If you’re looking to purchase new flooring for your home, you’ve probably considered a national flooring company with competitive pricing, a wide range of products, and an open, ready-to-install inventory. However, many major companies feel the same way, and finding reliable information and reading customer reviews takes time.
That’s why the USA TODAY team did the research on your behalf and compared Empire Today and Lowe’s flooring to help you decide which is the better option for your flooring project.
Empire Today vs. Lowe’s Flooring: Which is Right for You?
Overall, we recommend Lowe’s Flooring as it ranks second on our list of the best flooring contractors. Lowe’s has a much larger service area across the country and offers a wide range of flooring brands as well as its own brands. Empire Today’s service area is about half that size, and no information is provided about the specific brands it serves.
However, one thing to consider is whether you know the type, style, and color of the flooring you want. If so, I recommend Lowe’s. If not, Empire Today might be a better choice. Because one of our representatives will come in for a free consultation and provide you with hundreds of samples to help you choose the best flooring for your space.
Empire Today vs. Lowe’s Flooring Overview
Empire Today and Lowe’s Flooring are both national flooring companies that offer free measurements and free estimates for complete flooring. Because both companies outsource installation work to third-party flooring contractors, both installation quality and customer service can vary.
Empire Today was founded in 1959. After a short period of selling protective plastic covers for floors and furniture, the company shifted its focus exclusively to coordinating flooring and equipment. Lowe’s was founded in 1921, but its primary focus is as a home improvement retailer and only recently began connecting homeowners with flooring service providers.
Empire Today and Lowe’s Flooring: Flooring Types and Costs
Both Empire Today and Lowe’s Flooring offer all the most popular types of flooring, including vinyl, laminate, hardwood/engineered wood, carpet, and tile.
Lowe’s provides the average cost per square foot for each flooring type. This is shown in the table below. Empire Today does not provide pricing information online and must obtain a free quote to confirm pricing.
We looked at customer reviews and homeowner forums to see how much homeowners are paying for Empire flooring so you can compare costs. However, you should obtain an in-house quote for the most accurate price.
| Types of flooring | Average cost per square foot | Estimated cost per square foot |
|---|---|---|
| carpet | $3.88–$6.62 | $2.50–$6.00 |
| Hardwood/artificial wood | $2.99–$6.89 | $5.50–$12.00+ |
| laminate | $1.44–$3.99 | $2.50 – $4.50 |
| Luxury vinyl board (LVP) | $2.29–$4.29 | $3.50 – $6.50 |
| tile | $0.99–$3.49 | $6.50–$15.00+ |
Although Lowe’s lists some flooring costs online, keep in mind that these are just averages and do not include installation costs. Actual prices from either company will vary depending on:
- room size and complexity
- Unexpected problems with the subfloor
- Your location and local living costs
- Additional services you would like (trim, underfloor heating, etc.)
- The quality and brand of the floor you choose
- Flooring removal
Empire Today vs. Lowe’s Flooring Installation
The installation process you will experience will be similar, as both are national companies that outsource their installation work to third-party companies. However, there are some subtle differences.
How the estimation process works
Empire Today is known for its door-to-door consulting. During this consultation, a representative will bring hundreds of flooring samples to your home to see how different styles, colors, and materials will look in your space. They will help you choose your flooring, take measurements, and begin creating a quote.
Lowe’s requires you to view flooring samples online before scheduling a measurement. Since this process is less manual, you may not be as confident in the product you choose. Once you have decided on a specific product, schedule a measurement. To learn more about this process, check out our Lowe’s flooring review.
Both companies require materials to be purchased as part of the installation package. You cannot purchase materials in advance and then go to Empire or Lowe’s to install. However, you can also purchase Lowe’s flooring without scheduling installation.
How the installation works
The installation process for both companies works similarly.
- Your Empire or Lowe’s representative will use your measurements to provide you with a formal quote.
- You approve the quote and make the required down payment.
- The company will assign a third-party installer to your project.
- That third party will install the flooring.
- Sign off when the installation is complete.
- Either Empire or Lowe’s will respond to future customer service inquiries and warranty claims.
Who installs the flooring
Neither Empire Today nor Lowe’s Flooring installs the flooring themselves; they work with local contractors.
Empire Today vs. Lowe’s Flooring: Availability
Lowe’s has a much broader reach than Empire, with operations in all 50 states, and Washington, DC Empire Today offers flooring services in 27 states, including:
- arizona
- California
- colorado
- connecticut
- florida
- georgia
- illinois
- Indiana
- kentucky
- maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- minnesota
- missouri
- nevada
- new jersey
- new york
- north carolina
- ohio
- Oregon
- pennsylvania
- south carolina
- tennessee
- texas
- virginia
- washington
- wisconsin
The service area alone may be the deciding factor. If Empire Today doesn’t serve your area, but you still want to compare national companies, you can read our guide comparing Lowe’s flooring vs. Home Depot flooring for a more direct comparison.
Empire Today vs. Lowe’s Flooring Review
Reviews for Empire Today are generally positive on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot, with scores of 3.2 stars and 4.3 stars, respectively. The Yelp score is much lower, at just 1.4 stars.
Even more important than the total score is customer sentiment. Many customers seem satisfied with the customer service, quality of installation, and professionalism of the staff assigned to the project. However, some customers have encountered poor installation and customer service issues. Some reviews mention gaps around the flooring, wrong colored products, and issues with the contractor not doing everything that was quoted in the initial quote.
Lowe’s has thousands of reviews on similar sites, but most of them are about the retail side of the business and not specifically related to flooring services. However, a report on Reddit paints a similar picture. While some customers are satisfied with the affordability, professionalism, and quick installation, others encounter customer service issues and installation mistakes that end up costing them more to fix.
Both companies outsource their installation work to third parties, which can lead to differences in service and quality, which is why we review both companies.
How does USA TODAY rate flooring companies?
We evaluate flooring companies based on four main categories:
- Installation quality and workmanship
- Costs and financing
- company credibility
- product quality
Within these categories, we evaluate the 26 quantitative metrics that we believe have the most impact on your customer experience. These include the types of flooring available, the consultation and measurement process, the usual accuracy of quotations, etc.
FAQ
What are the most rated LVP flooring brands?
Shaw, Armstrong, SMARTCORE, and COREtec are all among the top-rated LVP flooring brands, and karanda also ranks highly, but at a higher price point. Brands like LifeProof and STAINMASTER, sold exclusively at The Home Depot and Lowe’s respectively, rank high in terms of quality but are more affordable.
When is the best time to buy flooring?
Since most homeowners purchase and install new flooring in the spring or summer, the best time to purchase flooring at a discount is late fall or early winter. If you don’t want to keep your flooring in your home for long periods of time before installation, aim to purchase it in early spring and install it in mid-to-late spring.
Who are Empire Today’s competitors?
Empire Today’s competitors include Lowe’s Flooring, The Home Depot, Carpet One Floor & Home, 50Floor, and Floor & Decor. It also competes with national companies such as Floor Coverings International and National Floors Direct, which perform installations in-house.
