How Long Does Flooring Installation Take? A Room-by-Room Timeline

Installing new floors can transform a room, but it also means living through a bit of disruption. Understanding how long each type of flooring usually takes—and what can slow things down—helps you plan around pets, furniture, and your daily routine.

This guide walks through typical timelines by room and flooring type, what affects the schedule, and how subfloor repairs can turn a one-day job into several.

Key takeaways

• Most single-room jobs take 1–3 days for professional installation once materials are on site, but prep, acclimation, and cleanup can stretch the overall project to a week or more.
• Flooring type matters a lot: laminate and luxury vinyl are usually fastest, tile is slowest, and site-finished hardwood can take a week or longer due to sanding and curing.
• Subfloor issues can add days if there’s moisture damage, squeaks, or leveling problems that need repair before new flooring goes down.
• Furniture, appliances, and pets need a plan: moving heavy items, disconnecting gas or water lines, and keeping pets safe can add time if not handled in advance.
• Multiple rooms often mean a phased schedule, with installers working in sections so you can still access key areas like bedrooms, bathrooms, and the kitchen.
• Cure and set times matter: tile mortar and grout, hardwood finishes, and some adhesives need 24–72 hours before heavy use or moving furniture back.
• Hiring a pro usually shortens the disruption and reduces mistakes, especially for tile, hardwood, and any job involving subfloor repairs or moisture issues.

Typical costs / fees (if applicable)

Timelines and costs often go hand-in-hand. Faster, click-together products tend to be cheaper to install, while more complex floors take longer and cost more.

Approximate professional installation labor (not including materials):

• Laminate or floating luxury vinyl plank (LVP/LVT):

  • Around $2–$5 per sq. ft. for straightforward installs
  • Costs rise with:
    • Lots of cuts (hallways, closets, angled walls)
    • Old flooring removal and disposal
    • Subfloor patching or leveling

• Glue-down vinyl or engineered wood:

  • Around $3–$7 per sq. ft.
  • Higher when:
    • Adhesives and moisture barriers are needed
    • There are many transitions between rooms or surfaces

• Prefinished hardwood (nailed or stapled):

  • Around $4–$8 per sq. ft.
  • Increases with:
    • Complex layouts or patterns
    • Stairs, railings, and trim work
    • Subfloor squeak fixes or replacement

• Site-finished hardwood (installed + sanded + finished on site):

  • Around $6–$12+ per sq. ft.
  • More time and cost due to:
    • Multiple sanding passes
    • Several coats of stain/finish with drying time in between
    • Dust control and masking off nearby rooms

• Ceramic or porcelain tile:

  • Around $6–$15+ per sq. ft.
  • Higher when:
    • Large-format or patterned layouts are used
    • The floor needs leveling or a cement backer board
    • Intricate mosaics or inlays are involved

Other possible fees and add-ons:

• Old flooring removal and disposal: often $1–$3 per sq. ft.
• Subfloor repair or replacement: can range from a few hundred dollars for minor patching to several thousand for major water damage or structural issues
• Furniture and appliance moving: sometimes included, sometimes an extra flat fee or per-piece charge
• Moisture barriers, underlayment, and trim: typically priced per sq. ft. or per linear foot

Timelines often stretch when costs go up—more prep, more detail work, and more curing time all add days.

What to expect (process overview)

1. Initial estimate and scheduling

• Measure and inspect:
  • The pro measures each room and checks:
    • Subfloor condition (squeaks, soft spots, uneven areas)
    • Moisture levels (especially over concrete or in basements)
    • Transitions to other flooring types
• Timeline discussion:
  • Ask for:
    • Estimated start date and duration
    • Any acclimation time needed for your flooring
    • Whether they’ll work consecutive days or in phases

Typical time: 1 visit, plus a few days to get on the schedule.

2. Material ordering and acclimation

• Ordering materials:
  • Lead times can range from in stock (same week) to several weeks for special orders.
• Acclimation period (for wood and some laminate):
  • Flooring may need to sit in your home to adjust to temperature and humidity:
    • Laminate / engineered wood: often 24–72 hours
    • Solid hardwood: often 3–7 days
  • During this time, boxes are usually stacked in the rooms where they’ll be installed.

Watch-out: Rushing acclimation can lead to gaps, buckling, or warping later.

3. Room prep: furniture, pets, and access

• Furniture and belongings:
  • Clear:
    • Small items, decor, electronics, and closet floors
  • Confirm with your installer:
    • Who moves large furniture (beds, dressers, sofas)
    • Whether they handle appliances, especially those with gas or water connections
• Pets:
  • Plan to:
    • Keep pets confined to another area or off-site
    • Minimize stress from noise and strangers
• Access and parking:
  • Make sure:
    • A driveway or street space is available for trucks
    • A clear path exists for carrying in materials and tools

Typical time: A few hours of homeowner prep the day before; pros may need 1–3 hours on day one to finish moving and masking.

4. Removing old flooring

• Carpet removal:
  • Usually fastest—cut, roll, and remove
  • Tack strips and staples are pulled up or hammered down
• Old hardwood, tile, or glued-down products:
  • More labor-intensive and noisy
  • May require:
    • Power scrapers
    • Dust control measures
    • Extra hauling time

Typical time:

• Small room (bedroom, office): 2–6 hours
• Entire main floor: 1–2 days, depending on materials and thickness

5. Subfloor inspection and repairs (the big wild card)

This step can dramatically change your timeline.

Pros will look for:

• Moisture damage or mold
• Squeaks, bounce, or flex
• Uneven or sloped areas
• Cracks in concrete slabs

Possible fixes:

• Minor leveling and patching: filling low spots, sanding high spots (adds a few hours)
• Screw-down to stop squeaks: fastening subfloor to joists (adds a few hours to a day)
• Underlayment or backer board installation: for tile or floating floors (adds half to a full day)
• Major subfloor replacement: cutting out and replacing damaged sections (can add 1–3+ days and significant cost)

If your installer finds structural issues, active leaks, or mold, they may need to pause the flooring project and bring in other licensed pros.

6. Installation by flooring type (with typical timelines)

Laminate and floating luxury vinyl plank (LVP/LVT)

• Speed: usually the fastest type to install
• Process:
  • Underlayment or pad is rolled out
  • Planks are clicked together and floated over the subfloor
  • Trim and transitions are installed last
• Typical timelines:
  • Bedroom or office (150–250 sq. ft.): 1 day
  • Large living room: 1–2 days
  • Whole main floor (800–1,200 sq. ft.): 2–4 days

You can often walk on the floor the same day, but wait until the pro says it’s okay to move heavy furniture back.

Prefinished hardwood

• Process:
  • Boards are nailed or stapled to the subfloor
  • No on-site sanding or finishing needed
  • Matching transitions and trim installed
• Typical timelines:
  • Single room: 1–2 days
  • Main floor: 3–5 days, depending on layout and stairs

Floors are usually ready for light use right away, but installers may suggest waiting 24 hours before moving heavy furniture.

Site-finished hardwood

• Process:
  • Boards are installed, then:
    • Sanded flat
    • Stained (optional)
    • Finished with multiple coats
  • Each coat needs drying/curing time
• Typical timelines:
  • Single room: 3–5+ days
  • Multiple rooms or whole level: 5–10+ days, sometimes longer
• Access limitations:
  • You may need to stay off the floors for several hours to a full day after each coat
  • Furniture usually stays off for at least 24–72 hours after the final coat, depending on the product

Plan carefully if these floors are in hallways, bedrooms, or the only path to a bathroom.

Tile (ceramic, porcelain, stone)

• Process:
  • Underlayment or cement board installed (if needed)
  • Tile is set in thinset mortar
  • Mortar cures, then grout is applied
  • Grout cures and is sometimes sealed
• Typical timelines:
  • Small bathroom or laundry: 2–3 days
    • Day 1: prep and set tile
    • Day 2: grout
    • Day 3: grout cure and sealing (if needed)
  • Large kitchen or open area: 3–5+ days
• Access limitations:
  • You usually need to stay off freshly set tile for 24 hours
  • Light foot traffic may be okay after grouting, but no heavy furniture for 48–72 hours

7. Cleanup, punch list, and move-back

• Cleanup:
  • Debris and dust removal
  • Sweeping/vacuuming
  • Hauling away old flooring (if included)
• Punch list walkthrough:
  • Check:
    • Seams and transitions
    • Trim and caulking
    • Squeaks or soft spots
• Moving furniture and appliances back:
  • Confirm:
    • When it’s safe to move items back
    • Who reconnects gas ranges, dishwashers, or refrigerators (these should be handled by licensed pros)

Typical time: A few hours at the end of the last day, plus any return visit for touch-ups.

DIY vs. hire a pro

When DIY might work

DIY can be reasonable if:

• You’re installing click-together laminate or floating vinyl in:
  • A simple, square room
  • A space without tricky cuts or stairs
• The subfloor is:
  • Already flat and solid
  • Free of moisture problems
• You’re comfortable with:
  • Basic power tools
  • Measuring and cutting accurately
  • Following manufacturer instructions closely

Even then, expect the project to take longer than a pro—often a full weekend or more per room, especially if it’s your first time.

When hiring a pro is the safer, smarter choice

It’s strongly recommended to use a professional for:

• Tile installation:
  • Requires:
    • Proper subfloor prep and leveling
    • Knowledge of mortar types and cure times
    • Careful layout to avoid lippage and cracks
• Hardwood (especially site-finished):
  • Sanding and finishing equipment is powerful and messy
  • Mistakes can be expensive to fix and may require re-sanding the entire floor
• Any job with subfloor issues:
  • Soft spots, sagging, or signs of water damage
  • Potential structural or moisture problems
• Stairs and complex layouts:
  • Tight corners, railings, and landings are detail-heavy
• Projects involving gas, water, or electrical connections:
  • Moving or reconnecting gas ranges, fridges with water lines, or dishwashers should be done by licensed pros for safety and code compliance

Pros not only work faster but also:

• Understand local building codes
• Know how to manage moisture, expansion gaps, and transitions
• Can often provide warranties on workmanship

If you’re unsure, consider getting at least one professional opinion. You can use a service like Home Services Scout to compare local flooring pros and see what they recommend for your specific space.

Questions to ask before you commit

• How long will my specific project take, start to finish, including prep and cure times?
• Do my flooring materials need acclimation, and for how long?
• What condition is my subfloor in, and what could change the timeline once you open things up?
• Is old flooring removal and disposal included in your estimate and schedule?
• Who is responsible for moving furniture and appliances, and when will that happen?
• How will you handle pets and access to key rooms like bathrooms and the kitchen during the project?
• Will the crew work consecutive days, or will there be gaps between phases (like sanding and finishing)?
• When can we safely walk on the new floors, and when can heavy furniture be moved back?
• What dust and noise should we expect, and how will you protect nearby rooms?
• What happens if you discover moisture, mold, or structural issues after removing the old floor?
• Are permits needed for any part of this job, and who handles them if so?
• What warranty do you offer on labor, and what would a repair visit look like if something goes wrong?

Quick FAQ

How long does it take to install flooring in a bedroom?

For a typical bedroom (around 150–250 sq. ft.):

• Laminate or floating vinyl: often 1 day
• Prefinished hardwood: usually 1–2 days
• Tile: rarely used in bedrooms, but would be 2–3 days including grout and cure time

This assumes the subfloor is in good shape and there are no major surprises.

How long does a full-house flooring project take?

For an average-size home:

• Laminate or floating vinyl throughout: roughly 3–7 days
• Prefinished hardwood throughout: roughly 5–10 days
• Site-finished hardwood: can stretch to 1–2+ weeks with sanding and curing
• Tile-heavy projects: vary widely, but expect several extra days for mortar and grout curing

Complex layouts, stairs, and subfloor repairs can add more time.

Can I live in my home during flooring installation?

Usually yes, but you’ll need to:

• Move furniture out of active work areas
• Plan alternate routes if hallways or stairs are being done
• Accept noise, dust, and limited access to some rooms

For large projects, some homeowners choose to stay elsewhere for the noisiest or dustiest phases, especially during sanding and finishing hardwood.

What’s the biggest factor that can delay flooring installation?

Subfloor problems are the top cause of delays. Hidden water damage, mold, structural issues, or major leveling needs can turn a simple 2-day job into a week or more, especially if other licensed pros need to get involved.

Wrap-up / next steps

Flooring installation timelines depend on more than just the square footage. The type of flooring, subfloor condition, layout complexity, and curing times all play a role in how long your home will be disrupted—and how soon you can move furniture and pets back into place.

Before you commit, it’s wise to:

• Get 2–3 detailed quotes that include both time and cost estimates
• Ask each pro how they’ll handle subfloor surprises, pets, and access to key rooms
• Compare schedules, warranties, and proposed materials, not just price

If you’d like to quickly compare local flooring installers and see who best fits your timeline and budget, you can use Home Services Scout to review options and request multiple quotes in one place.