Your old carpets could actually be a health risk. Furthermore, they might have lost shape and aren’t as bright as they used to be. One option to give your home a makeover is to change your carpet for laminate flooring.
A new floor can change your entire house and give it a fresh, modern update. But it’s a significant change. Before you start, you need to know the cost to remove carpet and install laminate flooring.
Read to find out more about why you should consider laminate flooring and how much laminate flooring installation costs.
The Benefits of Laminate Flooring
Installing laminate flooring in your home can significantly improve your quality of life.Compared to carpet flooring, laminate flooring has many benefits, including being much easier to clean. Carpets store dirt, bacteria and mold in the fiber. Spills and messes can stain and ruin the carpet. The deeper layers are generally the dirtiest part of a house. However, laminate flooring is super easy to keep clean and disinfect. It won’t stain, and there’s nowhere for bacteria to hide.
Because mess doesn’t sink into laminate flooring, it also provides a barrier for moisture damage. Most laminate flooring has a warranty for around 20 years for staining and fading. You can choose from a wide range of colors and styles without paying the cost of real wood.
The super-durable laminate also won’t scratch and is more durable than carpet or wooden flooring. For busy homes with kids and pets, laminate flooring will look good and remain damage-free for years.
Because of its longevity and durability, laminate flooring is also more economical than carpet. You need to replace a carpet frequently to keep it looking good. With less surface damage and greater resistance to bacteria and stains, laminate will look good for decades.
It costs much less than real wood floors, which can be very expensive. Over time, natural wood may bend and flex when exposed to water, heat, and cold.
The Cost To Remove Carpet And Install Laminate Flooring
The cost of replacing your old carpet with laminate flooring depends on the cost of materials, labor and the size of your floor.On average, you can expect to pay around $5 per square foot. This will include removal of the old floor, subfloor preparation and installation of the new floor. For high-quality professional services, it may cost $8 per square foot.
The total average cost of carpet removal, preparing the floor and installing laminate in a 220-square-foot room is around $2,500-$3,000.
A smaller room under 100 square feet should cost between $400-$700, while larger spaces and commercial buildings can cost over $3,000.
But you can choose to remove the carpet yourself or separately. Removing carpet is often a fixed-price quote of around $70 per hour. A 200-square-foot floor will take around a day to remove, costing approximately $300-$400.
There may be an extra cost for taking the old carpet away.
If you remove the carpet yourself and only need help to install the laminate floor, it may only cost $3 per square foot for material and installation.
The average labor cost of installing laminate flooring is around $1.7 per square foot. Labor costs will be about 30%-50% of your total cost.
If the laminate needs to be laid in a particular style or pattern, it can add to the labor cost. Popular laminate flooring designs that cost more to lay include herringbone, chevron, and parquet. These designs can raise labor to over $3. You will need to pay for material on top of this cost.
Laminate Material Costs
Over 50% of the cost of installing a laminate floor depends on the quality, design and material of the laminate. More expensive laminates can significantly increase the cost of laying a new floor.Wood-style laminate is generally more expensive than other plastic vinyl options. Hickory, Elm, Walnut and Oak will cost over $1.5 per square foot. Cheaper options include Acacia, Cherry and Maple at under $1. Laminate flooring is an affordable alternative compared to real wood options, which cost over $10 per square foot.
Some laminates have extra qualities such as waterproofing and scratch resistance, which can cost over $2 per square foot. Noise-resistant laminate is also more expensive. If you plan to add underflooring heating, your laminae will need to function well with the heat source. Radiating and warming laminate will usually cost over $2 per square foot.
Additional costs to consider include:
- Moving furniture
- Wall trims and skirting boards
- Installing laminate on stairs
- Additional waterproofing layer
- Underfloor heating
- Polish and waxing
- Leveling
- Additional material in case of error
With so many extra costs when removing carpets and installing laminate floors, you should speak to a professional. A professional flooring company will assess your floor and provide you with a quote. They can tell you if your floor will need leveling, and they can tell you if your chosen laminate needs waxing and polishing services.
Carpet Removal and Laminate Flooring Installation
Replace your old, dirty, unhygienic carpets with fresh laminate flooring to bring a new style to your home. Easy to clean, durable and stylish, laminate flooring resists damage and dirt, making it ideal for areas of heavy use.The cost to remove carpet and install laminate flooring can vary greatly. It depends on the quality and style of the laminate and the size of your floor. You can save money by removing the carpet yourself. But a professional company will make the process easier and faster.
Get in touch today for an in-home estimate and take the first step to get a cleaner, more stylish home.
