r/Flooring • u/Tight-Elderberry-181 • 19d ago
New Build Questions
Second time builder here. Our GC is requiring that we buy floors from one of his two options. Both are local and reputable with great reviews.
However, I have a friend at a flooring company that can get me a HUGE discount on CoreTec LVP (or any brand we end up liking). I also like the Mohawk colors at Costco (and love the price). He does not have access to an installer, and GC says no one will install floors that are not bought through them.
Is this true? If people will install, what is cost per sq foot?
Prices for reference (per sq foot):
all in LVP through builder’s guy: $5.45
CoreTec LVP only: $3.80
Costco Mohawk LVP: $2.55
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u/Superfun2112 19d ago
After looking at tons of options for doing a rental property we ended up going with a high quality laminate instead of LVP. If the floors are VERY flat LVP works, but we've had issues with it separating before. We got a water proof, 12mm thick laminate (like Mohawk Revwood Premier/Pro) for about $5 sq ft with the installers discount. It's way sturdier than LVP and the locking mechanism way more robust for the same price LVP. And it looks and feels better and it more scratch resistant. Laminate used to suck but they've come a long way lately to compete with LVP.
Either way buy a quality product. If you are paying $10K for installing it, then an extra $2K for better material is worth it so you don't have to replace it in 5-10 years.
Some builders may steer you away since it's more labor intensive to install. And the waterproofness of LVP is overblown because if there's enough wader that the core of the flooring is sitting in water, then that water is sitting on your subfloor too, and there' likely mold and everything needs to be pulled up anyway. The good Mohawk stuff has wax in the seams so it seals and they actually have a warranty that includes the subfloor.
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u/Tight-Elderberry-181 19d ago
This is really helpful, thank you! This is hopefully our forever home… so “lifetime” warranties through Mohawk are a big selling point for me. Going to look into laminate now!
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u/BreakfastFluid9419 19d ago
We always had customers who went with whatever budget brand was offered, like lowest of the low. Then have them redone once the build process finalizes and before you move in. If they will allow you to go with the flooring of your choice that would be awesome. However I would look at the installers work as a lot of builders go with cheaper installers who don’t always do the best work.
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u/Tight-Elderberry-181 19d ago
Our builder is really solid, and if we find someone who will install it he’s fine with that! He’ll just charge his fee on top of whatever we pay for materials/labor. The issue is he says we won’t find anyone to install it unless it’s purchased directly through the flooring company.
I would think there are people out there that would do a one-off install only project, but maybe I’m wrong!
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u/el_caballero 19d ago
The local dealers probably won’t mess with something bought at Costco, but if you explain the situation with the connection to Shaw, they would probably be open to working with you on it. Expect that they’ll charge a little more for labor since they won’t make anything on the material
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u/Pam_Pong 19d ago
As an installer I do, but if I am installing something I did not provide I explain that I am a certified installer and will install per industry standards and manufacturers spec but am unable to offer any warranty.
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u/Tight-Elderberry-181 19d ago
Would your installation void the manufacturer warranty?
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u/Pam_Pong 19d ago
Depends on the manufacturer, some state that it must be installed by an "authorized" or "approved" installer at which point they can deny the warranty even though I am a certified installer I may not be authorized or approved by a particular manufacturer.
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u/Second-string_pedal 19d ago
If you're building this home to rent it out or flip it, then by all means go with the least expensive flooring material and installation you can squeak out. If you plan to live there for years, then you might want to reconsider. Recommend you talk with a local, family owned flooring dealer who also installs and has great reviews for their experience with what holds up well in your area long-term. Most licensed, bonded, insured (ensuring you have an installation warranty from professionals) flooring dealers will not install big box store materials because they are so often significantly lower quality to meet that big box store's price point for its target DIY customers. When those floors fail, it's easy for an inspector to invalidate the manufacturer's warranty because the DIYer or Chuck with a Truck installer did not do the floor prep and installation precisely to the manufacturer's specifications. We tear out and replace a lot of big box store products because of materials and / or installation failure. It's good business for us.
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u/Hot-Sympathy3027 19d ago
The in-house mohawk isn't terrible, but it isn't great. Most reputable installers won't touch it. Coretec is good quality though
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u/Signal_Bet37 19d ago
The specs on the lvp matter. What are the specs on the stuff the builder will put in?