{"citations":{"source_mix":{"company_owned":144,"independent":138,"unclear":9},"sources_referenced_by_questions":0,"support_mix":{"direct":195,"partial":91},"total_sources":291,"unique_domain_count":88},"claims":[{"claim_id":"claim-001","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","google","grok","kimi","openai","perplexity"],"predicate":"platforms_analyzed","qualifier":"valid included platform responses","subject":"Best Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Brands and Installers","unit":"platforms","value":6},{"claim_id":"claim-002","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","grok","kimi","openai","perplexity"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"luxury vinyl plank flooring","subject":"Shaw Floors","unit":"rank","value":1},{"claim_id":"claim-003","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","grok","kimi","openai","perplexity"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 6","subject":"Shaw Floors","unit":"platforms","value":5},{"claim_id":"claim-004","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","google","grok","kimi","perplexity"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"luxury vinyl plank flooring","subject":"Mohawk SolidTech","unit":"rank","value":2},{"claim_id":"claim-005","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","google","grok","kimi","perplexity"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 6","subject":"Mohawk SolidTech","unit":"platforms","value":5},{"claim_id":"claim-006","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","google","grok","kimi","openai"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"luxury vinyl plank flooring","subject":"Karndean","unit":"rank","value":3},{"claim_id":"claim-007","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","google","grok","kimi","openai"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 6","subject":"Karndean","unit":"platforms","value":5},{"claim_id":"claim-008","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","google","openai","perplexity"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"luxury vinyl plank flooring","subject":"COREtec Floors","unit":"rank","value":4},{"claim_id":"claim-009","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","google","openai","perplexity"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 6","subject":"COREtec Floors","unit":"platforms","value":4},{"claim_id":"claim-010","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","kimi","openai","perplexity"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"luxury vinyl plank flooring","subject":"LifeProof","unit":"rank","value":5},{"claim_id":"claim-011","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","kimi","openai","perplexity"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 6","subject":"LifeProof","unit":"platforms","value":4},{"claim_id":"claim-012","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","google","perplexity"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"luxury vinyl plank flooring","subject":"Mannington","unit":"rank","value":6},{"claim_id":"claim-013","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["deepseek","google","perplexity"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 6","subject":"Mannington","unit":"platforms","value":3},{"claim_id":"claim-014","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["grok","kimi"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"luxury vinyl plank flooring","subject":"COREtec","unit":"rank","value":8},{"claim_id":"claim-015","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["grok","kimi"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 6","subject":"COREtec","unit":"platforms","value":2},{"claim_id":"claim-016","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["google","grok"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"luxury vinyl plank flooring","subject":"Carpet One Floor & Home","unit":"rank","value":9},{"claim_id":"claim-017","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["google","grok"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 6","subject":"Carpet One Floor & Home","unit":"platforms","value":2},{"claim_id":"claim-018","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["kimi","openai"],"predicate":"final_consensus_rank","qualifier":"luxury vinyl plank flooring","subject":"SMARTCORE Pro","unit":"rank","value":10},{"claim_id":"claim-019","confidence":"verified","observed_at":"2026-10-02","platform_support":["kimi","openai"],"predicate":"platform_mentions","qualifier":"out of 6","subject":"SMARTCORE Pro","unit":"platforms","value":2}],"content_scope":"aggregated facts, computed metrics, and retrieval summaries","entities":[{"average_rank":2.8,"best_rank":1,"entity_id":"entity-001","entity_type":"company","final_rank":1,"name":"Shaw Floors","platform_mentions":5,"platform_share":0.8333333333333334},{"average_rank":3.8,"best_rank":3,"entity_id":"entity-002","entity_type":"company","final_rank":2,"name":"Mohawk SolidTech","platform_mentions":5,"platform_share":0.8333333333333334},{"average_rank":4.4,"best_rank":1,"entity_id":"entity-003","entity_type":"company","final_rank":3,"name":"Karndean","platform_mentions":5,"platform_share":0.8333333333333334},{"average_rank":1.75,"best_rank":1,"entity_id":"entity-004","entity_type":"company","final_rank":4,"name":"COREtec Floors","platform_mentions":4,"platform_share":0.6666666666666666},{"average_rank":3.75,"best_rank":2,"entity_id":"entity-005","entity_type":"company","final_rank":5,"name":"LifeProof","platform_mentions":4,"platform_share":0.6666666666666666},{"average_rank":4,"best_rank":3,"entity_id":"entity-006","entity_type":"company","final_rank":6,"name":"Mannington","platform_mentions":3,"platform_share":0.5},{"average_rank":1,"best_rank":1,"entity_id":"entity-007","entity_type":"company","final_rank":8,"name":"COREtec","platform_mentions":2,"platform_share":0.3333333333333333},{"average_rank":6,"best_rank":4,"entity_id":"entity-008","entity_type":"company","final_rank":9,"name":"Carpet One Floor & Home","platform_mentions":2,"platform_share":0.3333333333333333},{"average_rank":7,"best_rank":6,"entity_id":"entity-009","entity_type":"company","final_rank":10,"name":"SMARTCORE Pro","platform_mentions":2,"platform_share":0.3333333333333333}],"identity":{"dataset_url":"https://homeimprovementconsensusindex.com/datasets/flooring-installation/luxury-vinyl-plank-flooring.json","page_url":"https://homeimprovementconsensusindex.com/flooring-installation/luxury-vinyl-plank-flooring","report_type":"best_of_index","study_id":"HICI-STUDY-4557DF1D562E","title":"Best Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Brands and Installers (2026)"},"limitations":["Exactly 6 platforms were included in this run: openai, deepseek, grok, perplexity, kimi, google. The configured source value 7 is provenance only and must never be described as the number of platforms studied.","The finalrankingtable is the sole authority for rank, platform mentions, platform share, average rank, and best rank. Ignore any conflicting value embedded in a entity evidence bundle.","The Consensus Ranking table must contain exactly one row per finalrankingtable entity, in that order, using that exact entityname. Never split one ranked entity into two product, model, SKU, or product-line rows, and never add another ranking row for a brand already listed. Put recommended products or plans inside that entity's ranked section.","Platform mentions count only ranking-discovery mentions. Do not substitute the number of platforms that later completed a fit assessment.","Citation IDs inside each entity bundle are local to that entity. Consolidate sources by URL using the supplied source catalog.","The URLs were collected from platform responses and were not independently validated by either writer stage.","Each fitreviewurlorplaceholder is the final site-relative CMS path for that entity's review. Link the entity name to that exact path exactly once in its ranked prose section, outside tables and headings. Never replace it with a run ID, report ID, UUID, or local output path.","Use the exact entity-namespaced citation IDs from the source catalog (e.g. e1:); never transfer a citation between entities."],"methodology":{"fit_rating_contract":["strong","good","mixed","weak","uncertain"],"included_valid_platform_count":6,"maximum_finalists":10,"minimum_mentions":2,"name":"Home Improvement Consensus Index cross-platform AI consensus analysis","platforms_included":["deepseek","google","grok","kimi","openai","perplexity"],"platforms_queried":["openai","anthropic","deepseek","grok","perplexity","kimi","google"],"stages":["ranking_discovery","fit_assessment","normalization","editorial_synthesis"],"version":"alias-table-1"},"provenance":{"generated_at":"2026-10-02 09:55:27.027613+00","research_date":"2026-10-02","source_snapshot_sha256":"b3fbec8e24510afd1eb0f51ebba4038d59384d8cc235a6c1dabc26ca51441554","verification_scope":"public_verification"},"ranking":{"candidates_evaluated":24,"qualified_finalists":9,"ranking_unit":"Flooring retailer, manufacturer, or installation contractor"},"schema_version":4,"summary":"Shaw Floors is the consensus leader for luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring installation in this 6-platform AI study, named by 5 of 6 platforms (83.3% share) with an average listed position of 2.8 and a best position of 1. Mohawk SolidTech and Karndean tie on mentions (5 each, 83.3%) but rank lower on average position. COREtec Floors holds the strongest average listed position (1.75) among entities named by 4 platforms, and LifeProof is the value-oriented big-box alternative. Buyers who need a single accountable installer should look at Carpet One Floor & Home, the only ranked entity that is a…","target_buyer":"A homeowner choosing LVP for durability and water resistance and comparing wear layers, locking systems and installers.","topic":{"base_category":"Flooring Installation","category_criteria":["wear layer thickness","locking system quality","moisture performance","material range and quality","subfloor preparation","installation craftsmanship","lead time","price transparency","wear and finish warranty","customer review strength"],"geography":"United States","slug":"best-luxury-vinyl-plank-flooring-brands-and-installers","title":"Best Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Brands and Installers","use_case":"luxury vinyl plank flooring"}}