Hey there, flooring shoppers! If you‘re anything like me, you want stylish, high-quality floors that will look amazing and last for years without breaking the bank. That‘s why I‘m so excited to share my experience with LL Flooring – a company that truly impressed me with their huge selection, helpful service and unbeatable value.
In this tell-all review, I‘ll take you behind the scenes of my own LL Flooring journey, from browsing their website and visiting my local store to installing their floors myself and enjoying them every day since. I‘ll also dish on some industry secrets, design tips and money-saving hacks I picked up along the way. So grab a drink, get comfy and let‘s dive in!
Why I Chose LL Flooring
First, a little background on LL Flooring and why they caught my eye in the first place. Founded in 1994, they‘ve grown to become one of the largest and most trusted hard-surface flooring retailers in the country, with over 400 stores nationwide and a super easy-to-use website. In fact, Floor Focus Magazine ranked them as the #1 specialty flooring chain in 2020 based on sales, growth and customer satisfaction.
What really stood out to me was their amazing variety of flooring options for every style, space and budget. Seriously, they have it all – solid and engineered hardwood, bamboo, laminate, vinyl, tile, you name it. And not just basic builders-grade stuff either – they carry top brands and high-end looks at prices that made my inner bargain hunter do a happy dance.
I was also impressed by their commitment to quality, sustainability and transparency. All of their flooring is sourced from reputable mills and meets strict standards for safety, durability and responsible harvesting. Many of their products are certified by environmental organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), FloorScore and GREENGUARD. They even have a "Product Documentation" section on each listing with detailed specs, warranties, installation instructions and care guides.
But what really sealed the deal for me was their customer service. From the moment I reached out with questions, their team was friendly, knowledgeable and honest. They offered expert design advice, sent me free samples and put me in touch with a local contractor who made the whole installation process a breeze (more on that later). I could tell they genuinely cared about helping me find my perfect floors.
Shopping for My Dream Floors
Okay, now for the fun part: shopping! I knew I wanted a classic, timeless hardwood look for my open-concept living and dining area, but I was overwhelmed by all the options. Thank goodness for LL Flooring‘s Floor Finder quiz which helped me narrow things down based on my lifestyle, aesthetic and price range.
I ended up falling in love with their Bellawood Artisan Distressed Engineered Hardwood in French Oak. The warm honey tones, intricate graining and hand-scraped texture gave it so much character and charm. Plus, the 5" wide planks and 1/2" thickness offered great stability and sound insulation for my second-floor condo.
One thing that really blew me away during my research was LL Flooring‘s Bellawood Hardwood Cleaner. Not only is it super effective at removing dirt and restoring shine, but it‘s also non-toxic, biodegradable and Greenguard Gold Certified. I love that I can keep my floors looking fantastic without harsh chemicals.
I ordered some free samples through their website (which arrived in just 2 days!) and absolutely fell in love with the French Oak in person. The photos online were gorgeous, but they truly didn‘t do it justice. I brought the sample to my local LL Flooring store where I got to see a huge display of it and talk with their super helpful staff.
The store manager, Lisa, was amazing. She helped me measure my space, calculate how much flooring I needed and recommended some coordinating trim and moldings. She even showed me how to access their Pro Rewards program to get exclusive discounts and financing options. I ended up saving 15% off my entire purchase – score!
Installing My New Floors
Now, I know what you‘re thinking: "Installation? Don‘t you need a professional for that?" Well, normally I would agree, but LL Flooring made it so easy with their click-lock floating floor technology. The planks literally snap together like puzzle pieces – no glue, no nails, no fuss.
Of course, I did my homework first. I watched LL Flooring‘s super helpful installation videos, read through the instructions carefully and gathered all the recommended tools and materials. I‘m pretty handy, but I was still a little nervous about taking on such a big project myself. That‘s when Lisa connected me with Joe, one of their trusted local contractors.
Joe came out to my condo, reviewed my layout and gave me a crash course in floating floor installation. He taught me how to prep my subfloor, leave expansion gaps, stagger my joints and work around tricky spots like doorways and heat vents. He even offered to help me with the tricky cuts in exchange for some of my famous homemade pizza.
Well, let me tell you – Joe wasn‘t kidding when he said it was easy. With his guidance and LL Flooring‘s fool-proof system, we knocked out my entire 500 square foot space in just one weekend. The hardest part was being patient enough to let the floors acclimate for a full 48 hours before walking on them (torture!).
The Big Reveal
When we finally got to remove the spacers and see my new floors in all their glory, I literally did a happy dance. The French Oak looked even more stunning installed, with the varying plank lengths and distressing adding so much depth and dimension. I couldn‘t stop staring at them!
But as much as I love the look of my floors, I‘m even more impressed by their performance. It‘s been 6 months since I had them installed and they still look brand new. I have a big, rambunctious dog and I often host dinner parties, so these floors have seen some serious action. But thanks to the durable aluminum oxide finish and Bellawood Hardwood Cleaner, they haven‘t shown any signs of wear or tear.
In fact, my floors have become a bit of a conversation starter. Whenever I have guests over, they always comment on how beautiful and unique they are. I‘ve even had a few friends ask for LL Flooring‘s info so they can get their own dream floors. I feel like a proud mama showing off her baby!
The Bottom Line
Phew, thanks for sticking with me through this long, gushing review. Can you tell I‘m a big fan of LL Flooring? Seriously though, I can‘t recommend them enough. From their incredible selection and service to their quality, sustainability and value, they truly check all the boxes.
Here‘s the thing: investing in new floors is a big decision and a major purchase. You want to get it right the first time and feel confident in your choice. With LL Flooring, you can shop with peace of mind knowing you‘re getting the best possible product and experience. They stand behind their floors with some of the longest, most comprehensive warranties in the industry.
Plus, their team truly goes above and beyond to make the process easy and enjoyable. Whether you‘re a DIY pro or a total novice, they have the expertise and resources to help you every step of the way. And if you ever have any issues down the line, their customer service is top-notch.
So if you‘re in the market for new floors, I highly encourage you to check out LL Flooring. Browse their website, order some free samples, chat with their design experts and visit your local store. I think you‘ll be just as impressed as I was – and just as thrilled with your gorgeous new floors.
Trust me, your home (and your bare feet) will thank you!
