Carpet Flooring Additional and Optional Costs

Carpet Floor Additional and Optional Costs

Besides the obvious factors that we’ve just gone over, there are some additional and optional costs to be aware of when facing a carpeting installation. For starters, if you want a staircase or unusually shaped room carpeted, both of these tasks can add to the cost. Secondly, most contractors charge a fee for clean up after your job is finished. When starting on your carpet installation job, it’s important to get an itemized list from your contractor of the expected costs, as this will prepare you for how expensive your installation may be.

Carpet Floor Additional, Optional, and Behind the Scenes Costs

The final cost for your carpet floor installation can be affected by a number of factors. Everyone understands that how much carpeting you want installed, and location you’re planning on installing it, are the biggest influencers of your total cost, but what many people don’t realize is that there are often behind the scenes costs that can massively increase your final bill. Here are a few of the most common expenses that can influence your carpet floor installation per square foot:

• Subfloor Evening: A major additional cost you may encounter before your carpet can be installed is evening your home’s subfloor. Prior to any carpeting installation, your subfloor must be completely levels, which is often a time consuming and pricey endeavor. Most flooring contractors charge an hourly rate for a sub floor leveling project, with costs usually being anywhere from $80.00 to $150.00 per hour. Although the amount of time spent on the job and the size of the leveling project will determine your ultimate price, total costs for a sub floor leveling job usually ends up being between $600.00 and $700.00 for 120 square feet. Before committing to a sub floor leveling, you should consult with your contractor to see if it’s absolutely necessary and what your final price might be.

• Staircase Costs: If you want your carpeting installed on the staircases in your home, this can also add to the final cost for your carpeting project. Unlike typical carpeting jobs, which are priced per square feet, staircase carpeting is charged per step, with installation usually costing between $100.00 and $200.00 per step. However, the type of staircase you want carpeted can also add to the cost, with open staircases usually being more expensive — $200.00 per step—than closed staircases — $120.00 to $150.00. It’s also important to understand that carpeting your staircase is even more expensive when you choose the DIY route, as you will need to rent or purchase specialized equipment necessary to complete the job.

• Waste Removal: Once your carpeting project is completed, there will necessarily be a good deal of waste and debris that needs to be removed, Depending on the extent of the job, it may be impossible for you to clean up the mess yourself. Fortunately, most contractors offer garbage removal as part of their overall costs. However, if removing your old floor is part of the project, your contractor may charge anywhere from $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot.
• Designed Floors: As you might expect, designed carpeting can add to the overall cost of your carpet installation. The more complicated the design of your carpet, the more expensive the installation will be. Prices can be as low as $3.00 per square foot and as high as $150.00 per square foot, depending on how complex the design of your carpeting is.

• Floor Material and Supply Cost: As you can see, installing carpeting is a very complex, expensive process, often including additional costs you might not have been aware of at the start. In addition to the typical upfront costs, you may also be expected to pay for additional materials and equipment necessary to prepare your floor for a carpet installation.Typically, the added costs for this materials and equipment is $1.75 per square foot. Many homeowners also choose to have their contractor deliver materials and equipment to the job site, which usually comes with a charge of $1.00 per square foot.
• Moldings Costs: Molding is the piece that attaches your carpet to the wall, which is an additional cost on top of the carpeting. Molding costs can be influenced by a number of factors, which can include the size of your job, the quality of the moldings and how long the job may take. Additionally, there might be some preparation necessary before the molding is ready to install. Generally speaking, installing molding can cost between $5.00 and $10.00 per feet, although this price can increase substantially if you choose to DIY.
• What Should or Can Be Excluded from Labor Costs and How Customers Can Save Money: As costs add up on your carpet installation, many homeowners seek way to save money. Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to cut costs without sacrificing quality. Primarily, the best way to save on costs is to make sure you get your carpeting at the right cost. By targeting exactly what you need out of your carpeting and not paying for any extras, you’ll be able to save a great deal of money.Secondly, doing as many parts of the job as you think you’re capable of, such as pulling up old carpeting, moving furniture, or removing waste can be a big money saver. Finally, some homeowners choose to do the entire job themselves, leaving only the material costs of the project.

If you have home improvement experience, then installing your carpet as a DIY project is always an option. Some of the advantages of a DIY carpet installation can include:

• Lower Price: As you would imagine, DIY carpet installations are much less expensive owing to the fact that there are no labor costs. However, and this is very important, without the help of a contractor you have no certainty that the job was done correctly, which can end up costing you a lot of money in the future on repairs and re-installations.
• Schedule: Like most home improvement projects, carpeting installations can be a major disruption to your everyday life. When you do the job yourself, however, work can be completed at your convenience.
• Speed: Similarly to scheduling, DIY projects can be completed at your own pace, affording you the opportunity to complete your carpet installation much quicker than a contractor may have been able to.
• Self-worth: Finally, but no less importantly, completing a large home improvement project on your own can give you an intense feeling of accomplishment and self-satisfaction.

Clearly, performing a carpet installation yourself has some distinct advantages. However, depending on your experience level, a DIY project can quickly turn into a disaster, costing you more money in the long run than it would have to partner with a contractor from the start. Here are some of the cons to a DIY carpet installation:

• Installation Errors: The biggest disadvantage of installing carpeting yourself is the possibility of installation errors.If you don’t have an intimate knowledge of best carpeting practices, it is very easy to make a mistake that can end up costing you a great deal of money.
• Environmental Factors: Contractors are responsible for many tasks that homeowners are not usually aware of, and one of the main ones is maintaining proper environmental factors. Dust, debris, and pollution are common side effects of home improvement projects, and if a DIY homeowner doesn’t prepare for these eventualities,it can lead to a large problem.
• Specialized Equipment: Completing a job the right way is a matter of having the right tools, which is another limitation of DIY projects. Unlike yourself, contractors will have the specialized tools necessary to complete your carpet installation with relative ease.

• Documentation and Licensing: Depending on the scope of your project, you may need to acquire special permits before being allowed to begin. Contractors very familiar with the process of getting these licenses, and will be able to acquire them more easily than you might be able to.
• Longevity: When you’re facing a large home improvement project, speed is key, and if you’re installing carpeting for the first time, the length of your project can extend greatly. Contractors, on the other hand, have experience working quickly and effectively, meaning that can complete your job in a timely manner that is hard to duplicate with the DIY route.

Resale Value

Unlike other flooring types, such as hardwood, carpeting does not add much resale value to a home. While freshly installed carpeting can be attractive to certain home buyers, carpeting that has been in your home for a while can actually be detrimental to a sale.