Even though some vinyl flooring can easily be installed on your own, sometimes it’s worth spending the extra money to have a professional install team do the work for you. So if you’ve picked out the type of vinyl flooring you want, your next step is to determine the price of a professional installation.
To have a professional install your vinyl flooring from Lowe’s, you can expect to pay anywhere from $600 up to $3,500. As with most projects, the final price will depend on the square footage and the state of the floor below the installation.
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How is Pricing Determined?
Just like with many quote-based projects, Lowe’s vinyl flooring installation will depend on several factors. It takes a specialist coming out to measure and study the room in order to get the most accurate price.
There are several things that will make the price jump that you should know about.
Difficulty of Room
Your standard square or rectangle-shaped room won’t upset your budget too much. But in certain rooms with odd corners and angles, more cutting and fitting is involved, which will raise the labor cost.
Variety of Vinyl Planks
Each type of design and effect on vinyl planks is going to increase the price-per-sq. foot cost. For example, herringbone patterns are going to cost more than marble or stone patterns.
Quality of Subfloor
Your subfloor is technically the foundational concrete slab that your home is placed on. Your installer will inspect the subfloor before they give you a quote to determine whether or not they need to use a leveler.
A leveler for subfloor is usually a slightly viscous liquid that they pour over sunken areas of the subfloor. It will help create a new level platform for placing your vinyl flooring on.
Beware! Some subfloor issues cannot be detected until your old flooring is ripped out. You may have been quoted at a specific price, but once they rip up your old flooring and discover issues with your subfloor, they won’t be able to proceed unless they fix it.
This leaves you in a difficult spot because you either need to pay the increased price for the installation or cancel the project altogether.
Disposal of Old Floor
If you want the installers from Lowe’s to remove and dispose of your old floor, that will cost extra. If you are able to, have a friend help you to pull up old carpet or planks if you feel comfortable doing so. This will help keep your cost down.
Furniture
Lowe’s will usually charge an extra fee to move up to 8 pieces of furniture from the room. If you have a heavy dresser or bulky bed, this added service can be a lifesaver.
Just like removing the old flooring yourself will save you some cash, so will moving the furniture. You can opt out of the furniture removal fee by enlisting a couple of friends to help you move your things on the day of installation.
Trim
In most cases, vinyl plank flooring can be fitted around the existing trim, depending on the thickness. However, if the flooring you chose requires the trim to be removed and then re-applied, expect to shell out the difference.
Stairs
Stairs are a more labor-intensive installation than just a flat floor. Expect to pay the big bucks for fitting stairs with vinyl flooring. Anywhere from $60-$100 per step.
Geographical Location
I need to specify “geographical” for this entry because I’m not talking about the location within your house, but your location within the country.
There is no “North vs South” pricing comparison here. Simply living one town over can vastly change your installation prices. It’s all dependent on your area’s lumber and the labor market at the time.
This is why the only way to get an accurate quote is to have a salesperson visit your home and go over all the details.
Tips for Lowering Flooring Installation Costs
I mentioned earlier that some additional costs can be accrued depending on several factors. One easy way to decrease labor costs is to opt out of furniture removal for your installation. Gather a couple of friends to help you with that.
Another possible avenue to reduce costs is to contact third-party installation companies and ask if they will install pre-purchased vinyl flooring. Some companies won’t install floors unless you purchase the materials directly from them.
But smaller, family-owned businesses that are eager to make a name for themselves may be willing to take on the project.
Final Thoughts
Lowe’s is pretty fairly priced in terms of vinyl flooring installation. It can’t hurt to schedule an inspection and a quote for your new planks. Most quotes are valid for 30 days, so make sure you shop around at other installation companies & contractors to make sure that you’re getting the best price.
