Floor Coverings International Review 2026

Floor Coverings International Review: Our Verdict

Floor Coverings International is a solid choice for full-service flooring across the country, as long as you pick a reputable franchise. The mobile showroom is a real plus for homeowners, and the all-inclusive pricing makes things easier by handling both retail and installation. The company’s two-year installation warranty is the best standard coverage you’ll find. Many verified homeowners on Modernize mention that projects are professional, organized, and completed on time by crews who respect your home.

FCI is a franchise, so the quality you get depends on the local owner. The company sets standards, but it’s up to each franchise to meet them. Most locations do a good job, but some don’t. In rare cases, homeowners have had trouble getting help from the main office. This difference between what the brand promises and what you actually get locally is why we made this guide: to help you know what to expect and what to ask.

Bottom line: If your local franchise has good reviews, Floor Coverings International gives you a professional, low-stress flooring experience that’s tough to match for the price. Just make sure to check reviews for your specific location before you commit.

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How We Rate Floor Coverings International

Our 4.0/5 Modernize rating reflects FCI’s performance across seven criteria. Here’s how each one breaks down:

Learn more about how Modernize rates flooring installers in our rating methodology.

Who Floor Coverings International Is Best For

FCI is not the right fit for every homeowner. Here is an honest look at who gets the most value from this model:

If you want someone to handle the entire project for you, FCI is a good choice. You won’t have to deal with a separate retailer, installer, or subfloor contractor; FCI takes care of it all. You get one point of contact, one estimate, one crew, and one warranty. This makes things much easier, especially for busy homeowners or those with larger projects.

If you prefer to make design choices at home, the mobile showroom is a big help. You can see flooring samples in your own lighting and next to your furniture, which leads to better decisions than picking something in a store. If you’ve ever noticed a paint swatch looks different at home, you’ll understand why this matters.

If warranty protection is important to you, FCI’s two-year installation warranty is the longest standard coverage among national installers. For homeowners who want quality work and support after the job is finished, FCI is a solid choice.

Who FCI Is Less Ideal For

If you’re on a tight budget, keep in mind that FCI charges more for convenience. If your main goal is the lowest price per square foot and you don’t mind finding materials and an installer yourself, you’ll save money that way. FCI’s value is in its service, not in offering the cheapest materials.

If you like to do projects yourself or already have a contractor, FCI may not be right for you. They require you to use their approved crew for installation. If you’ve already bought materials or have someone you trust, FCI’s process won’t fit your needs.

About Floor Coverings International

Floor Coverings International is a full-service flooring franchise that started in 1988 and now operates in 45 states and most major cities. Each location is independently owned but follows the same national standards for products, pricing, and warranties.

What sets the company apart is its mobile showroom. Instead of making you visit a store, a design associate brings a van full of samples right to your home. This way, you can see materials in your own space before deciding. FCI also has a room visualization tool and a quick quiz on its website to help you get ready for your consultation.

FCI acts as a one-stop shop for your whole flooring project, from picking materials to installation and follow-up. All costs are rolled into one all-inclusive estimate.

Products and Services

Floor Coverings International provides a wide range of flooring products and services. The next sections explain the materials you can choose from and what’s usually included with each installation.

Flooring Types

Floor Coverings International offers products from well-known national brands like Shaw, Anderson Tuftex, Bruce, and Engineered Floors.

• Carpet: Berber, texture, and cut pile styles in polyester and high-performance nylon. Learn more about carpet flooring.
• Hardwood: Solid and engineered hardwood from Anderson Tuftex, Bruce, and Shaw. Engineered options are available for below-grade and high-humidity applications where solid hardwood is not recommended.
• Laminate: Wood-look laminate planks from Engineered Floors, typically 10 mm to 14 mm thick, at a more accessible price point than hardwood.
• Tile: Porcelain tile is available in many formats, including wood-look, stone-look, hexagon, mosaic, and standard, and comes in a variety of sizes and colors.
• Vinyl: Luxury vinyl plank and sheet vinyl from Shaw and Engineered Floors in styles that replicate hardwood, stone, and tile.

What’s Included in Every Project

Every FCI project estimate includes the following at no additional charge:

• Professional installation by the franchise’s approved crew
• Furniture removal for rooms being floored
• Demo and disposal of existing flooring (see typical removal costs for reference)
• Two-year installation warranty on all workmanship, in addition to the manufacturer’s product warranty
• Post-installation follow-up, including an in-person quality check scheduled within 10 days after the project is finished

What Does Floor Coverings International Cost?

The average installed cost is between $5 and $18 per square foot, which covers materials, labor, furniture removal, and disposal. FCI doesn’t list prices online, so you’ll need an in-home consultation for an exact quote. This can be inconvenient if you want to compare prices, but the all-inclusive estimate means you won’t get surprise charges later.

For context, here are average installed cost ranges by flooring type:

Why FCI Costs More Than DIY

FCI costs more than buying materials yourself and hiring a local installer, but that extra price covers bundled services like design help, moving furniture, removing old flooring, a workmanship warranty, and follow-up after installation. For homeowners who would have to arrange these separately, the all-in price can be worth it for the time saved. If you’re comfortable managing your own project, doing it yourself will be cheaper.

What Affects Your Specific Cost

• Flooring type and brand tier: Hardwood and natural stone carry the highest material costs. Vinyl and laminate are the most accessible. Within each category, the brand and product line you choose affects the final price significantly.
• Room size and complexity: Larger rooms, irregular layouts, stairs, and multiple doorways add labor time and material waste.
• Subfloor condition: If your subfloor is damaged, uneven, or has moisture issues, it will need repairs before installation. This adds to both material and labor costs. Be sure to ask about this during your consultation before you set your budget.
• Regional labor rates: Labor costs vary by market. High-cost metro areas will run above the national average of $1 to $2 per square foot.

Price Tiers at a Glance

• Budget-Friendly ($3 to $7 per square foot): Laminate and entry-level carpet
• Mid-Range ($7 to $12 per square foot): Engineered hardwood and higher-end vinyl
• Premium ($12 to $18+ per square foot): Solid hardwood and natural stone tile

Financing

FCI offers financing through outside lenders. The programs, rates, and special deals you can get depend on where you live. During your consultation, ask your design associate about current options, manufacturer rebates, and any seasonal promotions.

What Homeowners Say About FCI

Verified homeowner reviews on Modernize for Floor Coverings International are very positive. They often mention professional crews, careful treatment of the home, projects finished on time, and franchise owners who stay personally involved.

Professional, Hardworking Team

Connor L. hired FCI for a full commercial office flooring project and described everyone involved — from the owner to the installers — as professional, respectful, and hardworking. The team completed the entire project in one week around the office’s schedule with minimal disruption. “They truly treat your space as if it were their own,” he wrote. “It is great to see a local, family-owned business deliver this level of service and craftsmanship.”

Hands-On Guidance

Scott L. worked with FCI on a whole-home project that combined carpet replacement and hardwood refinishing. He specifically called out the team’s hands-on guidance through a complicated project: “Dan, Andrew, Rachel, and the team held my hand throughout the entire process. There were some expected challenges and they worked with me to get it done within budget and our timeline.”

Respectful & Careful

Shahid I. described a 450-square-foot hardwood installation completed in a single day. The crew laid down protective coverings throughout the home before starting, cleaned up thoroughly when finished, and put all furniture back in place. The franchise owner personally stopped by during the installation to check on progress — something Shahid noted his previous installer had never done. “We already had the wood and materials and chose FCI for the installation. We are very glad we did.”

The Franchise Variability Gap

The reviews above show what you can expect from a well-run FCI franchise, but they don’t tell the whole story.

Independent review sites also report worse experiences in some cases: projects delayed for months beyond the agreed timeline, incomplete work, and in serious situations, franchise owners filing liens against homeowners’ properties before finishing the job. One reviewer said that after their local franchise stopped responding and failed to complete the work, corporate did not step in to hold the franchise accountable or help resolve the issue.

Most FCI customers don’t run into these problems, but they happen often enough that you should check your local franchise carefully before signing. The national brand rating and BBB’s A+ grade show how the company does overall, but they don’t tell you how your local franchise performs.

Before you sign with any FCI location, read reviews for your local franchise, ask for references from recent projects, and make sure you get every part of the project scope in writing before work starts.

How Floor Coverings International Compares

Here are some situations to help you decide when FCI is the right choice and when a competitor may serve you better.

When to Choose FCI Over Empire Today

Empire Today serves over 60 markets, which is more than FCI’s network, and offers faster installation, sometimes within a week or even the next day for in-stock products. If speed matters most to you, Empire is the better choice. But Empire’s installation warranty is only one year, while FCI’s is two. FCI also gives more detailed in-home design help, which is useful if you’re making complex decisions for several rooms or materials. Choose FCI if you want better design support and a longer warranty, rather than the fastest turnaround.

When to Choose FCI Over 50Floor

50Floor also brings samples to your home and charges about the same as FCI, and their one-day installation is a big plus. However, 50Floor is only in about 30 markets, while FCI is available in more places, and 50Floor has fewer premium hardwood options. If 50Floor is in your area and you want the fastest install, get quotes from both. If you want more choices or live outside 50Floor’s area, FCI is the better pick.

When to Choose a Retailer Instead

If you prefer to look at a wide selection in person, compare materials side by side, and either install them yourself or hire your own contractor, a retailer like Floor & Decor will cost less and give you more flexibility. The downside is that you’ll have to coordinate everything yourself, and the workmanship warranty depends on the installer you choose.

Floor Coverings International vs. National Floors Direct

National Floors Direct also offers in-home consultations for different flooring types. They don’t list specific brand names on their website, so it’s harder to research products ahead of time. Some products can be installed in one day. Warranty terms vary, so make sure to ask your local representative for details.

Questions to Ask Your Local FCI Franchise Before Signing

Since the quality of each franchise is the main factor in your FCI experience, asking these questions before you commit is the best way to protect yourself.

• “Can you give me two or three references from projects similar to mine in the last six months?” A well-run franchise will have these readily available. Hesitation or vague responses are worth noting.
• “What’s the realistic timeline for a project like mine, start to finish?” Get a specific range, not a general estimate. If the timeline slips significantly from what is discussed here, you will want written documentation of what was originally agreed on.
• “What’s included in the scope of work, and what would trigger additional costs?” Subfloor repairs, electrical outlet adjustments, stair work, and room transitions are common sources of mid-project cost increases. Know what is included and what is not before signing.
• “What is the payment schedule?” A large upfront payment before work begins is a risk factor with any contractor. Understand when payments are due relative to project milestones.
• “If I have a warranty issue, do I contact you or corporate?” Understanding the resolution path before a problem occurs is important. Confirm whether the two-year warranty is backed at the franchise level, by corporate, or both.
• “Will the same crew handle my entire project, or does that change?” Crew consistency often connects to quality consistency. A project handed off between multiple subcontracted crews is very different from one managed by the same team throughout.

Is Floor Coverings International Right for You?

For most homeowners replacing standard flooring like carpet, hardwood, vinyl, or tile, a well-reviewed local FCI franchise is a great option. The combination of in-home design help, all-inclusive pricing, quality brands, and a two-year workmanship warranty is tough to beat at this level of service.

The experience can be less predictable for bigger or more complex projects, like custom carpentry, millwork, or stair finishing. For these jobs, check your local franchise’s experience with similar work before deciding.

If budget is your main concern, get a quote from FCI and compare it to the cost of buying materials from a retailer and hiring a local installer. The difference will show you how much the convenience and warranty are worth for your project.

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How We Rate Flooring Contractors

Every flooring contractor on Modernize is rated on a one-to-five scale across seven criteria. Each criterion is scored independently, then weighted by its impact on your installation outcome. Those weighted scores are added together to produce the final star rating.

Here’s what we evaluate and how much each factor counts:

• Licensing & Credentials (22%)
• Customer Experience (20%)
• Workmanship & Installation Quality (18%)
• Responsiveness & Availability (12%)
• Pricing & Transparency (12%)
• Reputation & Market Presence (8%)
• Warranty & Post-Service Support (8%)

Learn more about how we score flooring contractors in our Rating Methodology.