When researching which floor type is most suitable for your style and your needs, you are likely to come across a whole range of different prices from different vendors. As you are probably aware, buying wooden flooring online is cheaper compared to buying the same product from your local High Street shop, however prices vary from one online vendor to the other, often making it difficult to make a like for like comparison. We have created this information guide to help you get an overview of what to expect when pricing a floor, the different ways floors are priced and the factors that might make one floor more expensive than another.
1. How does pricing in M2 work
2. How does pricing in packs work
3. Price based on floor finish
4. Price based on wood species
5. Additional prices to consider
In this case, wooden flooring prices are based on units of M2, also known as square meters. This is an area of a square whose sides measure exactly one meter, hence the name. The prices you see online are based on the price to buy one unit of 1M2. The first step in working out a price on a M2 basis is to measure the area you want to cover.
In order to work out the area of your room in M2, take a measurement of the area’s width and length and then multiple them together eg. {Width in m} X {Length in m} = M2. At this stage, it is optional (but highly advisable) to add around 8% for wastage therefore the new calculation is {Width in m} X {Length in m} + 8% Waste = how many M2 you will need. For more complex room layouts read our guide How to measure your room.
To calculate the total price, simply multiply your M2 measurement by the seller’s price per one square metre.
Wooden floors always come in packs and therefore some sellers offer the prices on a “per pack” basis. Because you still need to measure the area you wish to cover, it is simply a case of dividing the area to cover by the number of M2 each pack covers.
Sellers normally list the M2 area each pack covers so your calculation is {M2 needed} divided by {M2 each pack covers} = number of packs needed. For example, if you wish to cover 30 square meters in engineered flooring and each pack covers 2 square meters, you will need 15 packs.
To calculate the price, simply multiple the number of packs needed by the seller’s price per pack.
The floor finish has a functional role as well as a visual one as it is intended to give the floor a layer of protection from dirt, sunlight and wear and tear. There are five main types of finishes, which could influence the price of the floor. These are, Lacquered, UV Lacquered, Oiled, Oiled and Brushed and Thermo Treated. The more layers of protection the floor has, the more expensive it’s likely to be. To find out more about wood flooring finishes.
There are many types of wood species to choose from. The most popular species are oak and walnut which are strong, durable and affordable. If you choose one of these species, the difference in price is likely to be due to the floor’s finish rather than the species. However, there are certain more exotic species such as Wenge, which costs slightly more than the mainstream oak and walnut.
The most popular add-on for wooden floors is quality underlay. This product is normally sold in rolls of 10sqm, 20sqm or 30sqm so your area calculation will be used again here.
To calculate how many rolls you need, simply divide the M2 to cover by the roll’s sqm {M2 needed} divided by {roll sqm} = number of rolls required.