Home Depot Or Lowe's: Which Has A Better Deal On Flooring Installation?

Floor replacement is a common procedure in the home makeover universe, and it's not a project that many homeowners feel comfortable completing on their own. While some opt to acquire services from a private contractor, Home Depot and Lowe's, two of the largest big-box hardware retailers in the country, offer floor installation services to customers who purchase flooring from their respective inventories. Choosing a household name in the home improvement sphere to complete your project can prove beneficial in terms of finding recommendations and sifting through customer reviews, but do these clients walk away with the best flooring deals on the market?

Whether you're a long-time homeowner or you purchased your first house recently, determining a course of action to replace your floors can be challenging and overwhelming. Luckily, these two retailers offer a plethora of resources to help you get started. If you're considering replacing floors in your home, compare the installation services offered by Lowe's and Home Depot.

Home Depot offers warranties on flooring installation services that differ depending on the type of flooring installed. For instance, it provides both limited and full lifetime residential warranties on hardwood floors that warp or damage due to faultiness, per Home Depot. The company also offers a limited warranty on carpet installation (via Home Depot) and a limited lifetime warranty on vinyl (per Home Depot) and laminate installation (via Home Depot). Warranties typically do not cover errors made on behalf of the consumer, nor do they cover damage caused by exposure to the elements.

Home Depot also offers financing deals for customers unable to pay for an installation project in full. According to Home Depot, customers can apply for a Home Depot Consumer Credit Card, which allows users to charge a purchase or project and pay it off in monthly increments. Consumers must spend at least $299 in order to utilize the financing. A Project Loan Card is also available to customers needing to fund a large project. The company offers loans ranging from $1,000 to $55,000, each of which can be paid off by contributing monthly payments. Clients can avoid paying interest as long as they pay off their debt within the time window provided by Home Depot. Customers can apply for these credit options and more on Home Depot's website. 

Lowe's hires independent contractors to complete its housing projects, according to Lowe's. So, these rates may differ for many reasons, including the type of material being installed, the location of the project, and the contractor's personal preference. Lowe's does, however, offer an online calculator for potential customers to determine the amount of flooring they'll need for a project and how long it will take to complete. 

For customers who can't afford to pay for a floor replacement procedure in full, Lowe's offers special financing plans to help lighten the burden of the cost. Potential customers can apply for a plan on Lowe's website and, if accepted, can pay for the flooring in smaller increments over time. One of Lowe's plans applies specifically to flooring: Customers can avoid interest if they pay for the project in full within 12 months (via Lowe's). 

Regarding cost, Home Depot and Lowe's offer the same basic financing plan for consumers: Six months financing for purchases of $299 or more. Both companies also offer limited warranties that cover defects found in flooring materials. However, Home Depot is more transparent with customers about its installation procedures, likely because its technicians are in-house. Home Depot is also more transparent about pricing, as the costs are consistent across all store locations. For these reasons, customers may feel more comfortable working with Home Depot to complete their future flooring projects.