The average U.S. homeowner spends about $419 to repair flooring. Depending on material, square footage, and type, most spend between $205 and $638.
On average, you’ll pay about $419 to have your flooring repaired. The type of damage and the extent of the problem will impact your final cost. You depend on your floors for support every day, so it’s worth knowing they’re in good shape. Whether you’re dealing with minor creaks, a sagging spot, or rotting wood, it’s important to know the expected costs to fix these issues.
Flooring repair costs can vary widely from region to region. Below is a list of the typical price range for flooring repairs in several major cities throughout the U.S.
| City | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | $150 – $350 |
| Kansas City, MO | $160 – $400 |
| Denver, CO | $190 – $530 |
| Hartford, CT | $220 – $490 |
| Chicago, IL | $200 – $560 |
| Atlanta, GA | $210 – $600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $240 – $660 |
| New York, NY | $230 – $680 |
| Juneau, AK | $730 – $780 |
| Honolulu, HI | $1,220 – $1,290 |
A floor consists of three primary layers. From the bottom-up, those include the floor joists, subfloor, and floor covering.
| Floor Layer Repair | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Floor joist | $1,000 – $10,000 |
| Subfloor | $500 – $700 |
| Floor covering | $200 – $800 |
Floor joists are large beams that span the length of the floor and provide the foundation of its structural support. The cost to repair floor joists varies based on how easily accessible they are and the extent of the repairs required, but it’s typically $1,000 to $10,000.
“Floor joist repair is easy if you have access to it, such as with a crawlspace,” says Bob Tschudi, Angi Expert Review Board member and general contractor in Raleigh, NC. “On the other hand, if you have joist problems between two finished floors, it’s best to hire a pro.”
Subflooring rests on top of your floor joists to provide a clean, level surface on which the floor covering lays. It’s typically made from oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood, and subflooring repair typically costs $500 to $700.
A floor covering is the surface of the floor you see and walk on. If your floors are level and not sagging, repairs typically cost $200 to $800. However, this cost is heavily dependent on the type of floor covering you’re repairing. Below are some of the most common types used in homes today and the cost to repair each:
Carpet repair costs $130–$300, while carpet replacement costs $800–$2,500.
Laminate flooring repair costs $320–$1,200.
Ceramic tile flooring repair costs $250–$600.
Vinyl flooring repair costs $200–$1,000.
Hardwood floor repair costs $400–$2,500.
Floor covering repair costs range from $2 to $30 per square foot. This includes repairs to carpet, tile, hardwood, vinyl, laminate, and stone. If you’re replacing the underlayment beneath your floor covering, installation can cost from $0.50 to $5 per square foot.
If your floors require structural repairs, each layer has different costs. Subflooring repairs can cost $2 to $10 per square foot, while joist repairs can cost anywhere from $10 to $60 per square foot.
If you’re handy and wish to repair your own floors, start by having a floor repair contractor inspect them for major structural issues. Severe rot, problems with your home’s frame, and foundation repairs tend to require professional work to address. Your contractor will provide a scope of work and cost estimate as part of the inspection, which itself can cost $300 to $500.
You can fix a creaking floor yourself for about $130 to $140 if you have easy access to the subfloors and joists. The same goes for slightly sagging floors, which you can fix via sistering, or attaching new joists alongside damaged ones. Materials for this project cost $100 to $300, and you may need a hydraulic jack to provide support while you’re making the repairs.
“Many times, a creaking floor is caused by a gap between the joists and the subflooring, which is usually plywood,” says Tschudi. “So if you can secure the plywood to the joist with nails or ‘trim head’ screws, you can often eliminate the squeaking.
While you can save on labor costs by doing repairs on your own, avoid DIY work and hire a floor repair pro if there are electrical wires or plumbing in the way—or if you aren’t sure you have the proper knowledge and tools to do the job properly. Faulty floor repair, especially to structural components like your joists, can cause dangerous structural damage to your home.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed over 10,000 real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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You typically aren’t in any immediate danger if your floors are sagging, but that doesn’t mean you should leave them unattended. Sagging is likely a sign of underlying problems with the structure of your home, such as uneven subflooring or rotting joists. Have your floors inspected by a local carpenter as soon as possible to help you determine the type of repairs needed.
As you look for quotes for flooring repair, consider how the severity of the problem and the accessibility of the damage will impact your costs and budget.
Refinishing a few hardwood planks with minor scratches will cost thousands of dollars less than completely replacing an entire water-damaged floor. Likewise, a first-floor structural problem in a house with an unfinished basement is easy to access from below, while a similar issue on a second-story floor will require your flooring pro to remove several layers to get to the damage.
Whether you need repairs for your floor covering or structural elements such as joists, your contractor may need to pull up your existing flooring to get at the problem. This is a good opportunity to replace old, damaged, or worn subflooring. Subflooring replacement costs about $2,500 per room.
