Kings Flooring: A Buyer’s Guide and Honest Review

Most homeowners searching for Kings Flooring stumble across it after a contractor mentions it as a budget alternative to Mohawk or Shaw, and the first online reviews are a confusing mix of praise and complaint. Kings flooring is a regional brand sold mainly through independent flooring dealers and select online retailers, with product lines spanning luxury vinyl plank, laminate, and engineered hardwood. It can be a smart pick at the right price point or a costly disappointment if you assume the cheaper SKUs perform like the premium ones. This guide breaks down what they sell, where it shines, where it fails, and what to ask before buying.

What the Brand Actually Sells

Kings is sold under several product family names depending on the dealer and region. Most lines fall into one of three categories. The luxury vinyl plank lineup runs 5 to 8 mm thick with wear layers of 12 to 22 mil. The laminate lineup is mostly 8 to 12 mm AC3 to AC5 rated planks. The engineered hardwood lineup uses 1 to 3 mm wear layers over plywood or HDF cores.

Prices typically run 15 to 30 percent below comparable Mohawk or Shaw products. A 22-mil LVP from Kings might list at $2.40 per sq ft when a Mohawk equivalent runs $3.10. The savings are real, but so are the trade-offs in warranty length, design library breadth, and dealer support.

Pros of the Lineup

• Lower price point than national brands at comparable specs on paper
• Wide LVP design library including realistic wood and stone visuals
• Click-lock installation systems compatible with most floating floor instructions
• Available through independent dealers who often offer better installation pricing than big boxes
• Some collections include attached underlayment for faster install
• Warranty terms cover residential use up to 25 years on premium SKUs

Cons of the Lineup

• Inconsistent batch quality reported across dealer reviews
• Warranty claims can be slow due to the smaller dealer network
• Limited big-box availability makes it hard to inspect samples in person
• Lower-tier wear layers (8 to 12 mil) are not adequate for households with pets or kids
• Some discontinued patterns leave homeowners with no matching replacement boards
• Resale value tends to favor recognized national brands

Best Use Cases for the Brand

This brand delivers the best value in budget-driven projects where the alternative is contractor-grade builder LVP. A rental property, basement remodel, or starter home flip benefits from the price savings if you stick with the 20-mil-or-better wear layer SKUs. Avoid the entry-level lines for primary residences you plan to keep more than five years.

For high-traffic main living areas in a forever home, the marginal savings rarely justify the lower brand recognition and shorter dealer support timeline.

How Kings Compares to National Brands

Mohawk RevWood and SolidTech

Mohawk products typically offer slightly better dent resistance, longer warranties (often 30 to lifetime), and a far wider dealer network for warranty support. Expect to pay 20 to 35 percent more.

Shaw Floorte

Shaw’s LVP lineup is engineered for waterproof performance with thick rigid cores. Comparable Kings products at the budget tier have thinner cores and may show more telegraphing of subfloor imperfections. Shaw runs 15 to 30 percent higher in price.

Pergo Outlast+

Pergo dominates the laminate space with 30+ year track record and the original click-lock technology. Kings laminate is competitive on appearance and price but lacks the brand resale value.

Coretec Plus

Premium-tier WPC and SPC vinyl. Coretec generally outperforms Kings products in waterproof performance, sound dampening, and acoustic comfort underfoot.

What to Ask Before You Buy

Before signing a quote, ask the dealer:

• What is the wear-layer thickness in mils, not in millimeters of the whole plank?
• Is the underlayment attached or do I need to buy it separately?
• What is the AC rating (laminate) or commercial use rating (vinyl)?
• What is the warranty term and what voids it (pet damage, water below the surface, sun fading)?
• How long has this collection been in production, and is it on a discontinuation list?
• Will you guarantee replacement boards from the same dye lot for the next two years?

Get the answers in writing before paying a deposit. The vague verbal answer “yes, it should be fine for kids and dogs” does not survive a future warranty claim.

Installation Considerations

Most Kings products use a click-lock floating floor system. The substrate must be dry, level to within 3/16 inch over 10 ft, and clean. Concrete subfloors below grade need a moisture barrier and current moisture readings under 4 lbs per 1,000 sq ft per 24 hours.

Acclimate boxes 48 hours in the install room, stacked open to the air. Skip this step and the floor can buckle within the first humid season. Leave 1/4 inch expansion gaps at every wall and around every immovable object including doorways, columns, and toilets.

If you hire installers, confirm they have installed Kings products before. Click-lock systems vary slightly between brands, and crews used to Mohawk or Coretec sometimes force seams that need a different tap angle.

Long-Term Performance

Premium-tier Kings LVP with 22-mil wear layer holds up well for 10 to 15 years in residential use, comparable to similar-spec national brands. Lower-tier 8 to 12 mil wear layers begin showing scratches and gloss reduction within three to five years, particularly in entryways and pet zones. Engineered hardwood lines depend heavily on the wear layer thickness; 3 mm or thicker can be sanded once, while 1 mm wear layers are essentially throwaway in 10 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kings flooring a good brand?

Mid-tier and premium product lines are comparable in build quality to national budget collections. The entry-level products are best avoided for primary living spaces. Reputation depends heavily on the dealer network in your region.

Where is the brand made?

Manufacturing varies by product line and year. Most LVP is sourced from China and South Korea; some laminate lines are produced in Europe. Ask the dealer for the country of origin in writing before purchase.

Does it come with a warranty?

Yes, typically 15 to 25 years on residential use for premium lines. Warranties cover manufacturing defects, not installation errors, water damage from below, or pet damage. Always read the exclusions before relying on the headline number.

Can I install it myself?

Yes, most click-lock products are DIY-friendly with basic tools. The biggest pitfalls are subfloor prep and the 48-hour acclimation requirement. Skipping either commonly voids the warranty.

How does it compare to Lifeproof at Home Depot?

Lifeproof is Home Depot’s house brand of vinyl plank, manufactured by Halstead/Mohawk for the chain. Both occupy a similar mid-budget tier. Lifeproof has the advantage of in-store sample access and a national returns policy.