Lumber Liquidators / LL Flooring: What Homeowners Need to Know In 2026

The Short Version: A Company With a Long Track Record of Problems

In the last decade, Lumber Liquidators has changed its name three times, going from Lumber Liquidators to LL Flooring and then back again. These changes were mainly responses to reputation issues rather than actual improvements. The company has dealt with a federal investigation, a class-action lawsuit, bankruptcy, and a liquidation that voided many customer warranties. Currently, F9 Brands owns the company, and a sale to Bed Bath & Beyond is expected to close in mid-2026, though the deal is not yet final.

Homeowners should consider whether they can trust the quality, if the warranty will be honored if something goes wrong, and if the company will still be around in five years. At this time, these answers are uncertain, so it’s best to be careful.

The Full History: How We Got Here

This timeline outlines the key events that shaped the company’s current position and reputation.

2015: The Formaldehyde Investigation

The modern chapter of Lumber Liquidators’ troubles begins with a 2015 60 Minutes investigation and subsequent federal action over formaldehyde levels in Chinese-manufactured laminate flooring. Testing found that some products exceeded California Air Resources Board (CARB) safety standards (the strictest in the country) for formaldehyde emissions. The company paid $33 million to settle Department of Justice charges and reached a separate class-action settlement with affected customers.

This incident hurt the brand’s reputation with many customers and highlighted long-standing problems with quality control. Reviews from that time often mention products being worse than advertised. For example, one customer said 60% of their hardwood flooring was below grade and about 30% was unusable, but the company did not admit there was a problem.

2016 to 2022: The Slow Decline

After the formaldehyde settlement, Lumber Liquidators tried to recover by hiring new leaders, buying more products from U.S. sources, and updating its stores. Sales improved slightly but never reached pre-scandal levels. The company made money some years, but it struggled to compete with big-box stores and the rise of direct-to-consumer brands.

2022: The Rebrand to LL Flooring

In 2022, the company switched its name from Lumber Liquidators to LL Flooring, saying it wanted to show it offered more than just lumber. Many people in the industry saw this as an attempt to move on from the formaldehyde scandal. However, the name change did not bring real improvements in product sourcing, quality control, or warranties. Reviews from this period still mention inconsistent quality, problems with warranty claims, and poor customer service.

August 2024: Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing

In August 2024, LL Flooring filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company was facing fewer in-store customers, strong competition from Home Depot, Lowe’s, and specialty flooring stores, and ongoing reputation problems.

In Chapter 11 liquidations, pre-existing warranty obligations are frequently discharged or left unresolved, and homeowner accounts consistently describe being told their warranties were no longer valid after the filing.

One homeowner had planks that became unsafe soon after installation and was told the warranty was no longer valid because of the bankruptcy. When they contacted LL Flooring, the company did not help. Another customer who paid for installation that was never finished only got store credit instead of a cash refund.

Late 2024: F9 Brands Acquires the Stores

Instead of closing all locations, about 219 LL Flooring stores were acquired by F9 Brands, a home improvement company led by Tom Sullivan, who founded the original Lumber Liquidators. F9 kept the stores open, changed the name back to Lumber Liquidators, and added the company to a portfolio that includes Cabinets To Go and Southwind Building Products.

The company brought back the Lumber Liquidators name to show a return to its roots, but this also reminded people of the formaldehyde scandal.

April 2026: The Bed Bath & Beyond Acquisition Announcement

On April 8, 2026, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NYSE: BBBY) announced a signed letter of intent to acquire F9 Brands, including Lumber Liquidators, as part of an approximately $150 million deal. The transaction includes $37 million in cash, about 16 million shares of stock, and $40 million in financing.

The plan is to create a new ‘Beyond Home Services’ platform that includes The Container Store, Elfa, Closet Works, and Cabinets To Go. The goal is to offer a complete home remodel experience, covering design, products, installation, and financing.

So what does this mean for homeowners right now? The deal is expected to close after the company’s annual meeting in May 2026, if it gets approved. For now, Lumber Liquidators is still owned by F9 Brands. Until the deal is final, it’s not clear if Bed Bath & Beyond will improve product quality, warranties, or service. Some experts are cautious because Bed Bath & Beyond went through bankruptcy in 2023 and The Container Store filed in 2024.

The Product Quality Question

Aside from the company’s history, it’s important to look at the flooring itself.

Lumber Liquidators sells in-house brands including Duravana, CoreLuxe, DuraLux, and Bellawood, covering vinyl, laminate, and hardwood flooring. Bellawood’s engineered hardwood is often competitively priced and may include a 100-year transferable warranty.

However, that promise does not always match what customers experience. Common concerns include:

• Product sold below advertised grade. The pattern of receiving product with more defects, voids, or structural issues than the grade advertised is one of the most consistent complaints in Lumber Liquidators’ long review history.
• Warranty claims that go nowhere. Before the bankruptcy, many customers reported that warranty claims were met with delays, inspector visits that found in favor of the company, and eventual silence. Post-bankruptcy, pre-bankruptcy warranty claims are unenforceable by the trustee’s own determination.
• Installation quality issues. Lumber Liquidators uses subcontracted installation, and review patterns suggest significant variability in outcomes. Several customers describe installers who did not perform the contracted work, with no recourse available.

F9 has not owned the company long enough to show a clear record of better quality. There is also limited independent testing of current products under F9’s ownership.

The Warranty Situation

This is one of the most important things for homeowners to think about.

If you purchased from LL Flooring before August 2024, your warranty is effectively unenforceable. The bankruptcy trustee declined responsibility for those obligations. Options are limited and may include small claims court or filing with your state attorney general’s office.

If you buy today, warranties come from F9 Brands. But since F9 is about to be acquired by Bed Bath & Beyond, there is extra uncertainty. Compared to established brands like Shaw or Mohawk, this warranty setup is less stable.

If the acquisition goes through, warranty obligations will probably transfer, but the details have not been confirmed publicly.

What Lumber Liquidators Offers Today

If you still want to shop at Lumber Liquidators after learning all this, here’s what they currently offer:

Hardwood Flooring

They sell solid and engineered hardwood under the Bellawood brand, including popular types like oak, maple, and hickory, along with some exotic woods. The 100-year transferable warranty is a major selling point, but as mentioned earlier, whether that warranty is honored depends on the company’s financial health when you need it.

Vinyl / LVP Flooring

Duravana and CoreLuxe are their main vinyl flooring brands. Both are rigid-core LVP products and are priced competitively. Some lines are as good as mid-range national brands, while others are not, so make sure to check the specs before you buy.

Laminate Flooring

DuraLux and other in-house laminate options are available at budget-friendly price points.

Installation Services

Most installations are done by subcontractors. As with Empire Today and National Floors Direct, this means the quality can vary. Be sure to get all the details and warranty terms in writing before the work begins.

Pricing

Lumber Liquidators usually offers lower prices than big-box stores for similar products, which has always been its main draw. However, the gap in price and quality between Lumber Liquidators and more stable brands has narrowed as national brands have improved their budget options.

Should You Buy From Lumber Liquidators?

Your decision will depend on your project size, budget, and risk tolerance.

For small projects with a focus on upfront savings, Lumber Liquidators may be a reasonable option. Just inspect materials carefully and avoid relying on warranty support.

For whole-home flooring projects, we do not recommend using Lumber Liquidators as your primary supplier. The risks tied to warranty reliability and company stability are significant.

If you are a former LL Flooring customer with a warranty issue, consider contacting your state attorney general’s consumer protection office or filing with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Keep detailed records of all communication.

If You’re Open to Alternatives

For hardwood flooring, we recommend Anderson Tuftex, Mohawk, Shaw, and Harris Wood Floors. These brands offer similar or better prices in the mid-range and have much more reliable warranty support. Check our Best Hardwood Flooring Brands guide for more details.

For vinyl and LVP specifically, Shaw Floors, COREtec, and Mohawk’s SolidTech line cover the price range where Lumber Liquidators competes. See our Best Vinyl Flooring Brands guide for the full breakdown.

If you want a company to handle everything from start to finish, including materials and installation, here are two options we recommend:

• Floor Coverings International brings flooring samples to your home and uses a network of professional installers for many types of flooring. Their approach removes the hassle of coordinating between the subfloor and retailer, which often causes installation issues.
• Empire Today offers quick scheduling and bundled pricing that covers removal, preparation, and installation. This convenience-focused model has some tradeoffs, but if you want one point of contact and a fast process, it’s a simple choice.

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We’ll update this page as the Bed Bath & Beyond acquisition moves forward and as we learn more about changes at Lumber Liquidators. Last reviewed: 15 April, 2026

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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.