I've recently taken on a fixer-upper and plan to replace the old, worn-out carpet with engineered hardwood throughout my home. I've been getting quotes from local contractors for some nice Canadian hardwood, but I'm starting to stress about my budget, especially since I'm also planning to remodel my kitchen. The quotes I've received are around $20k-25k total for quality floors from Appalachian, which is the cheapest engineered product at about $10.50 per square foot, including installation.
On Home Depot's website, I noticed their most expensive engineered hardwood is just $6.50 per square foot, and their installation costs are significantly cheaper. It looks like I could get everything done for about $10k-12k. While I'd love to splurge on fancy Canadian floors, I didn't realize the difference in cost was going to be so drastic.
I'm looking for advice on whether spending extra for higher quality floors is really worth it, and how noticeable the difference is. Has anyone had successful experiences with Home Depot or other big-box stores like Lowe's or Costco? I'd also appreciate tips on which engineered hardwood options are the best at these stores since this isn't our forever home, and I'll likely be living here for about five years. I want to make sure I'm not overpaying for something that'll hurt my resale value while avoiding floors that feel cheap and tacky.
2 Answers
From what I've seen, a lot of people have mixed experiences with Home Depot's installation services. While some contractors might be decent, if anything goes wrong, dealing with their corporate support can be a nightmare. A friend of mine had a bad time with their customer service when issues popped up.
I’ve worked on quite a few jobs after big box store installations. They tend to use low-quality materials that don’t hold up well long-term. Their top-tier products might look alright, but I wouldn’t trust them for a home you plan to live in for a few years unless you're okay with it being a temporary fix. Just a heads-up, their products are often more suited for rental situations or properties that get heavy foot traffic.
Do you have recommendations for better suppliers or brands to consider?