SOLID HARDWOOD FLOORING COST GUIDE
How much does solid hardwood flooring cost to fit?
Growchance’s current London labour guidance for straightforward solid-hardwood installation is £30 – £50/m². The final quotation depends on the fixing method, board specification, subfloor condition and whether preparation or finishing work is required.
Labour guidance excludes VAT. Hardwood boards, adhesive or fixings, preparation, moisture control and additional finishing work are priced separately where required. No separate patterned or parquet fitting rate is included in this guide without a project-specific assessment.
QUICK COST SUMMARY
Solid hardwood flooring fitting prices.
For straightforward straight-board installation onto a suitable prepared floor, Growchance’s current London labour guidance is £30 – £50/m² excluding VAT.
This is an installation-labour range rather than a complete supply-and-fit price. Hardwood boards, preparation, adhesive or fixings, moisture control and finishing work remain separate where required.
| Work | Growchance guidance | Pricing basis |
|---|---|---|
| Straight solid hardwood | £30 – £50/m² | Labour for straightforward straight-board installation onto a suitable prepared subfloor. |
| Existing flooring removal | £7 – £14/m² | Straightforward removal of carpet or floating flooring. Bonded finishes and substantial disposal require separate assessment. |
| Basic subfloor preparation | £9 – £18/m² | Minor preparation and making good. This excludes levelling, structural repairs and replacement of unsuitable floor areas. |
| Levelling compound | £14 – £27/m² | Standard 3–6 mm application, supplied and installed where the assessed floor requires it. |
| Standard sheet or basic DPM | £9 – £18/m² | Basic moisture-control system where suitable for the confirmed subfloor and hardwood installation. |
| Liquid or epoxy DPM | £18 – £36/m² | Separate specialist moisture-control item where required by the assessed conditions and installation specification. |
Solid hardwood may require an appropriate bonded or mechanically fixed installation, depending on the boards and subfloor. Pre-finished and site-finished flooring can also have different labour, material and programme requirements. These details must be confirmed for the selected product and individual property.
UNDERSTANDING THE PRICE
What the solid-hardwood fitting rate covers.
The published £30 – £50/m² range principally describes labour for straightforward straight-board installation onto a suitable prepared subfloor.
It is not an automatic all-inclusive price for hardwood products, preparation, fixing materials, sanding, finishing or every completion detail.
Included in the principal fitting rate
The written quotation controls the final scope, but the published labour range principally allows for the following straightforward installation work.
- Setting out solid hardwood boards in the agreed straight layout.
- Cutting and fitting boards within the measured installation area.
- Normal installation labour using the specified fixing method.
- Maintaining the required perimeter and movement allowances.
- Fitting around straightforward room edges, openings and fixed features.
- Routine installation checks and normal completion of the agreed floor area.
Usually priced separately where required
These elements depend on the selected hardwood product, existing floor and required finish. They should be clearly identified when included in the project.
- Solid hardwood boards, delivery and the required wastage allowance.
- Removal and disposal of the existing floor covering.
- Subfloor repairs, basic preparation, levelling or replacement work.
- Adhesive, mechanical fixings and other manufacturer-specified products.
- Moisture testing and any required damp-proof membrane system.
- On-site sanding, staining, oiling, sealing or other surface finishing.
- Skirting, scotia, thresholds, trims and door adjustments.
- VAT, which is added at the applicable rate.
CHOOSING THE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION
Solid hardwood and engineered wood are different products.
Both can provide a genuine timber surface, but their construction, movement characteristics and fitting requirements differ. The suitable option depends on the chosen board, subfloor, installation method and conditions within the property.
Solid hardwood flooring
Each board is made from a single piece of timber. Installation requires careful assessment of the subfloor, moisture conditions, board movement and the fixing method specified for the selected product.
- Construction
- A single piece of natural timber through the full board thickness.
- Installation
- The appropriate secret-fixed or adhesive-based method depends on the board specification and prepared subfloor.
- Movement
- Natural expansion and contraction must be considered during acclimatisation, setting out and installation.
- Finishing
- Products may be supplied pre-finished or selected for finishing after installation, depending on the flooring specification.
- Heating
- Suitability over underfloor heating is more restricted and must be confirmed against the flooring and heating-system requirements.
Engineered wood flooring
Engineered boards have a real timber wear layer over a layered core. This construction is generally more dimensionally stable, although installation must still follow the individual product specification.
- Construction
- A genuine timber surface combined with a stable layered core.
- Installation
- Depending on the product and subfloor, boards may use a floating, adhesive-based or mechanically fixed installation method.
- Movement
- The layered construction generally provides greater dimensional stability than solid hardwood.
- Finishing
- Many products arrive factory finished, but the exact surface and future refinishing options depend on the wear layer.
- Heating
- Some engineered products are suitable for underfloor heating when the manufacturer’s temperature and installation rules are followed.
HARDWOOD INSTALLATION METHODS
Glue-down or secret-fixed installation?
The fitting method is determined by the solid hardwood product, subfloor construction and site conditions. Neither method should be selected on price alone.
Glue-down installation
The boards are bonded to a correctly prepared subfloor using a flooring adhesive approved for the selected product and substrate. Moisture condition, surface strength and flatness must be checked before installation.
- Subfloor
- May be suitable over properly prepared screed, concrete or sheet-material substrates where the flooring specification permits it.
- Preparation
- The surface must be sufficiently dry, stable, clean and level. Repairs, levelling or a moisture-control system may be required first.
- Materials
- Flooring adhesive and any primer or moisture-control products are normally additional to the basic fitting labour rate.
- Assessment
- Adhesive compatibility, timber type, board dimensions and the manufacturer’s installation instructions must be confirmed.
Secret-fixed installation
The boards are mechanically secured through the tongue so that the principal fixings remain concealed. The supporting timber construction must be secure, suitable and correctly prepared.
- Subfloor
- Commonly considered where an appropriate timber subfloor, battens or approved structural sheet substrate provides a reliable fixing base.
- Preparation
- Loose boards, excessive movement, uneven areas and unsuitable substrate conditions must be corrected before fitting begins.
- Materials
- Suitable flooring cleats, nails or staples and any required underlay or separating layer are assessed for the particular system.
- Assessment
- Board thickness, tongue construction, fixing spacing and the position of concealed services must be reviewed before installation.
Growchance confirms the fitting method after reviewing the selected flooring, substrate, moisture readings, floor levels and manufacturer’s requirements. Where additional preparation, specialist adhesive, moisture protection or structural improvement is needed, it should be identified separately in the project scope and quotation.
BEFORE HARDWOOD INSTALLATION
The subfloor can change the fitting cost.
The standard fitting range assumes a subfloor that is ready to receive the selected hardwood. Existing floor coverings, uneven surfaces, movement or moisture concerns can add preparation work.
These items should be assessed separately so the quotation distinguishes installation labour from necessary remedial work.
A suitable base must be dry, stable and sufficiently level.
Preparation protects the quality of the installation. It should not be removed from the scope solely to reduce the initial fitting price.
Condition
Loose boards, damaged sheet material, weak screed and cracked or contaminated surfaces may require repair before installation.
Floor levels
High points, depressions and abrupt level changes can affect board alignment, adhesion and the finished feel underfoot.
Moisture
Timber and substrate moisture conditions must be checked. Further drying time or a suitable moisture-control system may be required.
Existing finishes
Carpet, laminate, tiles, adhesive residue and unsuitable underlays may need to be removed before the subfloor can be fully assessed.
For appropriate minor preparation and making good. The precise scope depends on the existing substrate.
Where a suitable levelling treatment is required before the hardwood flooring can be installed.
INSTALLATION MATERIALS AND PROTECTION
Adhesive, fixings and moisture control are separate decisions.
The basic fitting range principally covers installation labour. The products used to secure and protect a solid hardwood floor depend on the board, subfloor and installation specification.
These items should be confirmed rather than included as an unexplained allowance.
Flooring adhesive
Glue-down hardwood requires an adhesive suitable for the selected timber flooring and prepared substrate. Coverage and product cost vary with the adhesive system and condition of the base.
- Selected for the board and substrate combination
- Applied to the manufacturer’s specified coverage
- Primer may be required for some substrates
- Material cost is separate from basic fitting labour
Mechanical fixings
Secret-fixed installations require compatible flooring cleats, nails or staples. The board construction and supporting timber base determine the fixing type and spacing.
- Fixings must suit the board thickness and tongue
- The substrate must provide a reliable fixing base
- Concealed pipes and cables must be considered
- Additional supporting work is priced separately if needed
Moisture control
Hardwood should not be installed over a substrate with unsuitable moisture conditions. Testing helps determine whether further drying, investigation or an appropriate moisture-control system is required.
- Substrate conditions should be checked before installation
- The selected system must suit the substrate and adhesive
- Application requirements vary between products
- A membrane does not replace correction of an active moisture defect
Working guidance for a suitable standard moisture-control layer where specified for the floor build-up.
Working guidance where a compatible liquid or epoxy damp-proof membrane system is required.
WORK AROUND THE NEW FLOOR
Removal, skirting and thresholds affect the complete price.
Hardwood fitting rarely begins and ends with the boards alone. Existing finishes may need to be removed, and the completed floor must connect neatly with walls, doorways and adjoining rooms.
These items should be shown clearly in the scope rather than being assumed within the basic fitting rate.
Existing floor removal
Carpet, laminate, timber or other finishes may need to be lifted before the subfloor can be inspected. The required work depends on how the existing material was installed.
- Lift the identified existing floor covering
- Expose the underlying substrate for assessment
- Separate salvageable material where agreed
- Confirm waste removal and disposal separately
Skirting and perimeter finish
The perimeter detail influences both appearance and movement allowance. Existing skirting may be retained, carefully removed and refitted, or replaced as part of the wider finishing scope.
- Retain skirting with a suitable finishing trim
- Remove and refit serviceable skirting where practical
- Install new skirting where specified
- Allow for making good and decoration where required
Doors and thresholds
New floor height must be coordinated at doorways and adjoining finishes. Threshold profiles, door clearances and changes between flooring materials should be agreed before fitting.
- Check finished levels in connected rooms
- Select suitable threshold or transition profiles
- Assess whether doors require adjustment
- Coordinate junctions with tiles, carpet or other floors
Skirting work, door adjustment, thresholds, trims, disposal and decoration are not automatically included in the £30 – £50/m² solid hardwood fitting range.
The quotation should identify which existing elements remain, which items are being replaced and who is responsible for final making good. This produces a more useful comparison than a fitting rate with unclear exclusions.
WORKED FITTING EXAMPLES
What could the labour cost for one room?
These examples apply Growchance’s £30 – £50/m² solid hardwood fitting range to three measured floor areas.
They illustrate installation labour only and are not quotations for a complete flooring project.
Small room or defined area
A compact floor area where the normal lower calculation would fall below Growchance’s minimum flooring labour charge.
6 m² × £30 – £50/m² = £180 – £300
Medium room
An illustrative single-room installation with a straight board layout and a subfloor ready for the confirmed fitting method.
12 m² × £30 – £50/m² = £360 – £600
Larger room
An illustrative larger floor area before allowing for the project’s access, room shape, board specification and connected finishing work.
20 m² × £30 – £50/m² = £600 – £1,000
The examples do not include hardwood boards, wastage, existing-floor removal, waste disposal, subfloor repairs, levelling, moisture control, adhesive, mechanical fixings, skirting, thresholds, door adjustment, sanding, finishing or VAT.
The final quotation also reflects board dimensions, room shape, access, fitting method and the manufacturer’s installation requirements. Patterned or parquet layouts require separate assessment.
HARDWOOD FINISHING CHOICES
Is the hardwood pre-finished or finished after fitting?
The board’s supplied finish affects the work required after installation. This distinction should be confirmed before comparing flooring quotations.
The standard Growchance fitting range does not automatically include on-site sanding, staining, oiling or sealing.
Pre-finished hardwood
The visible surface is finished before the boards arrive on site. Installation therefore focuses on careful setting out, cutting, fixing and protection of the completed surface.
- The colour, sheen and surface treatment are selected in advance
- Finished boards require careful handling during installation
- On-site sanding and coating are not normally part of the fitting sequence
- Edges and board joints remain part of the chosen product appearance
- The completed floor still requires protection from following trades
Unfinished or site-finished hardwood
The boards are installed before the agreed sanding and finishing system is completed on site. This creates an additional work stage beyond the basic floor installation.
- Sanding and surface preparation require a separate confirmed scope
- The chosen stain, oil or sealing system affects labour and programme
- Test areas or samples may be needed before the full finish is applied
- Drying or curing time must be allowed between relevant stages
- Access to the room may be restricted until the finish is ready
Growchance’s £30 – £50/m² guidance principally covers straight solid hardwood installation labour on a suitable prepared subfloor. It does not automatically cover sanding, filling, staining, oiling, lacquering or another site-applied finish.
Where site finishing is required, the quotation should identify the agreed system, preparation stages, number of applications and any drying or curing allowance. This avoids comparing a fitting-only price with a more extensive installation-and-finishing scope.
COMPARING HARDWOOD QUOTATIONS
Labour-only and supply-and-fit prices are not equivalent.
A fitting price may cover installation labour alone, while another quotation may include the hardwood boards and several connected items.
Compare the confirmed scope and VAT treatment, not only the headline total.
Labour-only fitting
The client supplies the approved hardwood flooring, and the quotation covers the agreed installation work. Responsibility for quantities, delivery and product suitability must be clear.
- Confirm the exact board and manufacturer’s instructions
- Check ordered quantity and the required wastage allowance
- Agree who supplies adhesive, fixings and finishing materials
- Confirm delivery timing, storage and acclimatisation requirements
- Identify preparation and connected finishing work separately
Supply-and-fit flooring
The quotation includes the specified flooring product as well as the agreed installation. The total depends heavily on timber species, grade, board dimensions, finish and supplier pricing.
- Record the manufacturer, collection, species and board dimensions
- Confirm whether the product is pre-finished or site-finished
- State the measured quantity and agreed wastage allowance
- List adhesive, fixings, trims and moisture-control materials
- Separate preparation and optional finishing operations where useful
- Hardwood product and quantity
- Wastage allowance
- Existing-floor removal
- Waste disposal
- Subfloor preparation
- Moisture-control work
- Adhesive or mechanical fixings
- Skirting and perimeter detail
- Thresholds and door adjustment
- Sanding or site-applied finish
- Protection and final making good
- Whether VAT is included or excluded
HARDWOOD FITTING PROGRAMME
Installation time starts before the first board is fixed.
A reliable programme must allow for product delivery, site conditions, subfloor preparation and any required finishing work — not only the physical installation of the boards.
Growchance confirms the duration after reviewing the room, product and complete flooring scope.
Survey and specification
Measure the areas, inspect the substrate and confirm the selected hardwood, layout, fitting method and connected finishing work.
Delivery and conditioning
Deliver and store the flooring in accordance with the product requirements while the property maintains suitable conditions.
Removal and preparation
Remove agreed existing finishes, complete necessary repairs and verify that the subfloor is ready for installation.
Set out and install
Establish board direction and starting lines before cutting and fixing the hardwood using the confirmed installation method.
Finish and protect
Complete agreed thresholds, perimeter details and protection. Site finishing is a separate stage where specified.
- Total floor area and number of rooms
- Room shape and amount of cutting
- Board dimensions and selected layout
- Furniture and access restrictions
- Existing-floor removal
- Subfloor repair or levelling
- Moisture-control requirements
- Glue-down or secret-fixed installation
- Skirting, thresholds and door adjustments
- Pre-finished or site-finished hardwood
FINAL HARDWOOD FLOORING PRICE
What determines the final quotation?
The square-metre fitting rate is a useful starting point, but it cannot describe every condition found within an existing London property.
A final quotation should be based on the measured area, selected board and confirmed scope.
Floor area and layout
Total area, room shape, board direction, alcoves, fireplaces, doorways and the amount of detailed cutting all influence fitting labour.
Hardwood product
Timber species, board width, thickness, length, tongue construction and supplied finish affect handling and installation requirements.
Subfloor condition
Existing finishes, movement, weak areas, uneven levels and moisture conditions determine whether preparation is required first.
Fitting method
Glue-down and secret-fixed installations require different materials, substrate conditions, equipment and preparation.
Connected details
Skirting, thresholds, trims, doors, adjoining floor levels, waste removal and decoration can add work beyond the boards themselves.
Access and programme
Furniture, occupied rooms, parking, delivery access, material storage and coordination with other trades can affect the working sequence.
The final quotation confirms what the rate does not.
Growchance’s guidance assumes a straight solid hardwood installation on a suitable prepared subfloor. The quotation should separately identify any required removal, preparation, moisture control, adhesive, fixings, finishing and connected carpentry.
This makes the price easier to understand and prevents a basic installation allowance from being mistaken for a complete supply-and-fit flooring budget.
PLAN YOUR FLOORING PROJECT
Estimate the quantity or discuss the installation.
Use the calculator for an initial material and labour estimate, or explore Growchance’s flooring installation service when you are ready to discuss the property and complete work required.
Each route has a different purpose and neither creates a quotation or contract automatically.
Use the Flooring Calculator
Enter the dimensions of one or more rooms, add a wastage allowance and use the supplier’s pack coverage to estimate the quantity of flooring required.
- Calculate net floor area
- Allow for your selected wastage
- Estimate whole packs from the entered coverage
- View an optional initial labour estimate
Explore Flooring Installation
Review the wider Growchance flooring service for projects that may include removal, subfloor preparation, fitting, thresholds, skirting details and coordinated finishing work.
- Discuss the selected flooring product
- Review the existing floor and subfloor
- Confirm the fitting and preparation scope
- Request a project-specific assessment
HARDWOOD FLOORING QUESTIONS
Useful answers before fitting begins.
Every hardwood floor and existing subfloor is different. These answers explain the normal starting points before the product, preparation and installation method are confirmed.
01 How much does solid hardwood flooring cost to fit?
Growchance’s working guidance for straight solid hardwood installation is £30 – £50/m² excluding VAT, subject to a minimum flooring labour charge of £225.
This principally covers fitting labour on a suitable prepared subfloor. Boards, preparation, adhesive, fixings, moisture control and connected finishing work are assessed separately.
02 Are the hardwood boards included in the fitting rate?
No. The £30 – £50/m² range is labour guidance rather than a supplied-and-fitted hardwood price. The final product cost depends on the species, grade, dimensions, finish, measured quantity and supplier.
03 Can solid hardwood be installed over a concrete floor?
It may be possible where the selected flooring permits the proposed glue-down system and the concrete or screed is suitably dry, stable, clean and level.
Moisture readings, preparation requirements, adhesive compatibility and any required damp-proof membrane must be confirmed first.
04 Is glue-down or secret-fixed installation better?
Neither method is universally better. The correct method depends on the hardwood product, board construction, subfloor, moisture conditions and manufacturer’s installation requirements.
05 Can solid hardwood be fitted over underfloor heating?
Only where the exact hardwood product is approved for the proposed heating system and the complete installation follows the relevant flooring and heating specifications.
Solid hardwood can be more restricted in this application, so compatibility should never be assumed.
06 Does hardwood need to acclimatise before installation?
The flooring must be delivered, stored and conditioned in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The required approach can differ between products, so a fixed universal acclimatisation period should not be assumed.
07 What happens if the subfloor is uneven or damp?
Installation should not proceed until the cause and required remedy have been assessed. Repairs, levelling, further drying or an appropriate moisture-control system may be required.
Preparation is priced separately because its extent cannot be confirmed from the floor area alone.
08 How long does hardwood flooring installation take?
The programme depends on the floor area, number and shape of rooms, board dimensions, fitting method, existing-floor removal, subfloor preparation and perimeter details.
Site-finished hardwood also requires separate sanding, coating and drying or curing stages. Growchance confirms the programme after the product and full scope have been reviewed.
09 Are skirting, thresholds and door adjustments included?
Not automatically. The basic fitting range principally concerns the hardwood installation. Skirting work, thresholds, trims, door adjustment, decoration and related making good should be identified separately where required.
DISCUSS YOUR HARDWOOD FLOORING
Tell us about the rooms and hardwood you want to install.
Share the available project details and Growchance will review the flooring, property and likely preparation requirements. We can then discuss whether photographs, further information or a site visit are needed before the scope is confirmed.
London postcode, property type, floor level, access and whether the rooms are occupied or furnished.
Product link or specification, timber species, board dimensions, supplied finish and approximate quantity if already selected.
Approximate room dimensions, current floor covering, known subfloor type and any visible movement, unevenness or moisture concerns.
Mention any photographs, room plans, supplier information or manufacturer’s installation instructions you have available.
An enquiry or initial estimate does not create a contract or authorise work. Final scope, availability, programme and price are confirmed separately.