Most chains pretend to know your zip code. DeSitter actually does. Founded in 1920 and still family-run, DeSitter Flooring operates four showrooms across the Chicago metro and has installed hardwood, carpet, tile, and luxury vinyl into more Oak Brook, Hinsdale, and Glen Ellyn homes than any single competitor. That depth of local roots changes how you should shop them compared to a national big box.
Who DeSitter Is
DeSitter is a fourth-generation flooring retailer headquartered in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, with additional showrooms in Hinsdale, Naperville, and a flagship in Oak Park area. The company carries roughly 30 manufacturer lines including Shaw, Mohawk, Karastan, Mirage, Provenza, and Stanton, plus a private-label hardwood program sourced from American mills.
Annual revenue sits in the $15 to $20 million range based on trade publications, and the company maintains its own W-2 installation crews rather than relying on subcontractors. That single fact explains most of the positive reviews online.
The Real Pros
The strongest argument for buying from DeSitter is install quality. In-house crews show up in branded vans, carry company-paid insurance and L&I coverage, and answer to the same family that signs the warranty. When a board cups two years later, you call the showroom, not a 1-800 number that routes to a different contractor every time.
- In-house installers, not third-party labor pools
- Lifetime install warranty on hardwood nail-down (transferable to the next owner once)
- Free moisture testing and subfloor flatness checks before quoting
- Loaner area rugs and furniture moving included on jobs over $5,000
- Mirage and Provenza dealer — premium engineered lines big boxes do not carry
Sample loaning is generous. Most stores let you take 12 inch by 12 inch hardwood blocks and full-size 9 inch by 60 inch LVP planks home for up to 7 days, no deposit, so you can see the floor under your actual lighting at different times of day.
The Cons That Matter
Price is the headline concern. Expect to pay 15 to 30 percent more than Home Depot or Lumber Liquidators on apples-to-apples SKUs. A 5 inch engineered white oak that runs $4.99 at a national retailer typically lists at $6.49 to $7.49 at DeSitter. The premium buys you the install crew and warranty, but if you are hiring your own contractor, the math may not work.
Selection in budget tiers is also thin. DeSitter does not chase the $1.99 LVP segment. The cheapest luxury vinyl on their floor is usually around $3.99 per sq ft, which is a good product but eliminates the ultra-budget shopper.
What Shoppers Complain About Online
Google reviews skew strongly positive (4.7 to 4.8 stars across locations), but the negative reviews cluster around three themes. Delivery lead times of 2 to 6 weeks on special-order Mirage and Mullican products surprise people used to in-stock big-box inventory. Repair scheduling on warranty callbacks can stretch 3 to 4 weeks during peak spring season. And a few buyers report sticker shock when the final invoice adds 8 to 12 percent for trim, transitions, and floor prep that was not line-itemed in the initial estimate.
Product Lines Worth Looking At
- Mirage Engineered White Oak — Canadian-milled, $8.99 to $11.49/sq ft, lifetime structural warranty
- Provenza Pompeii Plank LVP — 20 mil wear layer, $5.49/sq ft, pet-friendly
- Karastan SmartStrand Forever Clean Carpet — $4.29 to $6.99/sq ft installed, drink-spill resistant
- Stanton Patterned Wool — $9 to $18/sq ft, dining rooms and staircases
- DeSitter Private Label Solid White Oak — $5.99/sq ft, Appalachian mill direct, select grade
How the Buying Process Works
Walk in or book an in-home consultation through their website. The in-home visit (free within 30 miles of any location) includes laser measurement, photos of doorways and transitions, and moisture readings if you are going over a slab or basement.
You get a written estimate within 2 to 3 business days that breaks out material, padding, install labor, removal of old flooring, furniture moving, and trim work as separate lines. That itemization makes it easy to compare against a big-box or independent contractor bid.
Warranty and Service After Install
The DeSitter lifetime install warranty covers any defect attributable to workmanship for as long as you own the home. Hollow spots, lifting boards, squeaks at fastener locations, and gap defects all qualify. Manufacturing defects pass through to the product warranty (typically 25 to 50 years on premium engineered wood).
Service calls average a 2 to 3 week response. They send the original installer back when possible, which speeds diagnosis. Repair work on warranty issues is no-charge.
Who Should Buy From DeSitter
If you live within 30 miles of one of their showrooms, want premium product with a real install warranty, and value not playing project manager between a retailer and a subcontractor, DeSitter is a strong fit. The pricing premium becomes reasonable once you factor in the labor warranty and included extras like furniture moving.
If you are a contractor buying material for your own crew, or hunting the absolute lowest price per sq ft, you will do better at a wholesaler or big-box clearance. DeSitter’s value sits in the bundled service, not the raw box price.
Bottom Line
DeSitter Flooring delivers what most national chains promise but rarely execute: in-house crews, real warranties, and access to premium lines like Mirage and Provenza. Pay the 15 to 30 percent premium for service quality, ask for itemized estimates, and confirm lead times before signing. For Chicago-area homeowners hiring out the whole job, it is one of the safest buys in the market.
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