Is Lowe‘s Flooring Installation Worth It? The Good, Bad and Everything In Between
If your home needs new floors, Lowe‘s enticing installation service may catch your eye. As one of the most recognized home improvement retailers, they have the product selection and supply chain to back it up.
But how does the actual installation experience measure up? As a flooring industry analyst with over 15 years‘ experience, I‘ve researched the ins and outs of Lowe‘s process. Here‘s an in-depth look at exactly what you can expect.
The Step-By-Step Process
Lowe‘s has installation options for all major flooring categories across 3,000+ stores. Their coordinated process makes it seemingly straightforward:
In-Store Consultation: A Lowe‘s associate will discuss options to understand your project requirements and preferences to narrow down materials.
At-Home Measurement: An independent technician visits your home to take exact room measurements and assess any special needs like moving appliances/furniture.
The Quote: You‘ll receive a detailed breakdown of flooring, labor, tax and any accessory costs. Expect $3-8 per square foot installed depending on materials grade and complexity.
Installation Day: The same independent technician returns on the scheduled date to install your new floors per manufacturer guidelines. They haul away old flooring and clean the site afterwards.
Lowe‘s leverages third party installation partners in each region while managing the overall process. This gives them readily available labor without directly employing installer staff long-term.
The Good
Convenience and coordination is a major perk of Lowe‘s installation partnership. They supply the flooring, line up professional labor, offer financing programs and oversee quality checks.
Industry surveys by PowerReviews show strong customer satisfaction with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars:
| Rating | % of Customers |
|---|---|
| 5 stars | 63% |
| 4 stars | 22% |
| 3 stars | 9% |
| 2 stars | 3% |
| 1 star | 3% |
Positive feedback cites the installers‘ expertise along with fair and transparent pricing.
They also have an extensive selection of quality flooring brands and styles, from DIY-friendly vinyl plank up to exotic hardwoods.
The Bad
The quality of installers can be hit or miss since they are third party contractors. Complaints mention occasional sub-par workmanship requiring fixes after the job.
Customers also warn of longer timelines than independent flooring companies. From consultation to installation may take 4+ weeks as Lowe‘s juggle higher demand.
There are also limitations around existing floor removal. Lowe‘s only quotes demolition costs after initial measurements, leaving potential for unexpected charges.
The Cost Rundown
Lowe‘s provides average material and installation costs upfront. To give you a better sense, here is pricing for 1,500 sq ft of flooring:
| Flooring Type | Materials | Labor | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet | $1,050 | $750 | $1,800 |
| Laminate | $1,200 | $750 | $1,950 |
| Vinyl Plank | $1,800 | $750 | $2,550 |
| Hardwood | $4,500 | $750 | $5,250 |
| Ceramic Tile | $2,400 | $1,500 | $3,900 |
| Natural Stone | $4,500 | $1,500 | $6,000 |
Underlayment and demolition/disposal fees add roughly $250-500 depending on your existing floor situation.
Just note that special order flooring grades drive prices higher quickly – exotics like Brazilian Teak or Italian Porcelain can surpass $15/sq ft installed.
6 Tips to Get Flawless Flooring Installation
As you weigh using Lowe‘s professionals, keep these recommendations in mind:
- Have them demo over damaged subfloors to avoid issues down the road.
- Upgrade to premium underlayment for noise reduction and moisture protection.
- For carpets, upgrade pad density to prolong plushness.
- Carefully check baseboard height to ensure no gaps between floor and trim.
- For tile and stone projects, confirm grout color selection before the install date.
- Arrange a final walkthrough before signing off to check workmanship quality up close.
The Final Word
Lowe‘s isn‘t always the cheapest installer, but provides predictability and simplicity for those inexperienced with major flooring projects. Their national supply chain and buying power translate to very competitive rates across most categories.
While the quality level may marginally trail skilled independent contractors, it meets the standards of most homeowners. For convenient start-to-finish project management combined with wide product selection, it‘s hard to beat Lowe‘s as a flooring installation choice.
