardwood, vinyl, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), and laminate flooring. Below, we’ll discuss the different flooring materials and how much they cost.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is a composite or hybrid flooring material. It consists of a wood base, an image layer, and a tough protective layer. Some brands come with a backing or an underlayment for soundproofing or moisture resistance.

When it comes to cost, you can get laminate flooring for as low as £15 per square metre and as high as £80 per square metre. The real cost depends on several factors, such as:

• Area of the Room: Large rooms typically require more flooring materials.
• Laminate Grade: Laminate floorings are graded based on design, thickness, and enhanced features like heat, stain, and moisture resistance.
• AC Rating: The higher the AC (abrasion coefficient), the more durable and expensive the material becomes. An AC 3-rated laminate is ideal for a residential property, while an AC 5 or 6 is best for a commercial property that receives high foot traffic.
• Professional vs. DIY: You can install laminate flooring yourself, but hiring a pro will incur extra costs.
• Complexity of Installation: The project may be complex, depending on the design and obstacles in your space.

Vinyl Flooring

If you want flooring that comes close to natural wood or stone, then vinyl flooring is your best bet. It’s a popular synthetic flooring material with four layers: the backing, the waterproof layer, the image layer, and the wear layer. Vinyl is resistant to water and stains and requires low maintenance.

Cheap vinyl flooring is available at £10 per square metre. But you can get the more expensive options from £30 per square metre. Bear in mind that several factors may determine the price. They include:

• Type of Vinyl: The flooring material is available in sheets and rolls, which are more affordable compared to its tile and plank options.
• Installation Method: Vinyl may require adhesives, which adds to the cost of accessories. However, the pre-glued options are quite expensive.
• Underlayment: Vinyl requires an underlayment to reduce noise and enhance underfoot comfort.
• Labour: Contractors charge per square metre, which quickly adds up.
• Location: Installing vinyl flooring in small areas, like stairs and doorways, attracts additional costs because they require precision and time, not to mention the extra cutting and glueing.

Carpet

Known for its underfoot softness and warmth, carpet is a textile flooring material consisting of a pile of wool, olefin, polyester, or nylon. It’s attached to a backing, which dampens noise in any room where it’s fixed.

The flooring material is among the most affordable you can find on the market, ranging between £6 to £50 per square metre. You should consider the following factors when purchasing carpet flooring:

• Number of Rooms: Wall-to-wall carpet installation in a large room or multiple rooms will require more materials and time.
• Ease of Installation: A perfect square or rectangular room shape makes it easier to install carpet flooring compared to an oval or irregular shape.
• Texture, Colour, and Pattern: Expensive carpets offer a wide range of textures, colours, and patterns. But the cheaper brands have limited colours without patterns.

LVT Flooring

Luxury vinyl tile, LVT for short, is a hard wearing material that’s thin and flexible and takes the semblance of natural hardwood and stones. It’s designed in a tile style and the multiple layers provide improved features such as resistance to moisture, spills, stains, and scratches. Also, it’s 100% waterproof, which makes it ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, and basements.

Although it’s a luxury product, LVT is quite affordable and ranges between £15 to £60 per square metre. Factors that could affect the final cost are:

• Installation Technique: Floating floors are easier and faster to install than glued floors, which affects the overall labour costs.
• Flooring Style: Patterns that imitate natural stone and wood grains are cheap, while solid oak and reclaimed wood finishes are expensive.
• Contractor’s Tax: The cost of labour varies from one region to another and some contractors include taxes in quotes. So, you have to double-check the tax level in your location.

Lino

Derived from linseed oil, linoleum (lino) is an all-natural flooring material that’s often mistaken for vinyl flooring. The main ingredient is mixed with wood flour, crushed limestone, cork dust, and pine resin, which makes it completely biodegradable. Additionally, the material is durable, water and scratch resistant, and possesses antimicrobial qualities.

Although lino is available from £10 to £30 per square metre, you should consider these points before setting your budget:

• Material: Not all linos are created equally. The premium options cost more but last longer and are customisable.
• Thickness: The price of lino flooring increases with the thickness of the material and the detailed nature of the patterns.

Wood Flooring

One popular type of flooring among homeowners is wood flooring. It’s made from natural wood, lends a timeless appearance to a property, and increases its resale value. You can find it in various styles, colours, and textures, but it’s either sold as solid wood or engineered wood.

You can purchase natural wood between £35 to £120 per square metre. However, many factors influence the actual price. They include the following:

• Choice of Wood Flooring: Solid wood costs more than engineered wood.
• Wood Species: Hardwood species like mahogany and Brazilian walnut are more expensive than softwood species such as bamboo and pine.
• Preparation of the Subfloor: If the subfloor requires levelling or patching, the flooring cost increases.
• Finishes: Prefinished wood costs more than unfinished wood.
• Additional Services: Removing and disposing of old flooring, replacing trims, and installing underlayment adds to the overall cost.

Stone Flooring

Stone flooring is cut from natural stones like granite, marble, travertine, sandstone, and limestone. It possesses inherent qualities like durability, heat retention, and resistance to humidity.

The cost of stone flooring ranges from £40 to £120 per square metre, but other things determine the actual cost. We’ve highlighted a few factors below.

• Rarity: Natural stones have varying costs based on their rarity and availability.
• Quality, Size, and Thickness: Thicker and larger stones are costly due to their weight. Also, high-quality stones have few imperfections and cost more.
• Durability: Some stones are harder than others and last longer, so they’re more expensive.

Concrete Flooring

Popular in garages and basements, polished concrete flooring has found its way into home interiors. Although it’s cold under the feet, concrete is durable and easy to maintain.

A contractor may quote between £50 to £160 per square metre for concrete flooring supplies. But the total estimate may be higher depending on the following:

• Plain vs. Coated: Whether it’s polished, stained, or coated, concrete flooring becomes costlier when it’s no longer plain.
• Type of Sealant: Concrete flooring requires low maintenance, but a sealant ensures it’s resistant to stains and spills. There are many flooring sealants on the market, but the type you choose will determine the cost.

Resin Flooring

Resin flooring is a mixture of synthetic resin and hardener to create a thick surface. It may also include cement powder, pigments, and decorations.

This flooring type is cheap, ranging between £7 to £120 per square metre. The available options are MMA, epoxy, and polyurethane. Because they possess different qualities, the price gap seems wide. However, you should consider other factors before making a buying decision.

• Curing Time: Products with faster curing time are more expensive as they speed up the installation process.
• Surface Preparation: The surface is cleaned, levelled, and primed before applying resin. These steps take time and add to the cost of installation.

How Much Does Flooring Installation Cost?

You should expect to spend between £300 and £1,000 when fitting new flooring, depending on a lot of factors, such as:

• Old Floor Removal: The type of flooring you’re getting rid of will determine whether you’ll pay more or less. For instance, removing an old carpet is cheaper compared to removing stone or tile.
• Size of the Room: Usually, flooring material is priced per square metre. This explains why you’ll spend less on a small room and more on a basement, as the size of the room determines the amount of materials needed.
• Subfloor: If it’s prone to moisture damage, you’ll spend more money on treatment. Also, the subfloor determines the type of adhesives to use and whether you need an underlay or not.
• The Flooring Materials: You can choose from a wide range of flooring materials. But bear in mind that the price points vary.

How Much Does It Cost to Maintain Flooring?

Maintaining flooring costs between £4 and £30, which is basically the price range for floor cleaning products. You may also get a mop set, which costs an average of £26. Since all you need to do is sweep or vacuum regularly, damp mop, insert furniture pads to prevent scratches, and clean spills immediately, you don’t necessarily need to hire a professional for floor maintenance.

Other things may increase the cost of floor maintenance. They include:

• Frequency of maintenance
• The type of flooring
• Specialised tools and equipment

How Much Does It Cost to Clean Flooring?

Professional floor cleaning costs between £2 to £5 per square metre. It involves moving furniture, scrubbing, polishing, and deep cleaning, depending on the type of flooring. Other factors that contribute to the cost of cleaning flooring are as follows:

• Size of the space
• Level of cleaning required
• Product preferences
• Location

How Much Does It Cost to Repair Flooring?

You should budget between £70 to £500 for flooring repairs. Small gouges and scratches due to daily use require minor repairs, little effort, and a few resources. However, deep gouges may require refinishing, resanding, resealing, or restaining, which takes more time, special tools, and expertise.

The total amount you’ll spend on repairing flooring depends on the following:

• Extent of damage
• Type of flooring
• Size of the repair area

How Much Does It Cost to Restore Flooring?

Flooring restoration could be as low as £40 and as high as £900. The price range depends on the cost of supplies and labour. While you may want to do the task yourself, it’s best to hire a professional because they have the required skills and equipment for the job.

Other factors that determine the price of flooring restoration are:

• Type of restoration required
• Room layout
• Extent of damage
• Location of the property

How Much Does It Cost to Renovate Flooring?

You may spend between £10 to £60 per square metre on flooring renovation. It involves tasks like upgrading, resanding, and refinishing. The things that influence the cost of renovation are:

• Extent of renovation
• Tools and equipment

Are There Any Additional Costs with Flooring?

Yes, various extra costs are associated with flooring besides the initial cost of supplies and installation. These costs include moving furniture, removal and disposal of old flooring, subfloor preparation, installing underlayment, and purchasing accessories like adhesives, nails, screws, and finishing, among others.

Underlay

An underlay is a thin sheet of material placed between the subfloor and the flooring. It evens out imperfections and creates underfoot comfort. Generally, underlays are priced between £3 to £8 per square metre.

Removing the Old Flooring

Installing new flooring usually requires the removal of old flooring because if the old one eventually fails, it’ll affect the new one. Also, it’s important to check the condition of the subfloor before installation. Contractors may charge between £70 to £200 for taking out your old flooring.

Disposal of Old Flooring

You can dispose of your old flooring by arranging for a skip pickup or liaising with the flooring contractor to get rid of it. Some flooring types like laminate, linoleum, and tile are recyclable, which means you can take them to a waste recycling centre. Also, some manufacturers offer a recycling program and can pick up old flooring from your home.

You can rent a 6 or an 8-yard skip since it’s large enough for most home renovation projects. This will cost between £200 to £400.

Do Certain Brands of Flooring Have Specific Costs?

Yes, different flooring brands offer various price points due to the reputation they’ve built over the years, the wide range of flooring colours, patterns, and styles, and the technology used during production.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Professional vs. DIY

The table below shows the cost implication of hiring a professional vs. DIY.

Factors	Professional Installation	DIY
Tools and Equipment	Pros have special tools and equipment for various flooring jobs, which assures precision	You’ll have to buy or rent the tools required, which increases your upfront costs
Expertise	Pros have the right skill set for the job, which reduces the time of installation. They also offer a warranty in case something goes wrong later.	DIY can result in several mistakes that’ll lead to waste of materials, increase the time spent on the project, and may even void the flooring manufacturer’s warranty
Cost of Supplies	The cost of flooring materials is the same for both professionals and DIYers	DIYers may not have access to trade discounts
Labour	Pros charge as high as twice the cost of the flooring material, depending on their skills and level of experience	You won’t pay a dime for labour but your time and efforts are factored into the overall costs

Are There Different Costs Involved in Commercial Flooring and Residential Flooring?

Yes, commercial flooring and residential flooring are quite different in terms of material strength, quality, and design, which heavily impact the cost. When comparing the costs, you’ll realise that commercial flooring is made for high foot traffic and requires special maintenance, while residential flooring prioritises aesthetics and needs low maintenance.

Additionally, the cost of installing commercial flooring is higher than residential flooring since the layout could be large and complex. There are also strict building regulations for commercial buildings which influences the overall cost.

Conclusion

When considering the cost of a residential or commercial flooring project, you should keep in mind factors like the size of your space, type of flooring, brand, labour, and more. You also shouldn’t only look at the upfront costs because many variables can influence the total cost in the long run.

You can contact us now to help you choose a flooring option that fits within your budget.