A frequent question we often receive at Carpet Garage stores, “Do you carry any American-made flooring?” The answer is always, and immediately, YES! More often than not, the customers that begin by asking that question, aren’t just interested in carpet and soft flooring. American-made flooring that isn’t the “fuzzy side up stuff” is hard to find in the United States, especially these days, it seems. Almost every hard surface related product is made in China (or at somewhere overseas such as in Taiwan, Korea, or Cambodia). A lot of hardwood and sheet vinyl are made in China, and the majority of your waterproof flooring (vinyl plank, vinyl tile, WPC, SPC, etc.) is also made in China.
The question you probably have next: “Why is that?” Well, the easy answer is that manufacturing these products overseas and shipping them in is still cheaper than it is to make it here in the US. Everything from labor costs to raw material costs continue to be cheaper abroad than it is at home.
“So, what are some products that aren’t made in China?”
“What are my options when I come into your store?”
Here is a quick snapshot of what we have at Carpet Garage that is 100% Made in the USA:
1. Carpet
For starters, ALL our carpets are made in the USA. I’d estimate 95% of Carpet Garage’s carpet is made in Dalton, GA, what we call the Carpet Capital of the World. You’ll find all the major manufacturers are here, like Shaw, Mohawk, DreamWeaver, Southwind, Marquis, Phenix, and more. Dalton is a hub for many other textiles, which is why these carpet manufacturers call it home. At Carpet Garage, we stock over 100+ rolls of carpet ranging from $1.29 to $3.99 square feet (SF). So, when you think American-made, carpet will always be your #1 option and we will always have plenty of carpet options for you.
2. Sheet Vinyl from Congoleum
We stock 30+ rolls of sheet vinyl (linoleum for anyone over the age of 50) from Congoleum. This manufacturer is based in New Jersey, and they manufacture a product line known as Airstep. Airstep is a revolutionary, loose-lay sheet vinyl. No adhesive is necessary, you simply lay it down on the floor with the appropriate spacing from your walls. Each of our Carpet Garage stores carry 3 lines of the Airstep products, with about 8 to 10 colors within each line. Pricing on Airstep products start at $1.59 SF and go up to $2.69 SF. Sheet vinyl is a great product to consider in your bathroom and kitchen.
3. Waterproof flooring from Mohawk
This USA-made waterproof flooring is still in its infancy stage. The majority of waterproof flooring in the market likely comes from China. There are few manufacturers in the US who are even looking into this option, mainly due to the high cost of entry into this market segment. Almost all manufacturers would have to build a plant from scratch, which can be very costly. One manufacturer though, Mohawk Industries, has tossed its name into the hat and has one option of waterproof stone plastic core (SPC) flooring that is made in the US. At Carpet Garage, we now stock 2 colors of this product at each of our stores, with display options to special order other colors (15+ other color options). This product has two style names (THATCHER and FRANKLIN) and offers a 20-mil wear layer, beveled edges, and padding attached. Starting at $3.99 SF, this is a great option for American-made waterproof flooring.
Overall, there still remains few options for American-made products in the flooring industry. As we continue to evolve as an industry, I believe, over time, this area will gain steam and more manufacturers will be finding ways to bring their products back to the US, especially in the waterproof category.
Water-Proof Flooring: Why It’s Popular
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Made in the USA
Carpet Garage is proud to carry American-made carpeting and hard surface flooring products. Learn more about the products we carry, how they can used, what we recommend and other things to consider as you choose to purchase a product made in the USA.
CoreTec Stone
A new product to the flooring world, this product installs like a laminate or LVT floor (click together!) and will attempt to replace ceramic tile flooring.
Floorigami by Shaw
Picture this: You have a flooring project you’d like to get done, you’re on a budget, and you want to do it yourself. BUT, you don’t want hard surface flooring,
Carpet Fibers: What are the differences? What are the benefits?
Today, I’d like to focus a little attention on carpet fibers and what is the difference and benefits of each. There are not really that many different types of carpet
Mohawk’s AIR.O
Carpet tends to be the most traditional piece of flooring you will find at any flooring store. Outside of the Stainmaster™ years, there has not been much innovation to this