What is the total cost of laminate flooring including removal of old carpet in Calgary?

The total cost of laminate flooring including carpet removal in Calgary runs $5 to $10 per square foot all-in, covering every step from pulling up the old carpet to walking on a finished new floor. For a typical Calgary home with 1,000 to 1,500 square feet of carpet being replaced, that puts the complete project at $5,000 to $15,000 depending on laminate quality, subfloor condition, and whether you need new baseboards.

Here's a detailed line-by-line breakdown at Calgary market rates:

Carpet removal and disposal: $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot. This includes pulling up the carpet, removing the underpad, prying out tack strips, and hauling everything to the landfill. Carpet removal is one of the easier DIY tear-out jobs if you want to save $1,000 to $1,500 — cut it into strips with a utility knife, roll them up, and haul to a Calgary waste facility. Budget a half-day per 500 square feet.

Subfloor preparation: $0 to $6.00 per square foot. This is the wildcard in every flooring project. If the plywood subfloor under your carpet is in good shape — flat, dry, no squeaks — prep cost is minimal, just removing a few staples and checking for high spots. If the subfloor needs levelling with self-levelling compound, you're looking at $2 to $6 per square foot. In older Calgary homes, particularly those in established communities like Altadore, Killarney, or Ramsay, plywood subfloors may need sections replaced or joists addressed. For a newer home in Sage Hill, Auburn Bay, or Cityscape, subfloor condition is usually good.

Laminate material: $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot. This range covers everything from basic AC3 budget laminate to premium AC5 water-resistant products. For most Calgary family homes, the sweet spot is $2.50 to $4.00 per square foot for a quality AC4 product with realistic appearance and tight click-lock joints that handle Calgary's humidity extremes. Always buy 10 percent extra for cuts, waste, and future repair stock.

Underlayment: $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot. Standard foam underlayment with vapour barrier is fine for main floors over plywood subfloor. If you're over concrete, spend more on a combination vapour-barrier-and-foam product.

Professional installation labour: $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot. This covers layout planning, cutting, installation, and cleanup. Open-concept layouts and rooms with many angles, closets, and transitions tend toward the higher end.

Baseboards and trim: $3 to $8 per linear foot. If your existing baseboards can be carefully removed and reinstalled, this cost drops to $1 to $3 per linear foot for labour only. New MDF baseboards are the more common approach and provide a clean, finished look. A 1,200-square-foot home typically has 250 to 400 linear feet of baseboard, so this line item can easily reach $1,000 to $2,400.

Transition strips: $15 to $40 each installed at doorways and flooring material changes. A typical home needs 5 to 10 transitions.

Furniture moving: $200 to $500 for a full home, or free if you move it yourself.

Sample total for a 1,200-square-foot Calgary home: Carpet removal ($1,500) + mid-range laminate material ($3,600) + underlayment ($900) + installation labour ($2,400) + new baseboards ($2,000) + transitions ($200) + furniture ($300) = approximately $10,900. Actual quotes will vary based on your specific home and material choices.

Get free estimates for your project from local Calgary installers through the Calgary Construction Network at calgaryconstructionnetwork.com.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The Calgary Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Mike’s Restoration Service
• Turnbull masonry
• Universal Slate International Inc.
• Quality count construction Ltd.
• The Original Workshop