FLOORING AMERICA

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Framingham carpet includes the binding, pad and delivery. AJ Rose wants $1 per linear foot and about $0.45 per square foot for the pad and $75 for delivery. Flooring America wants $3.50 a linear foot for binding and $0.68 per square foot for the same pad. Delivery was free. The carpet offerings were the same price or more than the other two. For our rug, we would be spending $500 on the binding and pad, before we even purchased the rug itself! We are not buying from them, and I would STRONGLY suggest shopping around. We still haven't decided whether to compromise on budget, and get the carpet we want from AJ Rose, or compromise on color and texture a bit, and get a great price (and great experience -- Chuck is awesome) at Framingham Carpet. We won't be buying anything from these folks, though. They are overly proud of their product, and then when I look at their service reviews (mixed, at best), we will steer clear. One other note -- the sales folks at the Natick location felt very slick. AJ Rose folks are professionals, but ask for discounts. I found some online on their own website they certainly weren't telling me about in store :) Framingham carpet is a small company, and their showroom has limited hours, and the selection is smaller, but Chuck is very knowledge and honest and you always deal with him and his wife (not a "salesperson of the moment" at the bigger stores).

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I stopped in at Flooring America in Westborough in April as we needed to find carpet for our basement that we were finishing.  We looked around and found a carpet that we liked that seemed to be within our budget.  We asked the salesperson for a quote for approximately 1300 square feet with a higher quality pad since it was a concrete basement floor that the carpet would be covering.  They quoted me based on the carpet that we picked out, about $5000.  This was what we were expecting so we paid them a $50 deposit and had them come out to measure.  The person that showed up to measure arrived on time and did his measurements.  When I went back a couple of weeks later to the store to order the carpeting they said it was going to be around $7900 with the carpet, pad and installation.  I was taken aback.  The quote came in much higher than the estimated price the salesperson had given us.  Granted the square footage they measured was a little over 100 square feet bigger than we had estimated it was not enough to warrant almost a $3000 difference.  Joan then said she would give us the upgraded pad at n/c.  This doesn't mean free, it just means she would charge me the same amount as a lower priced pad.  The bill before tax was still almost $2000 higher than the original estimate given at the store.  
I really felt like I was being taken advantage of so I decided to shop around.  I went to a carpeting store in a neighboring town.  They had the exact same carpet and pad.  They came out to measure and stated that we would need approximately 1300 square feet of carpet (the difference in 1300-1400 square feet could be due to the comfort level of Flooring America needing extra...not quite as efficient as the other store).  They also came in at the price that Flooring America originally quoted including the nicer pad and installation.
My advice is to shop around.

The staff was patient as we selected the carpet we liked. Once we did they provided a quote to have an area rug made to fit our needs. There was going to be some significant remnants so they suggested having smaller rugs made to use in front of doors. This was a little extra cost but a great suggestions and we are happy we did. Once we returned to order the quote provided was honored and delivery date was met.

The rug looks great and is a wonderful quality. We have not concerns or regrets.

The tile itself is gorgeous and the purchase process went very smoothly.  The salesperson was super helpful and the tile was on sale so we got a great price.  We were also told that they guarantee tile installation for life.  Where things went south was with the installation.  It took 3 weeks to get the install scheduled.  I can understand that they were busy and was okay with waiting my turn.

When the installer finally came you could tell that the guy was stressed and was in a hurry.  We were the first job of the day and he was in and out in a couple of hours.  This included removing the existing tile, prepping the floor and laying the new tile down.  I was shocked that he was that quick. 

About 1 month after the tile went in we started having issues where the grout started crumbling and coming out where it was put in against our hardwood thresholds.  I called and spoke to Joan who said she was surprised as they never have any issues, rudely inquired about how I clean the floor and then when she found out it was grout on wood got upset with the installer stating "they know better than to not use the caulking on wood".  She said they would "send someone right out to look at it"  It took about 3 weeks for the same installer to show up to "look at it."  He mumbled a bit and then cut out the bad areas and caulked them and then left.  I think he was there for about 15 minutes.

Our second issue came about 5 months later when the grout started crumbling and coming out in the middle of the floor.  This is caused when the grout is not wet enough or pressed in between the tiles correctly during install (my husband & I know a lot about flooring and could have done this job ourselves but we both work full time and just didn't have the time to do it) I again called customer service and was routed to Joan.  This time she was very rude and short with me stating that "they never have issues like this".  I stated that I was sure they didn't but what was going to happen with my flooring.  She said she would send someone out as soon as possible.  This time the process was shorter - it was only 2 days.  The same installer showed up again.  He took a look at things, cut out only the bad areas and then re-grouted those areas.  We now have uneven grout as the first grouting was put in very low and this grout was very high.

After rushed fix number 2, it only took a couple of months for the grout to start coming out yet again.  I think because he smoothed the new grout over existing grout and didn’t take the time to install it properly.  We actually had so much grout come out that the tiles were starting to loosen.  Once again I called Flooring America and was routed to Joan.  Surprisingly she was very nice this time.  I explained the issue and she expressed shock as “they never have these issues with an install” and said she would get “right back to me with a date for someone to come look at it.”  After 7 days, Joan called and left me a VM at 5:30pm on a Saturday and said the guy would be there “Monday.”  Just Monday with no time window at all.  My husband and I both work and luckily either of us can work at home but I still felt this was a little unacceptable.

Monday morning around 11am the same installer showed up yet again. He looked at the grout coming out, looked at my 2 pugs and promptly told me that my grout was coming out because my dogs were digging it out.  I was absolutely furious at this.  I very calmly told him “No, my dogs didn’t do this and I know that because I am home all day with them.  I have never seen them dig at anything inside my house let alone a tile floor.  This grout is coming out because you are not installing it correctly.  I want you to remove the grout and re-do it.”  At this point he got on the phone with someone, stepped outside and then looked to be arguing with them.  After about 10 minutes he came in, cut out the bad areas and then re-grouted them.

It’s been 1 ½ months since they were last here.  We’re starting to have yet another area of grout loosen.  At this point we’re going to go to a new flooring company and start over. 

I would not recommend Flooring America to anyone and certainly not for a tile job. 

 

Flooring America was very profession from the moment we walked into the show room, until the time our floors were complete.  Estimates were accurate, dates of service for measurement and work were completed on time the demolition was noisy (as it should be when busting up tile), but the household wasn't disturbed for long (everything was sealed off as to keep other areas of the house clean/debris free), laying the tile was efficient and precise (they marked the tiles we could walk on while in process so we could still stay at the house during the process), and the competed project is beautiful!

End product was good. Hit some bumps along the way, including incorrect shipment from supplier, mistaken original estimate and delayed installation. Communication was spotty, mostly in response to my inquiries. However, they did make good on their word and honored the original estimate amount despite the fact that their material cost was higher than thy originally figured it to be. Some of the troubles were caused by supplier, but tighter business practices could have made it smoother. But, all's well that ends well, as the Bard said.

very professional, good price to value.  would recommend

They did a great job. The installer took his time even though it was his last job and the end of the day. All the seems matched perfectly and you can't tell there is a seem on the landing. When I'm looking for flooring to be done I always call Flooring America first.

The purchase process was very easy.  they were very helpful and accommodating in terms of my desires for installation.  I had to reschedule my installation 3 times and there was never an issue or a grunt about it.  Very professional.  On installation day they arrived on time and were kind and professional.  They explained the process before beginning.  During the installatuion some paint was chipped in the baseboard and they called mo over to point out what they had done.  They were upfront on all acccounts.  they had to return a second day to complete the job because they felt they wanted to go home and cut the carpet for the stairs after carefully reviewing the pattern and shapes.  The next day they were there on time and finished the job.  I t was a very complicated installation due to the pattern and it was done impeccably.  I was so impressed.  I am an interior designer and have worked with many installers.  Flooring America was truly among the best of them.

I had a great experience with Flooring America and would recommend them. I am having them carpet another room in the basement, their price was the same as Lowes with install.

The estimator came, although about 45 minutes later than promised. When I received the estimate, I sent an e-mail to the store questioning why the price for the tile was so high. The response I recieved back did not explain why the tile price was so high. I asked for my money back, and got a phone call from Joan, the owner. She went on a 30 minute rant about how difficult the business was, and how the expenses were high, so on and so worth. It was the most unprofessional discussion I think I have ever had on a major purchase. The unprofessionalism was really evident, and I am glad that I did not follow thru on the purchase.

My experience with the has always been good. They seem to be reasonably priced and they do a descent job. I would recommend them and use them again.