Flooring plays an essential part in increasing the aesthetic value of your house and, in most cases, its financial value as well. One of the most preferred flooring choices is hardwood flooring.

Hardwood floors Scottsdale are durable, versatile, and have an unmatched visual appeal. However, the lavish hardwood flooring comes at an exorbitant price.

The cost of high-quality wood, along with installation and labor charges, can cost a significant amount of money. However, with a few tips and tricks, you can save on the cost of hardwood floors and achieve the house of your dreams.

1. Prepare the house for installation of hardwood floors by yourself.

The first step of flooring your house begins with some prep work. You pay professionals for their time and skills. However, some prep work like moving furniture and carpets may not require much skill but can help you save money.

A few things you can do to prepare your house for flooring is

• Removing the furniture

• Ripping the carpets and paddings

• Fixing or replacing the subflooring and quarter round molding

• Installing the underlay for the subfloor

• Installing the new subflooring

Remember, these activities will require strength, and most importantly time. Hence, you need to plan and finish the preparation work proactively.

2. Choose the species, grain, and grade of wood.

The type of wood can make a significant difference in your overall flooring budget. Few minor trade-offs in selecting the species, grain, and grade of wood, can make your dream flooring affordable.

Species

You need to choose the species of wood based on your flooring requirement. However, each species of wood is priced differently and has different strengths, durability, and aesthetics. Some of the popular choices for flooring are mahogany, ash maple, oak, hickory, etc.

Grain

Grain refers to the appearance of patterns or wood fibers on boards depending on the method of sawing. Wave-like patterns from a plain-sawn are an inexpensive option. However, longitudinal patterns are costlier due to the detailed cutting required for rift-sawn and quarter-sawn.

Grade

Grade refers to the natural characteristics like the difference in shade, appearance of knots, wormholes, or other natural flaws. The wood grade with minimum flaws costs more than other wood grades.

3. Procure the material yourself.

Material cost plays a significant part in hardwood flooring. Hence, procuring the material yourself can save you a lot of money.

You need to contact several suppliers to get quotes from them. However, price should not be the only deciding criteria. The quality of wood is equally important. Also, you need to get the matching moldings for the flooring.

Many installation contractors do not work with material from other suppliers. This can impact the quality of installation. Hence it is crucial to have a prior conversation with your installer.

4. Cut down cost on the installation of hardwood floor.

The installation of a hardwood floor can be a significant expense. Depending on the type of flooring system you chose, you can eliminate the labor cost by installing it yourself.

However, if you do not have prior experience and are not feeling comfortable enough, it is better to leave the work to professionals.

Get quotes from different installers. Also, enquire about the discount they are willing to offer if you procure the material from them. Again, it is important to note that price should not be the sole factor of consideration. When it comes to professional skills, you get what you pay for.

5. Postpone the installation in some section of your house.

If you have a limited budget, it is better to postpone flooring some sections of your house. When it comes to hardwood flooring, quality plays an essential part in its longevity. Hence, you should defer the work in some areas rather than using low-quality flooring for the entire house.