Replace flooring in any room from material comparison and subfloor preparation through installation, trimming, and finishing for hardwood, laminate, tile, or vinyl.
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Planning and Material Selection
Measure the room and calculate square footage
Multiply room length by width for rectangular rooms. Break irregular rooms into rectangles and add them together. Order 10-15% extra material for cuts, waste, and future repairs. A 12x15 room is 180 sq ft — order 200-210 sq ft.
Compare flooring options for your needs
Hardwood costs $6-$12/sq ft installed and lasts 50+ years. Laminate runs $3-$8/sq ft and lasts 15-25 years. Luxury vinyl plank costs $4-$8/sq ft and handles moisture best. Porcelain tile is $8-$15/sq ft and is the most durable.
Check if subfloor needs repair or leveling
Walk the room slowly and mark any squeaks, soft spots, or bouncy areas. A bouncing floor means joists need reinforcement. Squeaks can be fixed with screws from above ($0.10 each) driven into the subfloor-joist connection.
Let new flooring acclimate to the room
Hardwood needs 3-5 days in the room to adjust to humidity. Laminate needs 48 hours. Stack boxes flat with spacers between them for airflow. Skipping acclimation causes gaps in winter and buckling in summer.
Gather tools and supplies
Basic tools include a tape measure, utility knife, rubber mallet, pull bar, spacers, and knee pads ($15-$20). Laminate needs a miter saw ($100-$200 to buy, $40-$60/day to rent). Tile needs a wet saw ($50-$80/day rental).
Removing Old Flooring
Remove baseboards and transition strips carefully
Score the caulk line between the baseboard and wall with a utility knife. Use a thin pry bar behind the baseboard and gently work it off. Number each piece with tape on the back so you can reinstall them in the same order.
Remove existing flooring material
Carpet pulls up by hand — grab a corner and roll it. Tile requires a floor scraper ($20-$30) or rental demolition hammer ($50/day). Glued-down vinyl may need a heat gun to soften the adhesive. Budget 2-4 hours for a 200 sq ft room.
Remove old adhesive, staples, and tack strips
Carpet tack strips pry up with a flat bar and pliers. Staples come out with an oscillating multi-tool ($40-$80) or pliers. Floor adhesive requires a scraper and sometimes a chemical remover ($15-$25/gallon). The subfloor must be completely clean.
Dispose of old flooring materials properly
A 200 sq ft room of tile and thinset weighs 600-1,000 lbs. Carpet weighs 100-200 lbs per room. Most transfer stations charge $30-$60 per load. Check if your municipality accepts flooring in regular waste pickup.
Subfloor Preparation
Check subfloor for level with a 6-foot straightedge
Place the straightedge across the floor and look for gaps underneath. Gaps larger than 3/16 inch need to be filled. High spots can be ground down. Low spots get filled with floor-leveling compound ($20-$30 per 25-lb bag).
Repair any damaged subfloor sections
Cut out water-damaged or rotted plywood and replace with the same thickness. Standard subfloor is 3/4-inch plywood ($30-$40 per 4x8 sheet). Screw the new piece to the joists with 2-inch deck screws every 8 inches.
Apply self-leveling compound if floors are uneven
Mix and pour the compound over low areas — it finds its own level within 10-15 minutes. One 25-lb bag covers about 25 sq ft at 1/8-inch thickness. Work quickly as it sets in 20-30 minutes. It's ready for flooring after 24 hours.
Install underlayment if required
Laminate and engineered hardwood need foam or cork underlayment ($0.25-$0.75/sq ft) for cushioning and sound reduction. Vinyl plank often has underlayment built in — check the product specs. Tile needs cement board ($10-$15 per sheet) over plywood.
Installation
Plan your starting wall and layout direction
Run planks parallel to the longest wall or toward the main light source for the best visual effect. Start from the most visible wall and work toward the exit. Measure the room width and plan so the last row isn't a sliver under 3 inches.
Leave expansion gaps along all walls
Leave 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch gaps around the entire perimeter for expansion and contraction. Use plastic spacers ($3-$5 per bag). Baseboards cover these gaps. Without expansion gaps, floating floors buckle in summer humidity.
Install first row perfectly straight
The first row sets the alignment for the entire floor. Snap a chalk line 3/8 inch from the starting wall. Use the full factory edge facing out. Rip the first row to width if the wall isn't straight. Check with a long level.
Stagger end joints by at least 6 inches between rows
Staggering creates structural strength and a natural appearance. Random stagger (varying lengths) looks better than repeating the same pattern. Cut the first plank of each row to a different length to achieve a random pattern.
Cut and fit pieces around obstacles and doorways
Use a multi-tool ($40-$80) to undercut door jambs so flooring slides underneath. Mark outlet locations and cut with a jigsaw. For toilet flanges, trace the curve and cut with a jigsaw. Leave 1/4-inch gap around all fixed objects.
Install the last row with a pull bar
Measure the remaining gap, subtract 3/8 inch for expansion, and rip the last row to that width. Use a pull bar ($8-$12) hooked over the edge to tap the last row tight. If the last row is narrower than 2 inches, glue it for stability.
Trim and Finishing
Reinstall or replace baseboards
Nail baseboards to the wall studs, not the floor — this allows the floor to expand freely underneath. Use 2-inch finish nails spaced every 16 inches at stud locations. Fill nail holes with wood filler ($4-$6 per tube) and touch up with paint.
Install transition strips at doorways and material changes
T-molding costs $10-$25 per 6-foot piece and bridges two floors of similar height. Reducer strips handle height differences between rooms. Screw the metal track to the subfloor, then snap the transition piece into it.
Clean the new floor according to manufacturer's instructions
Hardwood: dust mop or vacuum without a beater bar. Laminate: damp mop with minimal water — standing water damages the core. Tile: mop freely. Vinyl: damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner. Avoid using harsh chemicals on any flooring for the first 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most durable flooring for a home?
Porcelain tile rates highest for durability, lasting 50+ years with virtually zero maintenance. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is the most popular choice for whole-home installations, lasting 15-25 years while resisting water, scratches, and dents. Hardwood lasts 25-100 years but scratches easily and cannot handle standing water. For homes with kids and pets, LVP at $3-$7 per sq ft installed offers the best balance of durability, appearance, and cost.
How much does it cost to replace flooring in a house?
Flooring costs range from $3-$5 per sq ft for laminate, $4-$8 for luxury vinyl plank, $6-$15 for hardwood, and $8-$20 for tile, all installed. A 1,500 sq ft home costs $4,500-$7,500 for LVP or $9,000-$22,500 for hardwood. Removing old flooring adds $1-$3 per sq ft. Subfloor repair runs $3-$8 per sq ft if needed. Most flooring contractors require a minimum project size of 200-300 sq ft.
Can I install new flooring over old flooring?
You can install LVP, laminate, and engineered hardwood over most existing hard floors (tile, vinyl, hardwood) as long as the surface is flat, dry, and firmly attached. The old floor cannot be cushioned vinyl or carpet. Going over existing flooring raises the floor height by 1/4-1/2 inch, which affects door clearance and transitions to adjacent rooms. Never install over a floor with moisture problems, mold, or loose tiles, as these issues worsen over time under the new surface.
How long should flooring acclimate before installation?
Hardwood needs 3-5 days of acclimation in the room where it will be installed, with the boxes opened and boards spread out. Laminate requires 48 hours minimum. LVP needs 24-48 hours. Store materials in the room at 65-85°F with 30-50% humidity. Skipping acclimation causes hardwood to expand or contract after installation, creating gaps, buckling, or cupping that voids the manufacturer warranty.
What flooring adds the most value to a home?
Hardwood flooring returns 70-80% of its cost at resale and is the number one flooring preference for home buyers, according to NAR surveys. Refinishing existing hardwood ($3-$5 per sq ft) delivers even higher ROI. LVP is gaining acceptance among buyers and returns 50-70% at a fraction of the cost. Carpet returns only 25-40% and is seen as a negative in kitchens and bathrooms. Tile is expected in bathrooms and adds value there, but is neutral to negative in living spaces in most markets.