How Much Does Limestone Flooring Installation Cost?
Typical Range:
$6,000 - $10,000
Typical Range:
$6,000 - $10,000
Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.
Updated January 6, 2022
Written by HomeAdvisor.While the average cost to install natural limestone flooring in a 350-square-foot room is $8,930, most people pay $6,000 to $10,000. The tile quality, your preferred laying pattern, and the size of the room can all influence cost.
Average Cost | $8,930 |
High Cost | $10,000 |
Low Cost | $6,000 |
Standard limestone flooring costs $3 to $10 per square foot. Accent and mosaic limestone tiles can cost up to $30 per square foot. While adding specialty tiles can increase your costs for materials and installation, accent and mosaic limestone tiles are typically only used for inlays or borders.
Also, some contractors charge equipment allowance fees ranging from $50 to $100 for the entire job. This primarily accounts for the wear and tear placed on expensive tile-cutting saws.
Most local flooring contractors charge $40 to $75 per hour for installation. Many add a balance for a two-hour minimum used to cover the cost of project-related preparation, cleanup, or other tasks that's roughly $100 to $150. The average cost for labor only for a 350-square-foot room is $5,000 to $8,000.
Flat quotes based on square footage take into account labor costs, equipment costs, and the time needed to lay down the amount of tiles necessary to cover a room. Some contractors may charge a premium of $1 to $2 per square foot for extra-large rooms.
Limestone flooring labor typically covers:
Design planning
Materials acquisition
Preparation and protection
Setup
Base application
Laying out a pattern
Fabrication
Installation
Grouting
Cleanup
Limestone flooring costs can vary from $750 to $3,500 for a 350-square-foot project, depending on which type of limestone you choose.
Expect to pay $3 to $6 per square foot for honed limestone. Honed limestone that has been sanded for a "flat" matte finish is usually the least expensive limestone flooring option.
Limestone that has been aged costs $4 to $7 per square foot on average.
Limestone with a textured finish costs $7 to $9 per square foot on average.
Considered the premium limestone option, polished limestone is available for $6 to $10 per square foot.
Mosaic limestone tiles cost $6 to $30 per square foot on average.
Stone type, square footage, and the designs you choose will factor into your total project cost.
The tiles you select can greatly influence cost because your price per square foot is replicated for every square foot of space needed.
Larger rooms require more tiles with longer labor windows. Some contractors might charge a premium for each additional square foot over a standard room size for extra-large rooms.
If you need to tile steps, your contractor may charge you more per square foot for that section of your room because steps require more complicated cuts.
If you need your existing tile ripped up before you can put new tile down, the cost is usually $1 to $6 per square foot. You'll typically get a lower rate if you use the same contractor for removal and installation because local flooring companies are inclined to give you better rates when you're giving them the whole project.
You can expect to save $5,000 to $8,000 in labor costs by DIY. When installing your own limestone flooring, your main project cost will be the price per limestone tile you select multiplied by the size of the room you're tiling. When cutting natural stone, it's essential to have a wet saw with a diamond-encrusted blade. While a wet saw for cutting tile can cost up to $800, daily rentals ranging from $50 to $75 are available.
Anyone who feels comfortable using a saw to cut tile can realistically install a limestone floor. However, it's important to know the process is a delicate one that’s better left to the pros, because it requires installing properly, planning the layout, making precise cuts, and setting the flooring correctly to make sure your mortar fully adheres to your subfloor.
If you need to remove existing tile, using proper ventilation and protection is important because breaking up tile releases fine dust particles into the air that can be hazardous when breathed in. These dust particles can also damage your home if the area isn't properly contained.
As a natural stone, limestone can be delicate during installation. The porous nature of cheaper limestone tiles means they can easily absorb color from grout and mortar during installation if you're not skilled. The precision needed during cutting and setting can also make this a challenging project for people without tiling experience.
When properly installed, your limestone floors can last a lifetime.
Most retailers sell limestone flooring samples for $2 to $10 per piece. If you're working with a contractor, they may be able to bring samples to your home for free as part of your estimate.
We recommend resealing limestone tiles every two to five years. High-traffic areas will need to be sealed more often than low-traffic areas.