Can you not buy it at Home Depot and have whoever you want install?

In all seriousness, I would find another floor. They may have "an exclusive", but something similar exists elsewhere. If they were giving away free product, I wouldn't take it.

Home Depot treated me SOOOOO badly when I purchased countertops through them that I swore I would never use them again AND would never pass up a chance to give them a big thumbs-down.

Can't you buy it as if it would be a DIY install and then hire your local guy? Also, when we bought our Corian, I wanted to get it at a local shop because their installs are really, really great but the Home Depot sale made such a difference in the price that I couldn't pass up the savings. As I was purchasing I asked who they would be using to install...turns out it was the local shop I wanted to use to begin with so I was super happy with that!! Maybe ask them who they would use for the install.

I don't think you are obligated to have HD install anything. We bought our tile through a couple different places and we did it all DIY. They can't make you use their labor. On a side note my folks used their labor for something else (slider install) and it was a joke. A total re-do. Nope, no thumbs up here either.

My local shop said he wouldn't do it as if there's a problem he has no recourse.
I can't do it myself, I'm 69 yrs old, without a handy mate.
Can try to find another local to do it. Would be nice if the companies didn't make exclusive products.

Have the flooring store call their Armstrong rep for the crossover. If there is no crossover, that's not good. That means that they gave Armstrong the price point to engineer to. Specs be damned.

Also, according to my local Armstrong rep, the box stores exclusives are allowed 20% waste where the wide distribution brands sold in multiple locations only have a 5% waste and miscut allowance from the factory.

Private label names are different than "exclusives". Private label stuff is just a difference in boxes.

"Also, when we bought our Corian, I wanted to get it at a local shop because their installs are really, really great but the Home Depot sale made such a difference in the price that I couldn't pass up the savings. As I was purchasing I asked who they would be using to install...turns out it was the local shop I wanted to use to begin with so I was super happy with that!!"

This is because Home Depot negotiates directly with DuPont, Corian's manufacturer, for pricing. It is virtually impossible for a local fabricator to compete against them on price.

I am sorry-I wasn't suggesting you install it-I was pointing out that it could be you or anyone you hire to do it. What product is it?

No decent installer works for Home Depot or Lowes, at least not for long. It could be cheaper but cheaper is not always a good deal. I'd look for something else myself. There are zillions of materials out there.......

autumn, it's sheet vinyl. I know, not in style much. But my kitchen is small and cold in the winter. I want seamless since it's possible with my kitchen size and sheet vinyl. I want warm and soft as opposed to tile.

greg, that's what I'm afraid of.

live wire, my local shop called Armstrong already.

So I need to find someone to do it, or find something else.

For the curious it's
this pattern

I really like the swirly pattern, I have some swirls in my living room too. The other patterns are pretty much fake tile and fake wood. You have to click on the enlarged image to see the swirls.

My neighbor has a lot of stuff done by Home Depot, and I have to admit that I'm pretty impressed with their service; HD seems to go to great pains (around here), to ensure that the work is done correctly and on time. They act like a contractor should.

That being said, I've never had anything installed by them, but have had deliveries from them, and even in that, I think they're exceptional compared to 15 years ago. They have to be; that's where the market is now...not just supplying, but installing.

The link also says it's available at Lowe's.

If it's vinyl, I'm not sure why your installer won't do it. You would be the one that would contact/deal with the seller if there was an issue with the flooring.

fwiw, DD2 purchased a Feather Rivers door from HD. The installers were terrific and there were not any issues.

We have had several deliveries and some window installs by HD and I've been super-impressed. They make several calls to let you know their delivery window, are super-careful and thoughtful with their appliance delivery and hook-up if you use them for that, and did a superb job on the windows. When they left, they cleaned up so well that you couldn't tell they had even been there doing anything.

I'm sure service varies so I hope if you use them, you experience similar to what I did.

This is minor but we just had a new hot water tank installed by Home Depot. Their service was great at the store, they arrived the next day for install on time and acted as any other professional trade that we have ever dealt with before. Now we have never used them for anything major having had no need to do so but we've always found their staff helpful. But I'm sure others have had unpleasant experiences just as with any GC or installer.

Come here any day and look at the threads detailing poor counter installations and not done by Home Depot.

No decent installer works for Home Depot or Lowes

The plumber I used to use (back when I built homes), does the water heater installs for the local Home Depot(s). Multiple ones. He makes less money than if you called his plumbing company directly, but it's guaranteed work. But the catch is; his guys are all ungodly professional. They meet grooming standards, they have uniforms, they show up and wear shoe covers. Why? Because it's a gravy train for him. They guy who runs the installs is like a drill sergeant; there is NO slack on them, because it's a huge, huge business. And there are seven of those stores in his area.

The idea that no decent installer works for those companies is laughable.

I really like the pattern - it reminds me a bit of mine which is Armstrong vinyl planks. you might check with Lowes too. I always get better service at Lowes than HD. Ask about their installers. Number of yrs doing it, complaints etc.

We did our kitchen remodel, two bathrooms, three floors, water heater, and garage door though HD. No problems.

In our area, Home Depot did have a reputation of subcontracting work to whichever contractor was first through the revolving door. At that time, their payments to the installer were too low to attract the better quality workers. However, I've been told that they now use installers who actually work for Home Depot as employees. I know a fellow who is a licensed plumber and general contractor who has taken a position with them for overseeing the installation work for several stores in his region. So, they seem to be investing some more time and money in their service offerings, instead of just treating them as a cash cow.

My partner's ex had Lowes contract for extensive exterior work on a home in central Illinois. The work they did was substandard and they charged her for several more squares of siding than were required. He was able to get her a substantial settlement from Lowes to have the work redone correctly. I think they were expecting that an absentee, single female homeowner wouldn't know the difference but they weren't counting on that small town network extending to her new location. They sold her on the services by using the Lowes name but then brought in Joe Schmo's siding company whose reputation was too poor to attract customers on a standalone basis.

Ask them for the name of the contractor, they may have more than one (my local HD does) and then try to check them out.

I wanted to get carpet edges bound, searched for the best person in the area to do it and then found out he is the same guy HD uses. Was actually less expensive to hire him directly.

My neighbor bought engineered hardwood from Home Depot and they installed the floors that turned out great! I hired a store with their own independent contractors and they did a terrible job. I wish I got a bid from Home Depot and saw her floor before I did mine.

if you get the name of the contractor, you can call the state registrar's office and check if any complaints on him/her or pending etc suits etc.

All the railing against Home Depot and the link shows the flooring is from Lowe's.

I saw it at Home Depot. The independent shop called Armstrong and was told it was exclusive to HD.

Anyhow, looks like I MIGHT be ok getting either HD or Lowes to do it.

kaethy-don't apologize for your choices being out of favor. Every surface has it's pros and cons and every home and homeowner has their reasons for needing/using it. Re-branding is so huge that it's hard to know if it really is exclusive or just renamed, it's horribly challenging if not impossible sometimes.

Do some home work with the installers they have. Ask for references. I think if they are proud/supportive of their labor they would have some to offer without question. There are good and bad everywhere. Do your best trying to narrow it down to the good and then you will have to just jump.

We just built a house and gc'd it - thought we did well in being selective with our labor and making wise informed choices. Turns out that statement was 98% correct which means yes there were still a couple of surprises. ;)