Flooring: What to Know Before You Buy

Hidden Flooring Costs Big Box Stores Wish You Didn’t Know About!

If you’re in the market for new floors think twice before buying at a big box store. While the big box stores may offer impossibly low prices, these low prices come at a cost – cutting corners, offering inferior products and hiding fees elsewhere.

As a locally owned Charlotte, NC flooring store, Flowers Flooring prioritizes quality over quantity. Unlike big box stores that offer flooring products and services, Flowers Flooring specializes in flooring only and we care about your end result more than our bottom line. Before you invest in new flooring for your home, learn what our competitors don’t want you to know about the true cost of doing business with them.

Inferior Selection of Flooring

When a store touts next day installation or a huge price decrease, it usually only applies to a very limited selection of flooring. Whether its discount laminate or pre-stocked carpet, this deal means they have an abundance of the flooring in their warehouse they are trying to unload. Pre-stocked flooring selections are never a good sign for discerning homeowners, because they appeal to the broadest possible customer base, which usually means it’s plain, boring or cheaply made.

Uncaring Work

Big box stores save money by putting several installations on one contractor’s schedule. If your flooring installation team has incentives to move on to the next install quickly, they are most likely not going to spend the extra time on your floor to ensure the perfect install. Some contractors may even resort to cost-cutting and time- saving tactics that result in bumps and lumps in your new floor. Instead of padding our profits by squeezing as many installations in our schedule each day, Flowers Flooring works to accommodate your schedule and we ensure our installation services are detailed, thoughtful and thorough. 

Delays in Delivery and Installation

When you pay a low price, you may be faced with long wait times to get your flooring delivered and installed. If you order a specialty flooring that isn’t in stock, you could wait months for your floors to arrive. Box stores also have long installation lead times and inflexible installation options that may force you to miss work or wait even longer for your new floors.

Hidden Fees

Often times quick and dirt cheap flooring installation could cost you more than expected. Big box stores make up for cheap rates by adding a variety of other fees elsewhere, which means their standard installation service includes almost nothing beyond the basics. Hidden fees may apply to:

• Estimating or measuring the dimensions of your space – FREE through Flowers Flooring
• Delivering the flooring- FREE through Flowers Flooring
• Cutting around your door thresholds – FREE through Flowers Flooring
• Offering extra grout colors with tile installations – FREE through Flowers Flooring
• Subfloor repair – Many box stores are unable to complete subfloor repair, which means after your existing floors are torn up you would have to contract with another company to fix your subfloor damage before your new floors can be installed. Flowers Flooring installers are able to fix subfloor damage right on the spot; without any additional delays.

 

Warranties, Future Repair and Maintenance Costs

Budget flooring doesn’t usually offer good warranties or extra protection. To add insult to injury, if the installation methods are inferior your new floors can be especially vulnerable to damage. For example, carpet may not be stain resistant, laminate and hardwood may not be durable and tile may not be prepped right resulting in cracked tiles. When you invest in quality flooring that includes specialty manufacturing methods and standards such as Shaw Floors, you avoid the cost of cleaning, fixing, or replacing damaged floors later.

Flowers Flooring extensive flooring selection and transparent services don’t include any hidden costs, but hidden expenses could be lurking behind the glossy big box store deals you keep seeing. Don’t fall for false promises that may leave you with unexpected expenses, delays and flooring problems. Call (704) 445-7750, stop by the showroom, or click through to Flowers Flooring today to browse our selection of flooring and to schedule your FREE in-home estimate.