If I could choose no stars for this company, I absolutely would.
I went to the O'Fallon location. The sales person I was dealing with, I think her name was Donna, was very pleasant to work with, and sold us what I thought was a good quality floor based on her pitch. I had made it clear from the beginning that I would be installing the floor myself since I had done it before. I also described the tools I planned to use before purchasing the flooring and I was told it would be absolutely fine to use those items and that I wouldn't have any issues.
The flooring itself, Williamsburg Sunset Walnut, was not good flooring. First, I was told that these were all single length planks of flooring when it was sold to me, and when I picked it up, it was actually 3 different lengths in the box. This was frustrating and when I called them out on it, I was told their flooring policy was NO returns and they refused to take it back from this "little" mistake as they called it so I had no choice but to install it.
Once the flooring was installed, it started to bubble in the corners of the floor planks a few weeks after installation, and chipped very easily when using the recommended tools for the installation. I have installed many single plank laminate hardwood floors, including the flooring in another part of my house that has not shown any damage, bubbling, chipping, etc, after being installed 8 years ago (and by the way was half the price as what Michaels sold us).
The Store manager came out and did an inspection and had already decided before he left that there was nothing Michaels flooring would do, and he doubted there was anything the manufacturer would do. He then sent out an independent flooring inspector whose name was one their store always uses (although not employed by them it seems interesting that this "inspector" was one used by their store.
Without ANYTHING in writing being provided to us, I was informed by the store manager that since I installed the flooring myself (please read above paragraph about my prior experience), it is my fault that the flooring has major defects/issues. It is now 3-4 months after the installation, and more and more bubbling has occurred. I am being told by the manager at Michael's flooring that I need to replace the damaged planks on my own and at my own cost, and when I asked what I am to do if more planks buckle, I was told to replace those individual planks as well. My fear is if this is the poor condition of the flooring now, I cannot imagine how it is going to be in 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, etc, and how much MORE money I am going to repeatedly invest to keep replacing a floor that is clearly defective. What I am also concerned about is if I am to replace planks over many years, eventually, given the poor quality of floor that this is, this product will not continue to be sold.
I am now stuck with a floor that my entire family is disappointed in, I am out the time and a lot of money that I spent installing this floor, and I now get to continue to watch it show more issues.
In the end, I do NOT recommend Michaels flooring, as they do not stand behind the product they sell, and neither do the manufacturers that they sell. Remember that we have other laminate hardwood flooring from another company that was half the cost per square foot and ten times the quality of what Michaels sells. read more