The Cost of Floor Coverings
REM #A705
By Ilyce R. Glink
Summary: A reader is interested in buying a home but would like to change the flooring in the whole house. Ilyce helps this reader figure out the cost of a large home improvement project.
Q: I am interested in a house. Can you give me an estimate on how much it might
cost to recarpet a house of 1,750 square feet.
I’m wondering what the range would be for low and high-priced carpet.
A: I'm not in the carpet business, but I do know that the price you pay depends
on how the house is laid out. Sometimes there is more waste when rooms are smaller,
but with a big room, you’ll have a seam every 12 to 15 feet, depending
on how wide the roll of carpet is that you choose.
While you asked about a home that’s $1,750 square feet, typically no
one carpets bathrooms, the kitchen or entry hallway, so that subtracts from
the amount you need. You may have or want hardwood floors in the living room
(hardwood floors typically cost $8-12 per foot installed, so a 200-square foot
room would cost about $2,000 for hardwood floors).
Builder's grade carpet typically runs $17 to $20 per square yard (that's 9 square
feet) installed. To get a fairly decent estimate, try to add up the room sizes
and then figure out how much you'll need, or go online and try Home Depot’s
carpet calculator (www.homedepot.com).
According to the calculator, a room that’s 23x15 will need 40 1/3 square
yards of carpet.
If you’re buying carpet that’s $20 per square yard installed, it’ll
cost you around $900 plus tax to carpet that room.
I suggest you visit your local home improvement center and a local carpet store
to check out prices. Most of the big box stores like Lowe's sell and install
carpet. Perhaps one of their carpet experts can help you calculate a more exact
estimate.
NOTE: This column is distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate, PO Box 366, Glencoe, Illinois, 60022. This column may not be resold, reprinted, resyndicated or redistributed without written permission from the publisher.
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