Britts Flooring: Pros, Cons, and Buying Guide

Regional flooring retailers like Britts often beat the big-box chains on selection and service but get less attention online, which leaves homeowners scrambling for honest reviews. Britts Flooring typically operates as a family-run dealer that carries multi-brand inventory including Shaw, Mohawk, Mannington, COREtec, and Karndean, with prices in the $4 to $14 per square foot installed range depending on product tier. After working with a similar mid-sized regional dealer model over the years, here is what to verify before signing a contract and what separates a quality install from a regrettable one.

What to Expect From a Regional Flooring Dealer

Mid-sized dealers like Britts occupy a sweet spot between the big-box stores and one-room boutiques. They carry inventory across multiple categories (hardwood, LVP, laminate, tile, carpet) with showroom samples for hundreds of SKUs and typically maintain a roster of 4-12 in-house or contracted installers.

Pricing generally lands 5-15 percent below Home Depot and Lowes on like-for-like product because the dealer buys directly from manufacturers like Shaw and Mohawk with no big-box middleman markup. Service tends to be more responsive because the owner is on the showroom floor, but the trade-off is fewer same-day install slots compared with national chains.

Typical Product Lineup and Pricing

Expect three main product tiers at any well-stocked regional dealer.

• Entry-tier ($4-$6 per sq ft installed): Shaw Floorte Pro LVP with 6 mil wear layer, Mohawk RevWood laminate at AC4, builder-grade carpet from Shaw or Phenix.
• Mid-tier ($7-$10 per sq ft installed): COREtec Plus 5-inch LVP with 20 mil wear layer, Mohawk SolidTech R with 22 mil wear layer, engineered hardwood from Bruce or Mohawk with 3 mm wear layer.
• Premium tier ($11-$18 per sq ft installed): Karndean Korlok Select, COREtec Pro Plus, Mannington Restoration laminate at AC5, 3/4-inch solid hardwood from Bruce or Mohawk.

Installation labor typically runs $2-$5 per square foot on top of material costs depending on whether subfloor prep, glue-down installation, or stair noses are involved. Get the labor broken out separately on the quote so you can compare apples to apples across dealers.

Pros of Buying From Britts Flooring

Three advantages consistently show up when buying from regional dealers like this.

First, deeper product knowledge. The sales staff at a multi-line regional dealer typically has 5-15 years of experience with specific brands and can tell you which Shaw LVP holds up in dog-heavy households and which Mohawk laminate buckles in basements. Big-box associates rotate through departments and lack that specialization.

Second, accountable installation. When a regional dealer installs the floor, the install crew works for the dealer (or under a tight subcontractor relationship). If something fails, you call one number and one company owns the warranty. Big-box stores subcontract to a separate install company, which can create finger-pointing when issues arise.

Third, post-sale support. Need a replacement plank, a touch-up kit, or a quart of polyurethane to refresh a section? A regional dealer maintains relationships with reps and can source obscure SKUs years after install. National chains discontinue and rotate inventory aggressively.

Cons and Risks

The flip side has legitimate concerns.

Regional dealers vary wildly in quality control. Some run tight ships with NWFA-certified installers and FloorScore-certified products. Others use day-labor crews paid per square foot, which incentivizes speed over precision. Ask for installer certifications before signing.

Pricing transparency can be uneven. National chains publish per-square-foot prices on their websites. Many regional dealers require an in-store visit for pricing, which makes comparison shopping harder. Insist on an itemized quote that lists product SKU, material cost per square foot, install cost per square foot, and any prep or trim charges.

Financing options are often limited. Big-box stores partner with Synchrony for promotional 0% deferred-interest offers. Regional dealers may have similar programs through GreenSky or Synchrony but at shorter promo windows, or no financing at all on smaller-ticket items.

Questions to Ask Before Signing

Cover this checklist on your showroom visit. Skipping any one of these creates risk.

• Is the installer a W-2 employee or a 1099 subcontractor? W-2 employees typically carry workers compensation through the dealer.
• What is the labor warranty length? Industry standard is 1 year on workmanship.
• What is the manufacturer warranty on the product? Look for 15-25 years residential on premium LVP and 25-50 years on premium laminate.
• Is subfloor leveling included or extra? Self-leveling compound runs $1.50-$3 per square foot when needed.
• Will old flooring be hauled away? Disposal fees range $0.30-$0.70 per square foot.
• What is the policy on damaged or unusable planks discovered mid-install?
• Is there a deposit, and what is the refund policy if you cancel within 3 days?

How Britts Flooring Compares to Big-Box Chains

On equivalent products, regional dealers typically beat Home Depot, Lowes, and Floor & Decor on three dimensions: install quality, post-sale service, and willingness to negotiate.

Big-box wins on convenience (24/7 ordering, broad inventory, financing promos) and price transparency. For commodity products like builder-grade laminate or basic LVP where install quality matters less, big-box is fine. For premium hardwood, stone tile, or anything requiring tight transitions and difficult layouts, a regional dealer typically delivers a better outcome.

Reading the Contract Carefully

Three contract clauses cause most disputes.

First, the change order clause. If the installer discovers rotten subfloor or asbestos tile underneath, what is the upcharge process? It should require written approval before extra work proceeds.

Second, the cure period for warranty claims. Some dealers require you to report install defects within 7-14 days. Document any concerns immediately and email them with date and time stamp.

Third, the arbitration clause. Many contracts now mandate binding arbitration in lieu of court. Read whether you give up the right to a small-claims action; in some states this is unenforceable but worth understanding upfront.

Reasonable Expectations on Install Timeline

A 1,200-square-foot floor swap (rip out carpet, install LVP) typically takes 2-4 days for an experienced two-person crew. Hardwood installation runs slower at 200-400 square feet per day per crew, plus a 7-14 day acclimation period before install.

If a dealer promises a 1,500-square-foot install in one day, that crew is rushing and quality will suffer. Realistic timelines correlate with quality outcomes.

Bottom Line on Britts Flooring

Regional multi-brand dealers like Britts Flooring can deliver excellent value if you do your homework. Vet the installer credentials, get a detailed itemized quote, and pull two competing bids from comparable regional dealers and one big-box store for benchmarking. Pay particular attention to the install warranty length and whether subfloor prep is included, since those two line items separate solid quotes from misleading lowball numbers. With the right product tier and a properly vetted crew, regional dealers consistently outperform big-box on long-term satisfaction.