Want tile floor installed; opinions wanted

cindy100

Hi! I want to have new flooring installed in my living room and wanted to know if anyone here has ever used the installation services at Home Depot or Lowe's. If you have, would you recommend them?

Thanks,

Cindy

Disc Jockey

I've done most of my own installs so I don't have any experience to offer with those companies, but I don't think it would help much anyway. My experience with the crews here in Colorado might be completely opposite of how good the crews in Georgia are. And I'm pretty sure there is a fairly high turnover rate in that job so the competence of the installers could vary widely from year to year or even month to month. I would guess that national chains would make at least some effort for consistency but you never know.

If I were you I would talk to friends, coworkers, etc to see if you could find anyone who had a job completed to their satisfaction and use their installer. It may cost a little more than using Home Depot or Lowe's but knowing that it will be done right is worth a lot. Good luck.

DJ

schwarcw

It's kind of a crap shoot because you may get a good install, or you could get a lousy job. If they can give you a satisfaction guarantee, and give references for the contractor they use then go for it.

Another option is to look in the newspaper, a lot of times local craftsman will be advertise their services. Ask for references and check them!

I hate installing floor tile, I'll' never do it again! My recommendation is you get someone to do it.

Frank Z

I wouldn't let any sub-contractor from any home center within 100 miles of my place. I've seen the crappy work that passes for "Quality Workmanship." I know it will cost more, but go with a local flooring company if you can afford to do so. Hell you can do it yourself and save a ton of money, tile is easy to do.

F1nut

Ok, I have to ask. You want a tile floor in your living room???

Demiurge

I think you need to talk to MrNightly -- I think he does that stuff as a side job.

cindy100

Thanks for the responses; I had planned to check some local individuals and would definitely check references. I just thought the two I mentioned were reputable companies and was hoping someone here might have used them.

Jesse, I looked at porcelain and ceramic samples today so not sure if that is the same thing as tile. I just know I want the carpet gone; maybe. I also looked at hardwood & it was way out of my price range even though that is what I really want. As for doing it myself, there is no way I would even attempt it.

Cindy

F1nut

Cindy, is your sound system in the living room? Would you have area carpets?

DarqueKnight

I had the carpet in all my bedrooms replaced with hardwood flooring (maple) from Home Depot. I used Home Depot's contract installers because their installation work came with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and they had a 10% off promotion on installation and material.

I could have installed the floors myself or chose another installer. If I had installed the floors myself, I would not have been eligible for the 25 year manufacturer's warranty on the floor finish. If I chose an installer not affiliated with Home Depot, I would not have gotten the 10% off, which was a nice piece of change considering the amount of work I was having done. I only did one bedroom at first (just to see how things went) then I had the others done immediately after.

Everything went like clockwork. They first sent out an estimator to take measurements. Next, the material was ordered and an installation time was set. The installers were prompt, courteous, did a professional job, and had very little waste material left.

I would definitely buy from them again. Lowes offered the same flooring, but they were a few hundred dollars more expensive per room, even though they were running the same 10% off promotion as Home Depot.

brettw22

For some reason I thought all Home Depot carried was laminate.....no?

DarqueKnight

They have it all, and in different grades within flooring types: hardwood, laminate, tile, vinyl, carpet, area rugs, whatever you want.

TroyD

When Wendi and I used Lowe's installers to put in our wood floors. I've got no beef with the end result, however, I wouldn't use them again. Lowe's did absolutely NOTHING to help us out. We used them because we were doing the floors and a kitchen renovation at the same time. My rationale was, with everything going on, we should have one phone call to make, right? WRONG!!

We still ended up doing all the coordination. So, my advice is, contract it out yourself.

I'd also think long and hard about tile in your living room. I've known a few people who have done it and they have all regretted it. Too cold, too reflective....

BDT

MrNightly

I'm late for work, so I will expound tonight... but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, don't use a Lowe's or Home Depot. Their "Top work" might seem pleasing to the eye, but ask them about deflection, vertical movement, subfloor structure... they probably won't even know any of those terms. There is so much more to laying a floor than just putting tiles in. Hire out a pro, or use this site... http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin to learn how to properly do it yourself. With a little patience and guidance from them, you won't go wrong.

amulford

IMHO, I wouldn't use them. I know a few people who do installs for HD. The thought it would be an easier way to get work. They regret it.

First, HD does not pay them very well. So the incentive for them to do a very good job is not there. You'll get it installed, yeah, but they won't take the extra care because it's not their reputation and they are working for less (which means they can't take the extra time. Time = money)

Second, you'd be surprised at the prices of independant flooring contractors. They have to compete for business against the DIY stores, so you will find the prices pretty close to what HD or Lowes will charge.

Third, I have to agree about the tiled living room. I have ceramic in a room. It's cold in the winter, and it isn't the best place for a sound system. Tile is great in the kitchen and the bathroom, but you may want to think about the living room. Maybe an entry foyer...

Just my .02....

TroyD

Like I said, I've got no beef with the guys who Lowe's hired, my problem is I could have hired the same guys on my own, cheaper.

BDT

wingnut4772

F1nut wrote:

Ok, I have to ask. You want a tile floor in your living room???

That's not unusual. Here in Florida carpet is usually poo pooed. It's all tile or wood floors. Carpet is not so much popular anymore.

markmarc

Cindy:
I layed tile for my brother as a summer job for many years. Do yourself a favor, go to an independent tile showroom, they know which contractors do quality work. Plus, the tile quality and selection is much higher than what you get at Lowes or Home Depot. A good test for quality tile is to lay a piece on the floor of the showroom and drop a screwdriver from about 40 inches from the ground. If the tile chips, run away from that style. Usually, Italian tile is the best, followed by US and other European manufacturers.

wallstreet

I once tried to HD to do some carpet install and the result was a fiasco. If I want hardware, I go to HD, if I want flooring, I go to a floor store.

wallstreet

cindy100 wrote:

... I also looked at hardwood & it was way out of my price range even though that is what I really want...

Cindy

Hardwood is a big plus over tile. It's warmer to the sight and touch. Since this is your house, and you'll probably be there a long time, work the upgrade into the budget. Save, save, save, until you can get what you want. The long term happiness will outweigh the short term misery of the carpet. Believe me, I know. My wife harps on me about the carpet every week.:(

F1nut

wingnut4772 wrote:

That's not unusual. Here in Florida carpet is usually poo pooed. It's all tile or wood floors. Carpet is not so much popular anymore.

I knew you were going to say that....lol. I agree with the others, save up for the wood floors.

DarqueKnight

wingnut4772 wrote:

Carpet is not so much popular anymore.

Carpet is nasty.

SCompRacer

cindy100 wrote:

I also looked at hardwood & it was way out of my price range even though that is what I really want.
Cindy

Look into pre-finished engineered wood flooring (multi layered laminate). We installed 5300 square feet of Boen flooring in our lighted lower level at $3.95 a square foot (1.5 years ago). It is 15mm thick (just shy of 5/8") and has a thick wood layer (3/16" of an inch) that allows for up to two or three resurfacings. Some manufacturers use a thin wood layer and the cost was $7 a square foot. Some manufacturers/product lines require gluing though many simply snap together.

Shop around, check out some of the private flooring places that have installers too. If you have home building going on in the area, ask who they use.


In regards to cold tile, you can install heating grids under it.

pfenton

If you want to go with one of the chainstores, go to Expo, the high end of Home Depot. You'll get better service and a better product. Otherwise, I would go to a specialty tile store where all they do is install tile!

unc2701

DarqueKnight wrote:

Carpet is nasty.

Yes. Yes it is. You guys really don't want to know about dust mites & roach allergen (ie ****), but it's amazing what piles up in carpet in a few years.

Anyhow, around here HD and Lowes have a pool of about 5-10 local flooring contractors that get the jobs when you buy there. We priced it both ways; HD was cheaper for the carpet, more for install; local contractors were the opposite. Since we had some HD gift card, we went through them and had no problems.

cindy100

After reading through the posts, I think I will stay away from HD & Lowe's and go with a tile/flooring store. Whether I save up for the hardwood or go with ceramic/porcelain, I would put an area rug in the room because my stereo is in there. I am also going to see what else MrNightly has to say. In order to save money, I would like to do it myself but I know I do not have the patience for something like that.

pfenton mentioned Expo which I had forgotten about. Hopefully they would have more of a selection. The one HD I went to had one aisle of flooring and the second store I called said they had even less to choose from. Maybe that should have been a clue for me to shop elsewhere. I didn't have a chance to call around today so plan to do that on Monday.

I don't know how long something like this takes to do & I am getting ready to start my seasonal contract work. I will be working right up until the middle of November which gives me about a week to have the work done before my Christmas trees go up. Hopefully that will be enough time; the room is only about 18x14.

Any more comments are welcome and thanks to everyone.

Cindy