Don Bailey Carpets
ClaimServices: Tile installation, Hardwood install, Luxury vinyl plank, +3 more
The 30-Second Verdict
Empire Today is a 'next-day install' direct-sales operation — they bring samples to your home, quote on the spot, and frequently install within 48 hours. Lowe's Flooring Installation is a retailer-driven service: you pick the product in-store or online, and Lowe's dispatches an independent contractor crew. Empire is faster and pushes harder on closing-in-home; Lowe's gives you more product choice and lower pressure but slower scheduling. Both use independent contractor crews — the install quality depends more on the specific crew assigned than the brand. For Florida (where humidity-rated LVP/tile dominate), Lowe's wider product selection usually wins; Empire wins only when speed is critical.
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Empire Today
Pros
- Same-day in-home consultation with all samples, no showroom visit needed
- Often next-day or 48-hour install for in-stock SKUs
- Single-touchpoint sales rep handles everything (no Home Depot/Lowe's runaround)
- Strong financing offers (12–18 month 0% APR promotions common)
- Lifetime installation warranty bundled with the flooring purchase
Cons
- Higher per-sq-ft pricing than retail (markup pays for the home-visit sales model)
- Aggressive in-home close — 'today only' discounts evaporate by next morning
- Smaller product selection vs. retail (1 brand line, 30–60 SKUs)
- Customer complaints about pressure-sales tactics are common in FL BBB filings
Lowe's Flooring Installation
Pros
- Massive product selection — every major flooring brand, hundreds of SKUs
- Transparent in-store pricing — what you see is close to what you pay
- Lowe's pro-services warranty extends 1 year past install on labor
- Easy in-store returns of unused boxes (Empire is store-credit only)
- Stronger price competition from in-store vs. in-home sales reps
Cons
- 2–6 week lead time typical — install slots are limited to crew availability
- Multiple touchpoints (store → measurement service → install crew)
- Crew quality varies widely — the same Lowe's store might use 3–4 different crews
- In-store sample selection is limited; ordering by photo is risky on color
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Empire Today | Lowe's Flooring Installation | |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Model | In-home consult only | In-store + online product selection |
| Install Lead Time | 24–72 hours typical | 2–6 weeks typical |
| Product Selection | 30–60 SKUs (Empire-curated) | 500+ SKUs (every major brand) |
| LVP Sq-Ft Installed (Typical FL Job) | $5.50–$9.50 | $4.00–$7.50 |
| Tile Sq-Ft Installed (Typical FL Job) | $8.50–$14.00 | $6.50–$12.00 |
| Install Crews | Independent contractors (Empire-vetted) | Independent contractors (Lowe's-vetted) |
| Labor Warranty | Lifetime (Empire-backed) | 1 year (Lowe's pro-services) |
| Financing | 0% APR 12–18 months common | Lowe's Advantage Card (varies) |
| Best For | Emergency replacement (water damage, pre-listing) | Planned remodels with time to compare |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has better install quality?
Both use independent contractor crews — quality varies more by crew than by brand. Ask either company who specifically will install (the crew lead's name) and look them up on Google. A 5-star crew through Lowe's beats a 2-star crew through Empire every time. The brand-level quality difference is smaller than the crew-level variation.
Is the Empire Today 'today-only' price actually a deal?
Rarely. The 'today only' discount is a sales technique — you can typically get the same or better price from Empire 48 hours later if you walk away. Independent verification by FL consumer-protection groups shows pricing varies by sales rep and visit, not by 'today's special.' Always get a quote in writing and shop it against Lowe's, Home Depot, and 2 local FL flooring shops.
What about LL Flooring (formerly Lumber Liquidators)?
LL is a third option — they typically beat Lowe's on bulk hardwood and LVP pricing by 10–20% but use the same contractor model. For LVP/laminate specifically (most popular FL flooring), LL is competitive. For tile, Lowe's and Home Depot win. For specialty wood, LL beats both.
Should I just hire an independent FL flooring contractor?
Often, yes. Search for 'flooring installation [your FL city]' and contact 3 local pros. They typically come in 15–30% below Empire and 5–15% below Lowe's because they don't have the corporate markup. Trade-off: warranty is the contractor's word, not a national brand. Get a written 1-year labor warranty before signing.
Top-Rated Local Florida Flooring Alternatives
You don't have to pick a national brand. These Florida-based flooring companies have the highest real Google ratings in our directory — often at a fraction of the franchise price.
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