Buying hardwood floors is a significant investment, and a little planning prevents expensive surprises. Whether you're hiring an installer or buying materials to install yourself, these are the questions we hear most — and how to think through them.
How much flooring should I buy?
Measure the square footage of each room (length × width) and add them together. Then add a waste factor for cuts, mistakes, and future repairs:
- Straight/standard layout: add about 7–10% waste.
- Diagonal layouts or lots of angles: add about 10–15%.
- Herringbone, chevron, or patterns: add about 15%+.
Buy a little extra — from the same lot
Wood color and grain vary between production runs. Buying a few extra boxes from the same lot now means you'll have matching material for future repairs, even if the product is later discontinued.
What drives the price?
- Species — domestic oak is more affordable than exotics or rare reclaimed wood.
- Solid vs. engineered and wear-layer thickness.
- Plank width and grade — wider, clearer boards cost more.
- Prefinished vs. site-finished (which adds sanding and finishing labor).
- Subfloor prep, removal of old flooring, and installation complexity.
When comparing quotes, make sure they include the same scope — materials, prep, removal, finishing, and trim — so you're comparing like for like.
Prefinished or unfinished?
Prefinished flooring is faster, cleaner, and ready to use immediately, with a very hard factory finish. Unfinished (site-finished) flooring takes longer and creates dust, but delivers a seamless surface and a fully custom stain and sheen — and it's the best route for matching existing floors. Your timeline, tolerance for dust, and desire for a custom color usually decide it.
Can I buy hardwood flooring wholesale?
Yes. We supply hardwood flooring materials — solid and engineered, exotic and reclaimed species, stair treads, and accessories — to builders, contractors, designers, and homeowners buying direct. Buying from a flooring specialist (rather than a big-box store) usually means better grades, expert guidance on species and acclimation, and material you can actually match later.
Questions to ask before you hire an installer
- 1How will you acclimate the wood, and how will you test moisture in the wood and subfloor?
- 2What does subfloor prep include, and is removal of the old floor in the quote?
- 3Is the finish site-applied or prefinished, and which product and sheen do you recommend for my home?
- 4How do you handle transitions, trim, and expansion gaps?
- 5What's the timeline, and how long before we can walk on and move furniture back onto the floors?
- 6Can you match or blend with my existing flooring?
Key Takeaways
- Add a 7–15%+ waste factor depending on layout, and buy extra from the same lot for repairs.
- Compare quotes on identical scope — materials, prep, removal, and finishing.
- Prefinished is fast and clean; unfinished is seamless and fully custom.
- Buying wholesale from a specialist gets you better grades and expert guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan for roughly 7–10% waste on standard layouts, 10–15% for diagonal installs, and 15% or more for herringbone and chevron patterns. Ordering a little extra from the same production lot also gives you matching material for future repairs.
