carpet from Home Depot vs. flooring from Costco

[kermit116]

Looking for some advice on getting the best value on new flooring in our home. We are buying a home that will require several repairs. Fortunately, DH is very handy and we can do most of the work ourselves. The one thing we won't (can't) really do ourselves is install new flooring. We are pulling up the disgusting old stained carpet that is currently in the home. We will need new flooring in a total of 4 rooms, plus a hallway and probably on a staircase.

We are deciding whether to -

(1) get carpet installed by a Home Depot or Lowes OR
(2) buy flooring from Costco (likely bamboo) and hire a friend who knows how to install it.

Since this is our first major home renovation, I'm wondering which would likely be more cost effective. I think carpet would be cheaper right now. However, I prefer the look of bamboo floors, and we have dogs, so I think the bamboo option would probably last longer.

Any advice? Has anyone had carpet installed by Home Depot or Lowes? If so, how was it to work with them? I've heard some horror stories from family members who tried to order items from big box stores, and there were long delays to actually get the items installed.

Also, has anyone used bamboo floors in most of their home? What about the bamboo flooring from Costco? Is it durable? I've heard bamboo flooring is generally very durable.

 

[kermit116]

Also, any other tips on other place to get flooring that is not super expensive and is durable would be great!

 

[Darcy03231]

When you buy carpet from Home Depot or Lowes, keep in mind that they subcontract out the installation. You could get a good one or a bad one. I've read some horror stories about carpet installations (and other types) from both stories, both on these boards and others. Personally, for carpet I would go to a smaller independently owned local place. That's what we did. Not only did we do much better on price and quality, we knew who we were dealing with if there was a problem (and there wasn't).

As far as which type of flooring, if it were me (and I could afford it) I would go with the bamboo. I think you'll find it will hold up much better over time, especially with pets.

 

[TaraPA]

We just had 1600 sq feet of carpet installed by Lowe's. They were very professional & quick, the installer was great. I was shocked at how high the price was, but it had been years since I bought carpet & just hadn't done my homework I guess! The first estimate was so high I went back & picked cheaper carpet because I couldn't justify the cost for the basement. But it all went very smoothly from start to finish & I'd use them again. We had the carpet installed within 2 weeks of picking it, and it was special order.

We tried to use Home Depot for a rental property about 10 years ago & it was a holy nightmare. They never showed for the 1st 2 appts for the measuring estimate (and we were living 40 min. away with an infant & a toddler so it was really inconvenient to have to reschedule twice), and they were very high pressure & pushy about upselling. They couldn't install for 4 weeks & then called at 3 weeks out to re-schedule that for another 2 weeks out. It was not special order carpet either. I had a deadline with tenants I had to meet so we cancelled the contract with them. We ended up giving the tenants flooring credit instead, it was just less of a hassle! So from that one experience I would never ever use Home Depot again.

 

[MineMail]

We've used Lumber Liquidators to have flooring installed and it was painless and not expensive. We had a commercial-tile floor, two rooms carpeted, a vinyl-sheet floor and a wood laminate floor done - no problems at all.

I assume that LL uses subcontractors as well, but having used both Home Depot and Lowes for other projects, the LL crews were pros. In and out, cleaned up after themselves. The guys HD and Lowes sent always had some complaint about the materials - I don't know what the issues were: either they were misinformed about the job or if they just didn't want to do the job, but I frankly just wanted the windows replaced, the insulation installed, etc. without the whining.

You're smart to do the demolition yourself - that's easy and saves you a bit of money.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

I would mix and match - bamboo in high traffic, busy rooms and carpet in lower traffic areas and on the stairs. I'd personally put carpet on the stairs so they're less slippery and easier for older folks, little kids and dogs to navigate. Plus, carpeting on stairs cushions falls... as my oldest DS can attest to... twice...

We have hardwood and tile in rooms where we and the dogs spend most of our time while we have carpeting in the bedrooms as I like the warmth and softness of it.

You may also want to consider installing waterproof padding under your carpeting if you have dogs or kids. That will keep any spills or doggie accidents from soaking into the subfloor and makes the carpet a bit easier to clean.

We had the carpeting in one of the bedrooms done by a smaller flooring store when we first bought the house and the other carpeting was done by Lowes as that first store had since gone out of business. Both experiences were fine - done on schedule, decent prices, happy with the results.

When we finished the basement, we purchased laminate flooring from Costco and installed it ourselves - it was surprisingly easy and still looks like new many years later, although it's not a room the dogs spend much, if any, time in.

You can also get heated sheets that install under flooring - if we ever redo our bathrooms, I am so getting this! A warm bathroom floor would be soooo nice... Lowes/Home Depot sell them in rolls - a temp control goes on the wall and you can make your floors toasty.

 

[katrina1122]

We bought our wood floor for less than we were looking at laminate at Home Depot and Lowes at Lumber Liquidators.

At the time they couldn't do installation, but I guess they do. Instead we had a friend who installs floors, so he picked up our floors and did the installation for us.

We figured we saved 1/2 of what we would of spent at another store.

 

[TaraPA]

You can also get heated sheets that install under flooring - if we ever redo our bathrooms, I am so getting this! A warm bathroom floor would be soooo nice... Lowes/Home Depot sell them in rolls - a temp control goes on the wall and you can make your floors toasty.

We have radiant heating under our master bathroom floor...ahhhhhhhhh!! If I'd have known how much we love it we would have done it under every tile floor!

 

[kermit116]

Thanks for all the good advice! We were also considering Lumber Liquidators, so it's good to hear that they do good work.

 

[vwlizard]

When you buy carpet from Home Depot or Lowes, keep in mind that they subcontract out the installation. You could get a good one or a bad one. I've read some horror stories about carpet installations (and other types) from both stories, both on these boards and others. Personally, for carpet I would go to a smaller independently owned local place. That's what we did. Not only did we do much better on price and quality, we knew who we were dealing with if there was a problem (and there wasn't).

As far as which type of flooring, if it were me (and I could afford it) I would go with the bamboo. I think you'll find it will hold up much better over time, especially with pets.

I agree with going with a smaller store. IF you have problems, they will take care of you. At a big box store, you will be bounced all over the place.

Can you do some carpet and some wood? We have a very high grade carpet in our living room since it gets the most use. A lower grade in the family room (mostly just for "show") and a very high quality laminate for the rest of the first floor(entry, kitchen, hallways, back foyer and dining room).

Don't discount high quality laminate. YOu might pay more than you pay for wood in materials, but installation time is quicker, so you may end up saving money. We went with this http://www.armstrong.com/flooring/laminate/walnut-wood-plank-L3028/floor-105300.asp

EVERYONE that walks in complements us on the floor and thinks it is real wood. Most of the people that have done work on our house have asked about it because they want to use it. We didn't install it ourselves, but the guy said it was really easy. We had very large area to do and it took 2 1/2 days (including the trim work).

 

[Janepod]

Don't get carpet installed with pets! So much can go wrong ...

Wood flooring, whether natural or laminate, is a great choice. We have the former in most of our house, the latter in our walkout basement. Both were purchased by us and installed by a local contractor. We've been very happy with how it wears. I think yours will be beautiful, economical, and durable. Enjoy your new home!

 

[mpls_mm]

I was an interior designer for ages before a career change and I agree that installers can make or break an installation, at least Home Depot and Lowes backs it. I would never, never, never, let a friend install anything for me. Not even a professional installer as a side job. You will not have a warranty and might lose a friend over it. I have heard tons of horror stories, he could damage the flooring, his standards might not be up to yours (he might think a friend doesn't get the same installation as a paying customer) on and on and that is if he is a full time pro, if he just does it on his own, I wouldn't either.

I have a friend who waited 8 weeks for an installer to finish her side job and he never put in transitions. He got busy and didn't want to turn down work.

 

[wubbogirl]

if you have a lumber liquidators near you I suggest you look them up I got inexpensive flooring wood laminate enough to do 3 rooms including underlyment and transitions strips for less than $400

 

[bellamama]

Bought laminate flooring for my basement from LL, as well as an underlayment (from another source) and installed it with the help of my brother. DH would rather just pay someone and skip the hassle of do-it-yourself.
Now, I'm not especiallly handy, but this was not bad at all. Cutting the pieces was the most difficult part, and once you get the hang of how to connect things, it goes smoothly.
LL prices were very competitive, and I even managed to find a clearance product in the quantity I needed, for $1.10 a sq foot (reg LL price around $3-4). The sales people were helpful, and the selection was good. They do offer installation. I wouldn't hesitate to use them over HD because they really seemed to know their business. They could talk flooring without having to ask someone else, or look things up. Very informed staff.

 

[cbg1027]

Bamboo will probably save money in the long run since it lasts so much longer than carpeting. Plus, with pets, hard flooring in a no brainer.

And besides the budget factor....I personally would NEVER install carpeting in my home. It is so disgusting! It's like a giant sponge for dirt, dust, pet hair, dander, dust mites, mold......gross!!! You can never really get it truly clean, it absorbs odors, it's bad for allergies...I understand it feels nice under your feet, but I personally think it is one of the worst inventions ever!

I ripped the carpet out of my house when I bought it and put in vinyl plank flooring. It looks like wood, it's almost water proof, very scratch resistant, doesn't stain, and super easy to care for.

 

[Pigeon]

Be careful when you are picking out bamboo. Some is pretty soft and some is pretty durable, and it has more to do with how the flooring is fabricated than the grass itself. In general, strand woven bamboo is harder. If you are going to buy it, see if you can find out the Janka hardness rating of the brands you look at. The softer stuff is going to be scratched up very easily.

I think carpeting is disgusting and am slowly ridding my house of it. No matter how much you vacuum, it's an eye opener when you start to take it up.

 

[kermit116]

Be careful when you are picking out bamboo. Some is pretty soft and some is pretty durable, and it has more to do with how the flooring is fabricated than the grass itself. In general, strand woven bamboo is harder. If you are going to buy it, see if you can find out the Janka hardness rating of the brands you look at. The softer stuff is going to be scratched up very easily.

I think carpeting is disgusting and am slowly ridding my house of it. No matter how much you vacuum, it's an eye opener when you start to take it up.

Thanks for the tip on the Janka hardness rating - I'll check on that.

And I agree that carpet is generally gross. I would definitely prefer hardwoods throughout our home, so at this point it'll just be a budget issue since we have some many other repairs we have to make to the house. It's a short sale and the current owners have not kept it clean.