Why Choose a Local Asheville Flooring Company Over a Big-Box Retailer
Key Takeaways
- Local flooring companies like Leicester Flooring offer non-commission sales teams, experienced in-house installers, and lifetime workmanship warranties that national chains do not match.
- Big-box stores typically use subcontracted installers with limited accountability, which is the top cause of flooring problems after purchase.
- A 2024 National Association of Realtors report found that flooring projects rank among the highest-ROI home improvements, making installation quality critical to protecting your investment.
- Leicester Flooring’s 50-year track record, A-plus BBB rating, and exclusive American-made product selection reflect a level of commitment that chain stores cannot replicate.
You have plenty of options when it comes to buying new flooring in Asheville. National chains, big-box home improvement stores, online retailers, and local flooring companies all compete for your business. At first glance, the differences might seem small. A carpet sample looks the same whether you pick it up at a warehouse store or a family-owned showroom.
But flooring is not just a product. It is a product plus an installation plus a relationship with the company that stands behind both. That is where the differences between local flooring companies and big-box retailers become significant, and where the decision you make today affects how your floors look and perform for the next 20 years.
Installation Quality: The Single Biggest Factor
The National Wood Flooring Association identifies improper installation as the leading cause of hardwood floor failures (NWFA, 2024). The same principle applies to every flooring type. A carpet that is not properly stretched will wrinkle. Tile laid on an unprepared subfloor will crack. Vinyl installed without proper moisture mitigation will lift. The product can be excellent, but if the installation is poor, the result is disappointing.
Here is where the business model matters.
How Big-Box Stores Handle Installation
Most national chains and home improvement stores do not employ their own installers. Instead, they subcontract installation to third-party companies or independent contractors. The installer who shows up at your door may be working their first week with that retailer. They may be handling four different stores’ jobs in the same week. Their relationship is with the contracting company, not with the store that sold you the flooring.
When something goes wrong, the accountability gets murky. The store may point to the installer. The installer may point to the product. You end up caught in the middle, trying to navigate a warranty claim between multiple parties who do not answer to each other.
How Local Flooring Companies Handle Installation
At Leicester Flooring, our installation team is the backbone of the company. Brad Snelson, who runs the business his parents started in 1971, says it directly: “Our business was built on the backs of our skilled installers, most of whom have been part of the Leicester Flooring family for many years.”
These are not rotating subcontractors. They are experienced professionals who have worked with our company for years, know our products inside and out, and treat every customer’s home with respect. When you call with a question after installation, you reach the same company that sold you the product, measured your rooms, and installed your floor. One company, one point of accountability.
That is why we offer a lifetime workmanship warranty on every installation. We can make that promise because we know our team and trust their work.
Product Knowledge That Goes Beyond the Label
Walking into a big-box store and asking about flooring can be a frustrating experience. The associate in the flooring aisle may have been in the garden department last week. They can read the product label, but they may not know how a specific product performs in a bathroom with a crawl space beneath it, or which hardwood species holds up best in a kitchen with three dogs.
A dedicated flooring company lives and breathes these details. Our sales team at Leicester Flooring works with flooring every day. They understand the differences between AC3 and AC5 laminate ratings, know which Shaw carpet fibers resist pet stains most effectively, and can explain why the Janka hardness rating matters when you are choosing hardwood for a high-traffic hallway.
That knowledge becomes especially valuable in Western North Carolina, where local conditions affect flooring performance. Buncombe County’s seasonal humidity swings, the prevalence of crawl space construction, and the older subfloor conditions in many Asheville-area homes all require specific product and installation knowledge that a general-purpose retailer does not typically have.
Visit our Asheville showroom or Hendersonville showroom and experience the difference that focused expertise makes in the shopping process.
Non-Commission Sales: Advice You Can Trust
Here is something most people do not realize: many big-box flooring departments and chain flooring stores pay their salespeople on commission. That creates an incentive to steer you toward the most expensive option or the brand that pays the highest margin, regardless of whether it is the best fit for your project.
Leicester Flooring pays our sales staff a salary, not a commission. That changes the entire dynamic. Our team’s job is to help you find the right flooring for your rooms, your lifestyle, and your budget. If a mid-range luxury vinyl plank is a better fit for your kitchen than a premium hardwood, that is what we will recommend. There is no financial incentive to do otherwise.
According to a 2023 Consumer Reports survey, flooring purchases where the buyer felt pressured resulted in significantly lower satisfaction scores than purchases where the buyer felt guided (Consumer Reports, 2023). Our non-commission approach creates a relaxed showroom environment where you can take your time, ask questions, and make a confident decision.
American-Made Products: A Commitment No Chain Store Makes
Leicester Flooring sells only American-made flooring. Every carpet, hardwood plank, luxury vinyl tile, laminate board, and ceramic tile in our showrooms is manufactured in the United States by brands like Shaw, Mohawk, Mannington, Anderson Tuftex, Armstrong, Somerset, Mullican, Bruce, and Hearthwood.
No national chain flooring retailer makes this commitment. Their shelves carry a mix of domestic and imported products, and price is often the primary selection criterion. When you buy American-made flooring from Leicester Flooring, you get products built to U.S. quality and safety standards while supporting American manufacturing jobs.
This is not a marketing talking point for us. It is the core of what we believe in as a company. As one of our customers, Elizabeth Gum, put it in her review: “We love the fact that these folks only sell American made flooring. We will always support a company that supports our nation.”
The Warranty Difference
Warranties are where the gap between local flooring companies and big-box retailers becomes most visible.
Product Warranties
Manufacturer product warranties cover defects in the flooring material itself. These warranties are the same regardless of where you buy the product. A Shaw carpet warranty is a Shaw carpet warranty whether it comes from Leicester Flooring or a warehouse store.
However, there is a critical detail: most manufacturer warranties require professional installation according to the manufacturer’s specifications. If a big-box store’s subcontracted installer cuts a corner, such as skipping acclimation for hardwood or not testing subfloor moisture, you may void the product warranty without even knowing it. The NWFA reports that failure to acclimate hardwood properly before installation is one of the most common warranty claim rejections (NWFA, 2024).
Installation Warranties
This is where the real difference lives. Many national retailers offer one-year labor warranties on installation. Some offer limited lifetime warranties with significant exclusions.
Leicester Flooring offers a lifetime workmanship warranty with no hidden exclusions. If our installation work fails at any point during the life of your floor, we fix it. Period. We can make this commitment because we control the entire process, from measurement through installation, with our own experienced team.
Speed vs. Quality: What to Actually Expect
Big-box stores sometimes advertise fast installation timelines, occasionally promising next-day or same-week installation. That speed can sound appealing, but it often comes at a cost.
Fast timelines may mean:
- Skipping the in-home measurement in favor of rough estimates
- Rushing subfloor preparation
- Not allowing proper acclimation time for hardwood or laminate
- Assigning whichever installer is available, regardless of experience with your specific flooring type
At Leicester Flooring, we follow a process that prioritizes doing the job right over doing it fast. Our free in-home measurement catches subfloor issues before they become post-installation problems. Our installers follow manufacturer specifications for acclimation and moisture testing. And we schedule projects to give our crew enough time to deliver the quality our warranty backs.
That does not mean the process is slow. It means it is thorough. Most carpet installations take one day. Hardwood projects in a main living area typically run two to four days. Luxury vinyl and laminate are often completed in one to two days. Your project coordinator will give you a specific timeline during the estimate process, and we call the day before installation to confirm.
What You Get When You Choose Leicester Flooring
Choosing a local Asheville flooring company over a national chain is a decision that pays off for years. Here is what you get with Leicester Flooring:
50 Years of Local Experience. Three generations of the Snelson family have served Western North Carolina. We understand the homes, the climate, and the community.
In-House Installers with a Lifetime Warranty. Not subcontractors. Not a rotating crew. Our own experienced team, backed by a warranty that lasts as long as your floor does.
Non-Commission Sales Staff. Honest guidance based on what your project needs, not what pays the highest margin.
American-Made Products Exclusively. Shaw, Mohawk, Mannington, Anderson Tuftex, Somerset, Mullican, Bruce, Hearthwood, Armstrong, Karastan, Emser, and more. All made in the U.S.
Turnkey Service. We handle furniture moving, old flooring removal, subfloor preparation, installation, and cleanup. When we leave, your room is ready.
[Flexible Financing.](https://www.leicesterflooringandcarpet.com/flooring-financing/) Through Synchrony Financial with competitive rates, easy terms, and no prepayment penalties.
A-Plus BBB Rating. Fifty years of consistent customer satisfaction. Read what our customers say on our reviews page.
Room Visualization Tools. Use the Roomvo room visualizer to see products in photos of your actual rooms before you buy.
How to Get Started
If you are comparing flooring options in the Asheville area, we invite you to experience the Leicester Difference for yourself. Stop by either showroom, call us, or book a time that works for your schedule.
Asheville Showroom
119 New Leicester Highway, Asheville, NC 28806
Phone: (828) 348-4846
Hendersonville Showroom
1229 7th Ave E, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: (828) 233-5973
Schedule an appointment for a dedicated consultation, or request a free in-home measure to get a detailed estimate for your project.
Browse our product galleries for carpet, hardwood, vinyl, laminate, and tile to start exploring styles and colors from home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a Local Flooring Company
Is local flooring more expensive than big-box store flooring?
Not necessarily. Leicester Flooring carries a full range of price points across all flooring types. Because we work directly with American manufacturers and keep our overhead lean as a family business, our pricing is competitive with national chains. The added value of non-commission guidance, experienced installers, and a lifetime warranty often makes our overall cost of ownership lower.
What if I find a lower price at a big-box store?
Price is only one part of the equation. A lower per-square-foot price does not account for installation quality, warranty coverage, or the cost of fixing problems later. A 2024 HomeAdvisor survey found that the average cost to repair improperly installed flooring ranged from $200 to $2,000 depending on the issue (HomeAdvisor, 2024). Our lifetime warranty and experienced installers help you avoid those costs entirely.
Can I bring my own measurements or do I need the in-home measure?
You are welcome to bring room dimensions to the showroom for a rough estimate and to help narrow down product options. For the final estimate and material order, we strongly recommend our free in-home measurement. Our professional will assess subfloor condition, transitions between rooms, closets, doorways, and other details that affect material quantities and installation planning.
Does Leicester Flooring work with interior designers and contractors?
Yes. We regularly collaborate with Asheville-area interior designers, general contractors, and builders. We offer project coordination, builder pricing, and the installation quality that design professionals need to deliver results for their clients. Contact our Asheville showroom at (828) 348-4846 to discuss partnership opportunities.
How do I know Leicester Flooring will be around to honor the lifetime warranty?
We have been serving Western North Carolina since 1971. Three generations of the Snelson family have operated this business, and Brad Snelson continues to grow the company while keeping the founding values intact. Our A-plus BBB rating, hundreds of five-star reviews, and 50-year track record speak to our stability and commitment to our customers.
What flooring brands does Leicester Flooring carry?
We carry American-made flooring from Shaw, Mohawk, Mannington, Anderson Tuftex, Armstrong, Karastan, Somerset, Mullican, Homerwood, Bruce, Hearthwood, Quick-Step, Dreamweaver, Fabrica, Phenix, Dixie, Maslan, and Emser Tile. Every product in our showroom is manufactured in the United States.
Summary
Choosing a local Asheville flooring company over a big-box retailer gives you non-commission guidance, experienced in-house installers, a lifetime workmanship warranty, and accountability from a single company that controls the entire process. Leicester Flooring’s 50-year track record, American-made product commitment, and A-plus BBB rating reflect a level of care and expertise that national chains are not built to provide. Visit our Asheville or Hendersonville showroom, call (828) 348-4846, or schedule a free in-home measure to see the Leicester Difference for yourself.