Luna vs. Empire Flooring: What Buyers Should Know

Luna and Empire are not always separate competitors: Empire Today acquired Luna in 2017. The name on your quote matters less than the exact flooring, preparation, installation method, and warranty in writing. Compare those details for your home, and verify that the proposed system fits your floor and moisture conditions before you sign.

A flooring upgrade can look simple in a showroom: choose a color, compare a price, and book an installation. The risk sits in the details you may not see, such as what the crew will do to the subfloor, which product will arrive, and what the warranty excludes.

I compare flooring offers by the written scope, not by a sales pitch or a company name alone. Empire Today announced its acquisition of Luna in 2017, so the two names do not always describe fully separate businesses. Current branding, products, and the company responsible for service can vary. Ask who is contracting for your project and who handles warranty claims.

How Luna and Empire compare

This comparison is about the offer you receive, not a claim that either name always means one product, crew, or installation method. The useful question is whether the current proposal identifies the materials, work, and warranty clearly enough for you to compare it with another written quote.

Empire Today acquired Luna in 2017. Still, do not assume a Luna-branded quote and an Empire-branded quote use identical products or terms. Check the legal business name on each proposal, who will install the floor, and which company will respond if there is a problem.

Compare like with like. A lower quote may leave out floor leveling, moisture testing, or removal and disposal. A higher quote may include those items, or it may simply use a different product. Ask each company to price the same work and product level.

What the company name does and does not tell you

A brand name is not a technical specification. It cannot tell you a flooring product’s thickness, wear layer, water limits, or installation rules. Ask for the product data sheet and installation guide that match the SKU in your proposal.

The installer’s method matters too. Do not assume that Luna and Empire use the same crews or subcontractors. Ask who will do the work, what standards they follow, and how changes to the scope will be approved.

Substrate inspection, flatness, deflection, and moisture preparation

The substrate is the surface beneath the new floor, such as concrete or a wood subfloor. Its condition affects whether the proposed flooring system is suitable. Before work begins, the company should inspect it and document needed repairs, flatness, structural concerns, and any moisture tests required by the product instructions.

Start by identifying whether the floor sits on a concrete slab or wood framing. Look for loose or damaged material, movement, contaminants, old flooring layers, and height changes at doors or adjoining rooms. A proposal that says only “prepare floor” does not explain what the installer will actually do.

For concrete, there is no single moisture limit that works for every flooring product and adhesive. Ask which test method the manufacturer requires. Common methods include ASTM F1869, which measures moisture vapor emission, and ASTM F2170, which measures relative humidity inside the slab. Get the results and compare them with the published limits for the flooring and adhesive before installation.

Flatness and wood-floor deflection

Flatness describes how much a floor varies from a smooth plane; it is different from whether the floor is level. Tile needs adequate flatness to support the tile and help control uneven edges. On wood framing, deflection means movement under load across the whole floor assembly, not just the top layer.

For tile with an edge 15 inches or longer, the stated flatness target is no more than 1/8 inch in 10 feet and 1/16 inch in 2 feet. For smaller tile, the general target is 1/4 inch in 10 feet and 1/16 inch in 1 foot. Confirm the applicable ANSI A108 and tile-system requirements for the actual product.

For ceramic or porcelain tile over wood framing, the floor assembly generally needs to meet at least L/360 deflection under design loads. Natural stone generally calls for L/720. These are structural criteria, not a promise that a particular backer board or membrane can correct weak framing. If the floor moves too much, resolve that condition before installation.

Installation technique: underlayments, bonding, coverage, and precision

The installation system is the set of materials and steps that connect the flooring to the prepared substrate. It may include underlayment, backer board, membrane, adhesive, or mortar. Each item must suit the product and substrate, and the proposal should name the system rather than rely on a broad phrase like “standard installation.”

For tile on wood, verify that the complete assembly is approved for the framing and subfloor. A membrane or underlayment does not make an inadequate floor structurally sound. For resilient or wood flooring on concrete, confirm that the product and adhesive allow the slab’s measured moisture level, or that an approved mitigation system is included.

Tile bonding and coverage

Coverage means how much of the tile’s underside is supported by mortar. In dry indoor areas, the target is at least 80%; in wet or outdoor areas, at least 95%, with full support at edges and corners. The installer can check coverage by lifting tiles from time to time during the work.

There is no one trowel-notch size for every tile. Mortar type and notch should match the tile, substrate, and manufacturer’s instructions. Do not accept spot-bonded or “dot-mounted” tile as a substitute for proper coverage. Unsupported areas raise the risk of cracking, breakage, or debonding.

Ask for the specified product names and installation instructions. Also confirm that patching and leveling products are compatible with the flooring system, and that required drying or curing time is allowed. If the installer changes materials, ask for the revised specification in writing.

Transitions, movement, safety, and long-term protection

Transitions connect different flooring surfaces or manage height changes at doorways and room edges. Movement joints and perimeter clearances allow a floor system to respond to movement. Their placement and size depend on the flooring type and project; they should be included in the plan, not improvised after installation.

For tile, movement-joint layout and perimeter relief should follow TCNA EJ171 and suit the project conditions. Do not let grout or trim bridge a gap that the system requires to remain open. Resilient and wood floors also have product-specific expansion requirements, so check the installation guide rather than using a guessed gap.

For some hard-surface flooring, a wet, level interior space expected to be walked on may use an ANSI A326.3 DCOF value of at least 0.42 as a common criterion. DCOF is a friction measure, not a guarantee against slips or a universal rating for every room. Ask whether the selected product is suitable for its intended location.

After installation, follow the product instructions for grout curing, cleaning, and protecting the floor during other work. Keep the product label, test results, installation records, and warranty documents. Those records can help if you need to identify the material or make a claim later.

Real-world quote scenarios: what to check before choosing

These scenarios are examples of how two bids can differ; they are not claims about a specific Luna or Empire installation. Use them to test whether each company has priced the same job. If a detail is unknown, ask for it rather than treating it as included.

Scenario 1: Tile over a wood floor. One proposal names the tile but does not describe the framing, subfloor checks, or floor preparation. The other lists a substrate inspection and a specified underlayment system. Neither description alone proves the floor is suitable. Ask for confirmation of the assembly’s structural adequacy and the tile system’s installation requirements before comparing price.

Scenario 2: Resilient flooring over concrete. One quote includes a product and adhesive but no moisture-test plan. The other identifies a test method and says results will be compared with the product’s limits. The second is easier to evaluate, but it still needs to state what happens if the slab exceeds those limits.

Scenario 3: A low quote with vague preparation. A bid says floor preparation is included, but does not say whether that covers removing old material, repairing damage, or correcting flatness. Ask for each task and any added cost in writing. This avoids treating a broad phrase as a promise to fix any condition discovered on site.

Warranty, price, and the written offer

A warranty is a written promise with conditions, not a guarantee that every failure will be covered. Read the flooring manufacturer’s warranty and the installer’s labor terms separately. Ask who receives a claim, what proof is needed, and whether the warranty excludes moisture, poor preparation, or installation outside the product instructions.

Do not rely on a verbal claim that a floor is “waterproof” or that installation is “covered for life.” Ask what that wording means for the selected product and what conditions may void coverage. Warranty periods and exclusions vary by product and contract; compare the documents you receive, not a general sales statement.

Frequently asked questions

These short answers focus on the checks that matter when comparing a Luna-branded offer with an Empire Today offer. Because products, contracts, and installation terms can vary, use the written proposal and product-specific instructions as the final basis for your decision.

Are Luna and Empire Flooring separate companies?
Empire Today acquired Luna in 2017. Confirm the current contracting company and warranty contact on your specific proposal.

Does Luna use the same flooring as Empire?
Do not assume so. Compare the exact product brand, collection, and SKU on each quote.

Which company is cheaper?
There is no reliable answer without matching the product and work scope. Compare itemized quotes for the same flooring and preparation.

What should a flooring quote include?
It should identify the product, preparation, installation materials and method, transitions, added charges, and warranty terms.

Should I accept installation over a damp concrete slab?
Not until test results meet the selected flooring and adhesive manufacturers’ limits, or an approved mitigation plan is documented.

Can an underlayment fix a weak floor?
No. It cannot correct inadequate framing, damaged subflooring, or moisture beyond the system’s limits.

What is the tile deflection requirement over wood?
Ceramic and porcelain tile generally require at least L/360 under design loads; natural stone generally requires L/720. Confirm the complete assembly.

How can I check tile mortar coverage?
Ask the installer to lift tiles periodically. Coverage targets are at least 80% in dry indoor areas and 95% in wet or outdoor areas, with edge and corner support.

What should I do if the proposal says only “standard prep”?
Ask for the tasks, materials, exclusions, and prices in writing before signing.

What documents should I keep after installation?
Keep the contract, product and installation instructions, test results, change orders, warranty documents, and care guidance.

Bottom line

Choose the proposal that names the product and installation system, addresses your actual substrate and moisture conditions, and puts preparation, price, and warranty terms in writing. If either company cannot answer those questions, pause before signing. The strongest comparison is not Luna versus Empire by name; it is the better-documented system for your home.

(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Michael Hargrove. Visit our Meet the Team page.)