Walking On History – Smitty’s Flooring

Mention home improvement, and you are sure to hear some strong opinions. Making big changes to a family home can leave people concerned about working with strangers on such a personal job. Often, cold and impersonal showrooms are manned by salespeople or contractors who are disconnected from the actual installation. This is especially true when buying flooring and materials from big box stores or chains. Relationships are not often built throughout the process.

Everything is different at Smitty’s Floor Covering. From the moment you walk into their showroom, you feel important. Not only are you promptly greeted with a smile, but the warm feel of their Denton location embraces you as though you’ve walked into a friend’s house.

This is how it’s been for generations, ever since Mansel “Smitty” Smith started the company back in 1958. Originally located on Locust, Smitty’s moved to the current location on North Elm to be near a family home that has since been sold. Smitty’s kids, Ricky and Darlene, learned the business and began working with their father from an early age, as did numerous family members throughout the years.

When Smitty retired in 1988, Ricky and Darlene took on the business, operating the same way he did. And then, “the first of January, my father and aunt both retired, leaving my brother and myself to run the business,” said Natalie Smith, Ricky’s daughter, who has taken the reins with her brother Brian Smith.

“I have had many family members from my great-grandmother, grandmother, to aunts, uncles, cousins, and a nephew all work for the family business,” Natalie said.

Smitty’s takes service seriously, walking clients through the entire process of choosing, buying, and installing their flooring. “I just talk to the clients and ask them questions,” Natalie said. “I try to figure out what products will work best for them at great prices. Do you have kids or pets? Do you stay home or work outside the home? Do you have allergies? All of those answers help us figure out what will work best.”

Some of Smitty’s best-sellers are vinyl plank flooring or one of their array of carpet choices. Whatever the needs, Natalie said their process is simple by design, and being a small, family-owned business ensures you get top-notch service.

“I try to make it as easy as possible, and my brother and I work with each customer from start to finish,” she said. “We come out and measure for different types of flooring, even if you aren’t sure what you need. Then you come in and check out samples. When we install, you move the odd and ends and breakable knick-knacks, and we move all of the heavy furniture. We haul away your old flooring and leave it looking like a brand-new house!” Their installers are also instrumental in the company’s success. “We have our own installers who have worked for us for a long time,” Natalie said. “They have years of experience and are very good at their trade.”

Smitty’s is a Mohawk Color-Center Dealer which gives the store better pricing options to pass on to their customers. New choices like Mohawk’s Pet Premier carpets and their soon-to-debut PureTech PVC-free vinyl plank flooring, allow Smitty’s to stay on the cusp of flooring technology. “We have a special right now on Mohawk Flooring with 18 months-no interest,” Natalie said. “Most of our flooring comes in very fast. Usually within a few days to a week.”

Whether the flooring job is a remodel, residential, commercial, or even for institutions, Smitty’s can handle it. “I think we’ve done floors in nearly every school in Denton County,” Natalie said.

Along with their wide variety of flooring options, Smitty’s also offers extra services like tile and carpet cleaning, using a hot water extraction method, to keep that new floor looking great. “It is recommended that you clean carpet for the first time after 18 months and then once a year after that to keep it nice and fresh,” Smith said.

Whatever it takes, Smitty’s keeps making customers happy. “We are the oldest family-owned and the oldest flooring store in Denton County,” Natalie said. “I had a customer this week come in. A lady with her mother. The mother said, ‘My mother bought flooring from y’all in the 60s!’ and that’s what keeps us around.”

Smitty’s Floor Covering is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm. They are closed on Sundays and open late by appointment. Visit them anytime at smittysfloorcovering.com.