Where To Buy LVT?
Where to Buy Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Key Takeaways: Where to Buy Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
- Is it safe to buy LVT online?
- Can I trust the LVT that the big sheds, like B&Q and Wickes sell?
- What about Tapi and Carpetright?
- I don't recognise or see any of the big LVT brands in Tapi?
- Are local carpet and flooring shops still relevant for buying LVT?
- Who are Flooring Hut's main online competition for selling LVT
- Do I have to buy supply and fit these days or can I buy just supply only?
- Read more about who we choose to delve into in our LVT buyers Guide.
The luxury vinyl flooring category has exploded over the last 10 years. Many homeowners, landlords and business owners are seeing the benefits and advantages of installing LVT floors into a wide range of different environments. Online sales of luxury vinyl tiles have particularly taken off and Flooring Hut are just one company to have benefited from this trend with an increase of LVT sales since we started trading online in 2015.
Where is the best place to purchase your LVT? That is the $64,000 question here! Should I go the traditional route of visiting my local LVT shop on the high street and see what they have to offer me? Maybe I should look online, I know that Internet prices are supposed to be lower than buying from a traditional shop? I could take a visit to one of the big sheds like Wickes and B&Q as I know they sell luxury vinyl flooring and most definitely at a competitive price. Lastly, I could put my faith in the well-known carpet and flooring brands such as Tapi and Carpetright. They have been in business for many years and surely will be able to offer me a wide range of competitively priced LVT floors? Below, we have summarised what each of the above destinations can deliver for you when shopping around for your brand new luxury vinyl tiles:
Tapi & Carpetright Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Both are reputable names in the UK flooring industry and have many years of trading behind them. Often located on retail trading parks and in town centres you will find them easy to get to and oftten with free parking facilites to boot. You will have to go only when they are open however, one of the obvious downsides and disadvantages over the online retailers who are always open and ready to assist you in your search. Both these businesses however have built up their companies primarily on a supply and fit platform, so maybe their best value to the consumer is where you buy the floor and book the fitting through them as well?
Does this mean that if you wanted to opt for the supply only route that better value maybe found elsewhere, probably through an online retailer? Well, quite possibly. Don't forget in addition if you were to buy through either Tapi or Carpetright they are having to price in the cost of running their large stores; the cost of lighting and heating, and the cost of paying full-time staff to both work in the store and at a head office located somewhere in the UK!
Both of these companies do offer an excellent selection of luxury vinyl floor tiles. In their marketing speak - 'it’s all about fresh, sophisticated and luxury vinyl flooring with a huge range of fantastic finishes, realistic textures and high quality construction methods that will last for years. If you're unsure what flooring you need, or you want to see your options in person, don't hesitate to book a home appointment or visit us in our one of their stores.' One thing I will say about both Tapi and Carpetright is that they tend to re-brand eveything to sit under their brand. So you will struggle to find the Amtico's; Karndean; Polyflor or Luvanto's of this world on the shelf in their stores.
Independent Flooring Shops Luxury Vinyl Flooring
This type of independent carpet and flooring shop has jumped on the LVT bandwagon in recent years. Rightly so as well, as this is where good margin can be made by selling high quality LVT floors to a local customer base. You will find a good selection of the brands names in most independents, compared to Tapi and Carpetright and you can rely on a generally very good level of service where the shop will take care of you during the sale and even after the fitting if they are installing for you as well. In fact most local luxury vinyl tile shops will offer a fitting service as well as the ability to just purchase the floor.
Importantly as well you are also supporting a local business and supporting local jobs too. This cannot be overlooked as it is in everyones interest to support a thriving community of trades. Should this mean that you can justify paying higher prices though? It is likley that you will have a place to return to if you need post installation customer care or if there is an issue with the LVT that has been fitted. Your local luxury vinyl tile shop can arrange to come to your home or office to measure and discuss the flooring choices according to your space and lifestyle. Local carpet stores sell for the area, its atmosphere, and the people who live there. They should not push pricing or products dictated by a corporate office across the country.
One possible downside is that they will have a limited choice to view in the shop, purely by the restirction of shop floor size. Also, and not all local shops will be guilty of this - they may try and push you into an LVT that they stock and make a great commission on selling. It's difficult also to not find yourself being manouvered by the pushy salesperson into a purchase that you may have wanted to take more time over making.
Online Retailers Luxury Vinyl Flooring
The purpose of this article is to most definitely not be biased in our assessment of the different types of places and locations where you can buy your new luxury vinyl flooring. Yes, we are an online retailer of luxury vinyl tiles and we firmly believe that best value for money and the widest choice with the fastest delivery of your new floor can be delivered by a company like Flooring Hut (although not exclusively Flooring Hut). There are many reasons why buying your next LVT floor from an Internet retailer makes a great deal of sense. Just like Amazon a great online flooring retailer can tick all the boxes for meeting your supply only LVT requirements.
You can also conduct your research thoroughly on the retailer before buying on the web. Flooring Hut is on Trustpilot and Google reviews, where you can read the real, genuine reviews of customers we have already served and delivered their LVT. We are not going to be putting you under pressure into making a purchase or into choosing a brand that we want to sell for greater commission (unlike some shops where they have you once your through their door). It is the job of the online LVT retailer to deliver maximum choice of brands and own-brand at different price points; facility to sample quickly and efficiently before buying; provide a hassle free and safe delivery service that meets your needs. We have many reputable competitors online for the sale of LVT flooring. Flooring Supplies have been around for a considerable number of years and were a forerunner in the world of selling flooring online.
The Big Sheds B&Q & Wickes Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Huge buying power means that both these large organisations can bring to their stores excellent value LVT flooring. They do offer some of the better known brands but will often re-brand the floors just like Tapi and Carpetright do. Their is no reason to doubt the quality of the LVT available for sale at Wickes and B&Q. Most luxury vinyl floor is manufactured outside of the UK, often in China so any offshore manufacturing that these two companies take advantage off is not a negative in any way shape or form.
Their marketing spiel is as you would expect and plays to their strengths: 'Whether you’re decorating your kitchen, bathroom or living space, we have an extensive range of flooring to suit your home. you can check out their water resistant luxury vinyl click flooring. Once you’ve chosen your design, discover their range of flooring and tiling accessories including underlay, flooring scotias, tile trims, tile grout and tools to complete your project.
Our leading LVT ranges include the following: Exclusive by Flooring Hut; Polyflor Camaro; Polyflor Camaro Loc; Karndean Knight Tile; Karndean Van Gogh; Amtico Spacia; Amtico Signature: Luvanto Click Plus and Luvanto Design.
Where to Buy Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Key Takeaways: Where to Buy Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
- Is it safe to buy LVT online?
- Can I trust the LVT that the big sheds, like B&Q and Wickes sell?
- What about Tapi and Carpetright?
- I don't recognise or see any of the big LVT brands in Tapi?
- Are local carpet and flooring shops still relevant for buying LVT?
- Who are Flooring Hut's main online competition for selling LVT
- Do I have to buy supply and fit these days or can I buy just supply only?
- Read more about who we choose to delve into in our LVT buyers Guide.
The luxury vinyl flooring category has exploded over the last 10 years. Many homeowners, landlords and business owners are seeing the benefits and advantages of installing LVT floors into a wide range of different environments. Online sales of luxury vinyl tiles have particularly taken off and Flooring Hut are just one company to have benefited from this trend with an increase of LVT sales since we started trading online in 2015.
Where is the best place to purchase your LVT? That is the $64,000 question here! Should I go the traditional route of visiting my local LVT shop on the high street and see what they have to offer me? Maybe I should look online, I know that Internet prices are supposed to be lower than buying from a traditional shop? I could take a visit to one of the big sheds like Wickes and B&Q as I know they sell luxury vinyl flooring and most definitely at a competitive price. Lastly, I could put my faith in the well-known carpet and flooring brands such as Tapi and Carpetright. They have been in business for many years and surely will be able to offer me a wide range of competitively priced LVT floors? Below, we have summarised what each of the above destinations can deliver for you when shopping around for your brand new luxury vinyl tiles:
Tapi & Carpetright Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Both are reputable names in the UK flooring industry and have many years of trading behind them. Often located on retail trading parks and in town centres you will find them easy to get to and oftten with free parking facilites to boot. You will have to go only when they are open however, one of the obvious downsides and disadvantages over the online retailers who are always open and ready to assist you in your search. Both these businesses however have built up their companies primarily on a supply and fit platform, so maybe their best value to the consumer is where you buy the floor and book the fitting through them as well?
Does this mean that if you wanted to opt for the supply only route that better value maybe found elsewhere, probably through an online retailer? Well, quite possibly. Don't forget in addition if you were to buy through either Tapi or Carpetright they are having to price in the cost of running their large stores; the cost of lighting and heating, and the cost of paying full-time staff to both work in the store and at a head office located somewhere in the UK!
Both of these companies do offer an excellent selection of luxury vinyl floor tiles. In their marketing speak - 'it’s all about fresh, sophisticated and luxury vinyl flooring with a huge range of fantastic finishes, realistic textures and high quality construction methods that will last for years. If you're unsure what flooring you need, or you want to see your options in person, don't hesitate to book a home appointment or visit us in our one of their stores.' One thing I will say about both Tapi and Carpetright is that they tend to re-brand eveything to sit under their brand. So you will struggle to find the Amtico's; Karndean; Polyflor or Luvanto's of this world on the shelf in their stores.
Independent Flooring Shops Luxury Vinyl Flooring
This type of independent carpet and flooring shop has jumped on the LVT bandwagon in recent years. Rightly so as well, as this is where good margin can be made by selling high quality LVT floors to a local customer base. You will find a good selection of the brands names in most independents, compared to Tapi and Carpetright and you can rely on a generally very good level of service where the shop will take care of you during the sale and even after the fitting if they are installing for you as well. In fact most local luxury vinyl tile shops will offer a fitting service as well as the ability to just purchase the floor.
Importantly as well you are also supporting a local business and supporting local jobs too. This cannot be overlooked as it is in everyones interest to support a thriving community of trades. Should this mean that you can justify paying higher prices though? It is likley that you will have a place to return to if you need post installation customer care or if there is an issue with the LVT that has been fitted. Your local luxury vinyl tile shop can arrange to come to your home or office to measure and discuss the flooring choices according to your space and lifestyle. Local carpet stores sell for the area, its atmosphere, and the people who live there. They should not push pricing or products dictated by a corporate office across the country.
One possible downside is that they will have a limited choice to view in the shop, purely by the restirction of shop floor size. Also, and not all local shops will be guilty of this - they may try and push you into an LVT that they stock and make a great commission on selling. It's difficult also to not find yourself being manouvered by the pushy salesperson into a purchase that you may have wanted to take more time over making.
Online Retailers Luxury Vinyl Flooring
The purpose of this article is to most definitely not be biased in our assessment of the different types of places and locations where you can buy your new luxury vinyl flooring. Yes, we are an online retailer of luxury vinyl tiles and we firmly believe that best value for money and the widest choice with the fastest delivery of your new floor can be delivered by a company like Flooring Hut (although not exclusively Flooring Hut). There are many reasons why buying your next LVT floor from an Internet retailer makes a great deal of sense. Just like Amazon a great online flooring retailer can tick all the boxes for meeting your supply only LVT requirements.
You can also conduct your research thoroughly on the retailer before buying on the web. Flooring Hut is on Trustpilot and Google reviews, where you can read the real, genuine reviews of customers we have already served and delivered their LVT. We are not going to be putting you under pressure into making a purchase or into choosing a brand that we want to sell for greater commission (unlike some shops where they have you once your through their door). It is the job of the online LVT retailer to deliver maximum choice of brands and own-brand at different price points; facility to sample quickly and efficiently before buying; provide a hassle free and safe delivery service that meets your needs. We have many reputable competitors online for the sale of LVT flooring. Flooring Supplies have been around for a considerable number of years and were a forerunner in the world of selling flooring online.
The Big Sheds B&Q & Wickes Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Huge buying power means that both these large organisations can bring to their stores excellent value LVT flooring. They do offer some of the better known brands but will often re-brand the floors just like Tapi and Carpetright do. Their is no reason to doubt the quality of the LVT available for sale at Wickes and B&Q. Most luxury vinyl floor is manufactured outside of the UK, often in China so any offshore manufacturing that these two companies take advantage off is not a negative in any way shape or form.
Their marketing spiel is as you would expect and plays to their strengths: 'Whether you’re decorating your kitchen, bathroom or living space, we have an extensive range of flooring to suit your home. you can check out their water resistant luxury vinyl click flooring. Once you’ve chosen your design, discover their range of flooring and tiling accessories including underlay, flooring scotias, tile trims, tile grout and tools to complete your project.
Our leading LVT ranges include the following: Exclusive by Flooring Hut; Polyflor Camaro; Polyflor Camaro Loc; Karndean Knight Tile; Karndean Van Gogh; Amtico Spacia; Amtico Signature: Luvanto Click Plus and Luvanto Design.
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