Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy my flooring from a big home improvement center or from a local specialty company?
At first glance, a big home improvement center may appear to have a better deal; but your specialty company will, no doubt, have better service and quality. Most local companies will not try to sell you a bogus deal; such as, 60% off the price or installation of carpet/flooring for an entire house for only $100.00. What the big home improvement companies really do is inflate the cost of the material and then suggest that the labor is extremely cheap or even “free”. So, let’s look at the bottom line:
Example: Your local company charges $30.00 per sq. yard for carpeting, which includes upgraded padding, carpet, installation and all other materials to perform the job. Based on 100 yard installation you will pay $3,000.00 ($30/sq. yd. X 100 yds.) at the local company.
For the same job, the big company charges $3.00 per sq. foot ($27.00 per sq. yard) for carpeting only, which totals $2,700.00. Then you will have to pay an additional $3.90 per sq. foot for the padding which totals $390.00 plus, tackless at $280.00, rip out at $350.00 and installation at only $150.00. This brings your total to $3,870.00. So the bottom line is you are paying more and receiving third party installation.
If I have a problem with my installation, won’t the bigger company resolve my problem quicker by just paying for it to be fixed if I call to complain?
Yes, when you have a problem with your installation a bigger company will fix it right away. However, so would any reputable small, local company. The difference is that a big company will hire a sub-contractor (“middle-man”) that usually has no showroom or warehouse, but perhaps a small office. That company then sub-contracts the work out to whomever it can, to get the work done, for the cheapest cost. The way this “middle-man” makes money is by making contracts with the bigger company for a specific price and then paying someone else to do the work as cheap as possible. The “middle-man” is all about making sure he returns the greatest profit possible.
Also, when you have a problem the “middle-man” makes that second sub-contractor pay to replace your flooring with the little amount of money that he made and he has to face the possibility of getting fired! The “middle-man” will then just move onto the next, cheapest sub-contractor. It can be deceiving as the “middle-man” tries to make you think that all of the installers are in-house and that the big company is paying for your inconvenience.
With regards to the small, local company they are known for only hiring the best installers. They have full time employees that work directly for the company. Those employees know that only the very best is expected of them, and that is what the customers receive. The customers are able to meet with the small, local companies in their showrooms and warehouses. Therefore, customers are able to meet with the people they are doing business with and not have to jump through hoops to get the type of customer service they deserve.
If I am going to buy from a small, local company, how do I know which one to buy from as there are so many to choose from?
There are many small companies; however, only a few of them have managed to stay in business for over 50 years! Also, there are only a few that have been a full service carpet & flooring company for that length of time. Many small companies are a product of a sub-contractor who has been laid off or fired due to the downturn in the economy over the last few years. They are left with little job opportunities so they put a “shop at home” add and sell their own flooring, while having less overhead, which sometimes makes their prices less expensive.
But ask yourself this question: Do you think they are going to service your flooring if there are any problems? They may end up taking shortcuts to save themselves time and money on the material. They may buy seconds or use cheaper, generic materials which will void any warranty! Then, after a few months or in a year’s time, if you have a problem they can simply not answer your call. After all, they do not have a showroom that you can go visit with any manager or owner you can speak with. They are not in it for the long haul. They are simply looking to make a quick buck.
There are also those companies that used to only sell carpet; however, for the last few years they started selling hard-surface materials like hardwood, vinyl, ceramic tile, etc. because they needed to supplement their income. They do not know how to do the proper prep work to make sure that your floor lasts for years and years.
On the other hand, you also have your flooring and furniture stores that are trying to sell and install carpet to make up for lost revenue. If you decide to go with one of these companies, be sure that the manufacturer provides a warranty. Since these companies are inexperienced, their workmanship may void these warranties.
How do I, as a consumer, know that you are actually better than the competition?
Be sure to do your homework! We have been in business for over 50 years! We have thousands of satisfied and repeat customers. We have a professional, courteous and certified staff.
We have a no pressure sales team and when we offer sales, we do not mark the item up first or try to make it look better than it is. If we say we are taking 10-15% off of a product, we actually are. Our sales staff does not work off of commission; so you can be sure the person you work with is going to make sure you find the product that best fits your needs.