Rugs, Carpets and Carpeting - Carpet Installation by Home Depot?

So I am in process of buying carpet. It's pretty overwhelming, I have to say. Ha ha, once I select the type of carpet, I will post on other thread for your opinions! Sorry for being a newbie.

This thread is about carpet installation. I noticed the Home Depot is running a sale of doing carpet install of 2 or more rooms for $199. It lasts till end of the year. The sales people (went to several Home Depots btw) seriously say it can be 3 or 50 rooms, it's still a flat $199. When I go to other mom & pop carpet stores, they say they can't even touch that, with the usual warnings of this is a big box store that don't really care about customer service or workmanship.

That got me intriqued and went back to Home Depot to probe more questions. I found out Home Depot doesn't install, but outsource carpet installers as contractors. Also, I found out there are some stipulations. One, it costs $7 to $12 extra per stair step for carpet installation. Two, it doesn't include padding (i think it ranges from $.45 to $.60 per sq. ft.). Not sure what type, but I think it's "rebond" or something like that. Three, you have to buy their carpet (well, duh!). Four, the installer needs to come out and measure the area. It's $50 non-refundable fee. If I decide to use them, the $50 will be deducted from the $199 install fee. There are couple others which I can't remember right now.

So I want to know if it's worth it? Is it a crapshoot? I know installation quality varies by each installer. Any hidden fees I should be aware of that can make this an expensive carpet project? That's from one of the mom-n-pop guy telling me there's no way the install will be flat fee of $199 without marking up somewhere else. Did anybody had Home Depot "install" the carpet for $199 and not only was reasonably priced but decent job?

Also, just to let you know, I'm not looking for expensive carpet or top notch, creme of the crop install. Something that will last about 10 years or so, decent quality at bargain price.

Thanks!

Shop around and compare apples to apples.
Cost of removing existing floor covering and disposal.
Cost for removing furniture and replacing.
Cost of comparable quality carpet.
Cost of comparable quality cushion.
Cost of stair installation (varies depending on type of installation).
Installation warranty.
Insist on a breakdown.
To learn more about carpet buying and installation, go to the Carpet Rug Institute's site at www.carpet-rug.org (http://www.carpet-rug.org)

You seriously think a carpet installer is going to install 50 rooms for $199 Hahahahaha! Don't fool yourself.


The carpet alone at HD is marked up to catch the real cost it takes to install the carpet. The guy that actually installs it, will get around .33¢-.77¢ a foot, to install the carpet, depending where in the USA you live. The company he works for and Home Depot subs out the installation services to, takes a cut of the actual price they charge HD and then pay the actual installer a fraction of the actual cost.

HD uses the cheapest installation Workrooms. I Have seen it take 4 years to resolve a claim, that was installation related.

i checked out HD. they charged me $35 for the estimate. they were a lower price by $150. but they said it would take 4+ weeks AFTER "they" get the carpet. so it could have taken 6+ weeks. we paid the extra $150 and had it done in 5 days.


with HD. pay with a credit card. if there are real issues, dispute the charges.

You seriously think a carpet installer is going to install 50 rooms for $199 Hahahahaha! Don't fool yourself.


The carpet alone at HD is marked up to catch the real cost it takes to install the carpet. The guy that actually installs it, will get around .33¢-.77¢ a foot, to install the carpet, depending where in the USA you live. The company he works for and Home Depot subs out the installation services to, takes a cut of the actual price they charge HD and then pay the actual installer a fraction of the actual cost.

HD uses the cheapest installation Workroom. I Have seen it take 4 years to resolve a claim, that was installation related.



Opps.


Hey it won't let me edit anymore

Twelvepole, thanks for the tips. I need to ask them how much it costs for the removal of old carpet and disposal, or if it’s included. Since I have no furniture to move, I’m not worried about the moving/replacing charge (but hey, they can trump up the charge for that!).

Carpets Done Wright, yeah I guess what you pay is what you get for, he he. If I purchasing very expensive carpet in a nice house and planning to stay forever, then I will probably not hire the HD contracted installers. I asked around and checked on other forums to hear about HD feedback. Surprisingly, a lot of them say the carpet install was pretty good. Not the greatest, but at least decent. There are few complaints of bad install. He he, it was more complaints of inexperienced HD sales people who don’t know jack (or overpromise) on their carpet!

Condo-owner, wow.. more than a month?! That’s crazy. Glad that it took 5 days to deliver. But true, some of the carpet samples I like, the HD sales told me they are “special order” and have to be delivered straight from the carpet factory. So it can take 7 to 10 days. Oh well, patience I guess. :(

Thanks for the feedback guys. Any other info or suggestions?

Miloo,

I'm with a retailer so here is my take on it. You are right that the sales people know less about the carpet than anything. One of the worst things that can happen is you having an expectation of a carpet and them not directing you to one that meets your needs. One of my favorite things to hear is, "i don't need the best carpet. i just want it to last 10 years with my 3 kids and a dog." You need to understand that if you want carpet to last 10 years, you do need to buy the best. What people mean to say is they don't want to buy the most expensive. And i think that is what you mean. The best is not the most expensive. So unless you know all about the attributes of carpet syles go to a knowledgable retailer that can direct you to what you need and not just sell you something.

The installers are hit and miss. I've seen some good ones and some bad ones with the majority of them being mediocre at best. I know two different installers personally that work for the Depot and i would use them only in an emergency. But i also know the industry standards to grade these guys by and make sure they do things properly. Homeowners don't. So corners get cut and the installation can fail years before it should. And that is not an exageration.

As far as price goes. Floor Covering Weekly did a story a few months back about the HD $199 special. They found that with extra fees and built in price of their carpet and pad, you would have to install over 1300 feet before you matched the retail price at a mom and pop store. Meaning less than 1300 ft and you are paying more than retail. I don't where they pulled their pricing from so take that with some salt. I know in my area it is at 1100 feet before they hit our regular price. So sometimes they can be cheaper. You just have to decide if you want to invest up front in one shot or do this again in 5-7 years.

This is a great thread - Im in the same situation. I'll post what I've found:

- evaluated the $199 deal. you are right on the number of rooms.
- and like already mentioned, there are some other hidden fees they dont mention...unless you ask.
- it doesnt cover padding (which seemed like good padding, removal of old carpet, or moving furniture).
- my HD charges .55-.59 for padding
- to tear up and remove old carpet is $50 per room!!
- alot extra for stairs, etc.
- not sure about moving furniture.

- Also, the Lowes near me has a similar deal. theirs is $150 AND it includes tear up and removal of old carpet, AND moving of all furniture.
- does not include anything else.

This is great feedback. We really have to take our time. I like to point about paying by credit card. I am going to start a different thread about my experience with the local carpet place and installer.

Please consider a breakdown of all costs and any additional costs installed. Please consider quality of carpet as well as carpet installed. Many special carpet deals tend to offer lower grade carpet and lower grade cushion. Shop around and compare apples to apples. If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is. That tends to be the consensus in doityourself forums for the last decade or so.

I pay .14¢-.28¢ a sq.ft for urethane rebonded cushion. I sell it, marked up, but not .55¢-.59¢

I charge .22¢ to pull up carpet and a $75 flat fee to haul off and pay the dump.

Stair labor is yardage + a charge for each individual stair. There is also a removal fee to take off the carpet for each individual stair. It is not unusual for a staircase to cost $250 labor, to get carpeted. It depends on what style of installation is done on the steps, and if there are "custom" steps.

I don't move furniture!!! I don't own a moving company, so my insurance does not cover anything out of the scope of fitting flooring. Learned that the hard way!!!

When I did move furniture, I charged by the piece. If it took one hand to carry, it was $2 out and $2 back in. if it took 2 hands or a couple of men with extra hands, I charge $2 per hand to move it. So if it took 2 people, that would be $8 out and $8 back in.
Meaning if I had to unload a china cabinet, it was $2 per piece inside the china cabinet, and $4 for the top and $4 for the bottom, to get it out. and the same to get it back in. If I had to dismantle a piece of furniture, it was hourly @ $50 per hour.

Nothing is for free, and time is money, when trying to run and build a profitable business, and not just a weekly pay check to get by on. Most installers are not employed. They are their own business, that business is subcontracted for labor, when the retailer sells an installed floor.