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How Long Does It Take to Install Hardwood Floors

March 25, 2024

How long does it take to install hardwood floors? This is an important question when you are planning out a remodel or new construction project.

The process begins with a plan. Planning the installation helps to keep your project on schedule. Getting off schedule may interrupt other tradesmen's work.

Contractors typically install a solid hardwood floor at the beginning of the project. Then the sanding, staining, and finishing take place closer to the end of the project.

However, if you are installing prefinished hardwood, the installation will be toward the end of the project. This helps to ensure that the other remodeling and construction work doesn't damage the wood floor. On the other hand, if the wood floor is going to be unfinished wood it will be custom stained and finished after installation.

To fully answer the question of how long it takes to install hardwood floors, you need to know what kind of wood you'll be using. Contractors install unfinished hardwood flooring at a quicker pace since they do not need to worry about the top surface.

They will not sand it until after they finish the installation. Sometimes, imperfections in the wood can happen during installation. The contractor can eliminate all the imperfections during the sanding process.

When installing a prefinished wood floor, it is important that the installer doesn't damage the top surface. These floors do not require any sanding after installation. Any imperfections in the wood caused by the installation process will be visible in the final product.

The size of the space will also play a role in determining the length of the project. A good installer will average between 400 and 450 square feet of unfinished hardwood installed in a day. That same installer will average between 300 and 350 square feet of prefinished hardwood per day. It may take a little longer to install prefinished hardwood, but the completed project will take less time.

Back to the original question: how long does it take to install hardwood floors? First, decide on the type of hardwood flooring that you will have installed in your home. Next, determine how large the area is that you will install hardwood in. Then you can make a good estimate on the installation time.