We are commonly asked how much hardwood flooring, specifically wide plank flooring costs. Since it’s a very general question, it’s difficult to provide a specific answer. In general, you are probably looking between $7 to $30 per square foot. Of course, when determining how much your wide plank flooring will cost, there are a number of factors to consider.
What is Wide Plank Flooring to You?
If you are used to living in a home with 2-1/4” wide boards, then you may consider 4” a wide plank. In general, I’d consider anything over 5” to be wide plank and the most common sizes in wide plank hardwood flooring would be between anywhere between 6” and 8”. Normally the wider the board the higher the price point.
Where are you looking?
At big box and discount flooring stores, you may be able to find wide planks as low as $7 per square foot. This price point seems very reasonable but there are several things to consider when weighing the cost vs, the quality and longevity.
If you are looking at a high-end wide plank flooring store, you are likely to get a quality product made in North America but you never know so it’s always great to check the origin of your flooring. Many of these high-end boutique flooring outlets charge upwards of $25 per square foot. In most cases we can provide a better-quality floor for a significantly lower price. We don’t have to pay rent in expensive cities like New York and Los Angeles so when you buy from us, your money is going directly into a quality product, not overhead for showrooms you’ll likely never visit.
The Most Important Questions When Looking at Wide Plank Flooring
- What is the structure made of?
- In our experience, birch plywood is the best platform for engineered flooring; we've found that the thicker the better. The example in this video is an HDF (high density fiberboard) base which is very unstable and prone to buckling and dry cupping. It can also separate at the joints if it is restricted in any way, whether from kitchen cabinets or a heavy object like a pool table.
- How thick is it?
- You need to have a good balance in thickness between the surface layer and the base. If the surface layer is too thin or thick, it can be prone to cracking. A thicker surface layer will control the movement of the floor if the base is too thin and it will be much less stable. A surface layer that is too thin will not be able to be refinished and could delaminate if the edges curl up from it being too dry.
- What are the lengths?
- This is extremely important for the aesthetics of the flooring. Long boards are essential in making a wide plank flooring look it’s best. A wide plank floor with board lengths only up to 4 feet will look very choppy compared to the seamless look longer lengths provide.
- Where is it made?
- The country of origin will tell you a lot about a floor. If the flooring is being imported from China, it isn’t subject to the same testing and environmental standards as North American made floors. It’s also being shipped across the world which not only costs the environment but the company selling it. It means less of your money is actually going into the cost of the flooring and more towards shipping it.
Where does Gaylord fit price wise?
We make both solid and engineered wide plank hardwood flooring. Both options are ¾” thick and come in board lengths up to 10 feet. Our wide plank flooring would range from $13 to $20 depending on the width, finish and texture.