Finding a flooring contractor you can trust can mean fewer headaches, a smoother installation, and a professional look. Is Home Depot your flooring installer? It depends.
Home Depot’s flooring service is nationwide and has hundreds of flooring options, but because the company outsources to local third-party installers, you’re not guaranteed a good experience.
From the services offered and installation process to pricing and red flags, here’s everything you need to know about Home Depot flooring.
About flooring materials at home centers
Home Depot is primarily a home improvement retailer, but it also provides specialized services, such as flooring installation, through local contractors. Home Depot offers carpet, vinyl flooring, laminate flooring, hardwood flooring, tile flooring materials and installation services, as well as garage floor coating and sealing services.
Home Depot was founded in 1978 and has become the national chain that many homeowners rely on for their home improvement projects. Because Home Depot provides materials and not labor, the company that installs your flooring is not affiliated with Home Depot and may be less experienced.
Advantages and disadvantages of flooring materials from home improvement stores
Strong Points
- Nationwide support
- Wide variety of flooring options
- competitive pricing
- Potential savings on Home Depot branded products
- In-house financing also available
- Includes manufacturer and labor warranties
Cons
- Unreliable customer service from third-party installers
- Warranty coverage varies depending on the product
- Customer complaints regarding communication
How is Home Depot flooring installed?
Home Depot will manage the project, supply materials, and provide customer service. Home Depot does not complete flooring installation. Instead, the company subcontracts all flooring installation to third-party contractors in the area.
When you choose Home Depot as your flooring provider, a representative will meet with you in-store or over the phone to discuss your project and schedule an in-person measurement. Once the measurement is complete, the person in charge will send the measurement results to the hardware store. The home improvement store converts the estimate into an itemized list of materials and labor costs.
Home Depot will then coordinate the installation with a local installer, collect your payment, and schedule the work.
Home Depot flooring installation price
The actual cost of flooring from Home Depot varies widely depending on several factors.
- Type of floor to be installed
- room size
- layout complexity
- Existing flooring that needs to be removed (if applicable)
- condition of the base
- Local vendors assigned to the project
Home Depot lists average flooring installation costs and additional materials costs on its website. You can use the table below to get an idea of how much your flooring project will cost. Please note that these prices vary.
| Types of flooring | Average cost (per square foot) |
| carpet | $2～$4.50 |
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVT) or tile (LVT) | $2 – $6 |
| laminate | $3.80 – $4.80 |
| Hardwood/artificial wood | $6-$7 |
| tile | $9 – $10 |
Home Depot also provides estimates for additional prep work that may be required, including:
- Removal of old flooring: $1 to $4 per square foot
- Level the subfloor: $0.25 to $1 per square foot
It is important to note that these are just estimates and the totals can vary considerably. Derek Schumann, co-founder of HOMEstretch, a company dedicated to maximizing pre-sale home value through renovation, explains:
“The floor you see is not the be-all and end-all of a project; the underlying conditions will drive the cost. The best way to avoid surprises is to ask the vendor how much the floor will cost as a complete system, from demo, prep, installation, and finish.”
The flooring will be installed by the home center.
Home Depot offers all the standard flooring options, including vinyl and laminate flooring. If you’re looking for less common materials like cork, polished concrete, or bamboo, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
| Types of flooring | ideal placement | not ideal |
| carpet | bedroom | Areas with heavy traffic or areas prone to spills or leaks |
| LVP/LVT | Bedroom, living area, kitchen, basement, bathroom | Not applicable |
| laminate | Laundry room and low-traffic living area | High traffic area |
| Hardwood/artificial wood | bedroom and living area | kitchen, bathroom, laundry room |
| tile | kitchen and bathroom | Most living areas and bedrooms |
How Home Depot measures the floors it installs
Home Depot will send in-house experts to your home to measure your project and inspect for issues that could complicate your project. The measurement takes an estimated 45 minutes. During that time, your specialist will perform the following tasks:
- Measuring floor coverage: A professional will measure the overall dimensions of your installation space and estimate the cost.
- Assess the complexity of your installation. They will evaluate the difficulty of the installation by looking at things like the complexity of the room and the location of the heating elements on the baseboard.
- Measuring trims and other add-ons: If you’re having Home Depot reinstall trim and room transitions, they can take measurements for these additional items.
- Assess the condition of existing floors and subfloors. Whenever possible, the professional will assess the condition and flatness of the subfloor and take notes on potential repairs.
- Take a photo and share it with your instructor. Finally, your representative will take photos and videos and share them with the installer. This ensures the installer understands the project and ensures a smooth transition.
Should you buy flooring before or after home improvement measures?
You can purchase your flooring before requesting a quote from Home Depot, but you don’t have to. If so, your representative will ensure that the total compensation is appropriate and will estimate costs based solely on labor costs.
If you do not purchase flooring in advance, your representative will include the cost of materials in your estimate.
How much does a professional measurement at Home Depot cost?
Home Depot charges a non-refundable fee of $35 for professional measurements, which varies by location. This is a small fee you pay to get an accurate quote and purchase the right amount of flooring.
home depot flooring reviews
There are very few third-party reviews for Home Depot’s flooring installation services. However, Home Depot has thousands of reviews from customers on its site. Each type of flooring has its own reviews.
We read hundreds of online reviews and found that our customers were generally satisfied. Overall, 75% to 90% of customers recommend Home Depot’s flooring installation services.
Most reviews are positive, commenting on the professionalism, timeliness, and affordability of materials and labor. Some customers have made positive comments about the quality of the installation, especially when it comes to carpet installation.
As with all installation services, there are some negative reviews to be aware of. Most of the negative reviews mention a lack of communication from Home Depot personnel, with some mentioning that the installers left the work area a mess.
A few reviews complained of poor installation quality, including visible gaps in the floor. But they were few.
Alternatives to home improvement flooring
If Home Depot isn’t your best bet, there are countless other flooring contractors out there. If you want to ensure the security of installations by domestic companies, the following options are available:
You can also choose a local flooring company that only serves your area. Although many customers find local companies to be more expensive, they often offer better customer service and may include long-term labor warranties due to superior craftsmanship. We recommend getting quotes from at least three companies and comparing them.
“The advice we give homeowners when comparing flooring options is to make sure they get a true ‘match-in’ comprehensive figure that includes materials, labor, demo, disposal, and standard preparation and finish details to avoid any surprises,” Schuman added.
How does USA TODAY rate flooring companies?
For each flooring company you research, consider all of the following:
- Types of flooring offered
- Material and labor costs per square foot
- online evaluation
- General customer consensus based on reviews
- Measurement and installation process
- Years of establishment
- Will the company complete the installation in-house or outsource the labor?
Ratings and past customer opinions paint the clearest picture of what you can expect, so we focus on reading reviews to determine what you can expect throughout the process.
Bottom line: Is home improvement flooring right for you?
If you’re on a tight budget or need multiple types of flooring installed at once, Home Depot may be your best option. However, if you want top-notch customer service and a company that handles everything from start to finish, you may be better off looking elsewhere.
Home Depot flooring covers the entire country and offers a wide range of flooring options at affordable prices, including carpet, wood, laminate, vinyl, tile, and garage floor coatings.
According to customer reviews, they outsource all installation work to local providers, which doesn’t necessarily provide great communication or customer service.
FAQ
Can Home Depot install flooring?
Home Depot also sells flooring products and provides installation services, but outsources all labor to local third-party installers. Home Depot can measure your flooring project and subcontract it to flooring professionals, but Home Depot installers aren’t the ones who actually complete the project.
How much does it cost for a contractor to install the flooring?
According to the flooring experts we spoke to, flooring installation costs range from $1.50 to $12 per square foot, depending on the type of flooring needed. Stone, tile, and wood floors have the highest installation costs, while vinyl, laminate, and carpet have the lowest installation costs. Prices may also vary depending on the type of floor that needs to be removed before installation, as well as any necessary surface preparation or repairs.
Is it better to hire a construction company or a flooring company to install the flooring?
Both flooring contractors and flooring companies can be great resources when it comes to flooring installation, but experience will vary depending on the specific company. If possible, read customer reviews and note any patterns you notice among the negative reviews. This will give you important insight into how the company operates and the experience you may have.
Which is better for flooring: Lowe’s or Home Depot?
Lowe’s and Home Depot offer similar flooring services, including access to the most common flooring types and competitive prices. Both retailers outsource the actual installation work to local installers, and both have had some issues with customer service as a result. However, while Lowe’s offers a one-year labor warranty, Home Depot’s coverage goes far beyond that and includes a lifetime warranty on carpet installation.
