Flooring Carton-End Label Decoder

A carton-end label is the fastest way to identify discontinued flooring. Brand strip, color name, model string, thickness, wear layer, and dye lot usually print on the short end of the box. This decoder explains common Home Depot aisle markings (Homer TLC, Shaw, Halstead, Pergo) and how to photograph a label for a FlooringFX Match listing. Model numbers stay plain text.

Pattern tables: discontinued flooring index. LifeProof color rows: LifeProof colors reference. How-to steps: how-to hub.

Posting leftovers or a repair need? Clear carton-end photos get better replies. $10 Match listing; Stripe path unchanged.

What a carton end usually shows

β”Œβ”€ CARTON END (example layout) ─────────────────┐
  BRAND ………. TrafficMaster / LifeProof / Pergo
  COLOR ………. Hampton Honey Oak / Seasoned Wood
  MODEL ………. HL704 Β· I114813L Β· LF001002
  THICKNESS …… 7 mm Β· 6.5 mm Β· 8 mm
  WEAR LAYER ….. 6 mil Β· 12 mil Β· 22 mil
  COVERAGE ……. 19.53 sq. ft. / case
  UPC / SKU …… 12-digit UPC Β· store SKU Β· Internet #
  DYE LOT / RUN .. lot Β· batch Β· shade code
  MAKER MARK ….. Shaw Β· Halstead Β· Homer TLC Β· Mohawk/Pergo
β””β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”€β”˜

Layouts vary by year and supplier. Photograph the whole panel; do not crop out small codes.

Glossary of common markings

Homer TLC

Appears on some older Home Depot private-label flooring cartons. FlooringFX index notes Homer TLC markings alongside Shaw-supplied TrafficMaster laminate. Treat it as a store-side / private-label clue, not a color name. Always pair it with the printed color and model.

Shaw

Shaw Industries is commonly named as a manufacturer of TrafficMaster laminate sold at Home Depot. A Shaw logo, plant code, or Shaw-style UPC on the carton supports a TrafficMaster laminate ID. Private-label sourcing can change over a line’s life, so confirm the model string too. See Pergo vs TrafficMaster.

Halstead / HMTX

Halstead New England (HMTX Industries) supplies LifeProof vinyl and earlier TrafficMaster Allure vinyl to Home Depot. Warranty language for LifeProof names Halstead. If the brand strip says LifeProof or Allure, Halstead is the expected supplier family. See Who makes LifeProof?

Pergo / Mohawk

Pergo laminate at Home Depot (including Pergo XP) sits under Mohawk ownership. Cartons usually say Pergo clearly; XP colors can discontinue while the XP line continues. Example FlooringFX case: Classic Auburn Oak model LF001002. See Classic Auburn Oak specs.

Thickness (mm / in.)

Total board height, often 7 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm for laminate, or roughly 4–7 mm for vinyl plank. Measure with and without attached pad. A 1 mm height mismatch shows in a repair.

Wear layer (mil)

Top clear coat thickness on vinyl, in thousandths of an inch (6, 12, 22, 30 mil are common on HD vinyl). Not the same number as overall thickness in mm. LifeProof Fresh Oak exists as both I96711L (6 mil) and I96711LP (22 mil). See the LifeProof colors reference.

Dye lot / batch / shade

Print run code for color consistency. Dye lots vary; FlooringFX leftover guides recommend comparing new planks to the floor in daylight and mixing boxes during install when the original guide allows it.

UPC, store SKU, Internet #

UPC is the barcode number. Home Depot also uses a store SKU and an Internet number on many pages. Write them as plain text. Do not paste store SKU URLs into Match listings.

Brand cheat sheet

If the carton says… Likely line First FlooringFX stop
TrafficMaster + oak/hickory/pecan color + Shaw or Homer TLC HD private-label laminate (often Shaw-made historically) Index: TrafficMaster laminate
TrafficMaster Allure / Allure Ultra / GripStrip HD vinyl (Halstead / HMTX family) Index: Allure; What replaced Allure?
LifeProof + …L / …LP model HD private-label vinyl (Halstead) LifeProof colors
Pergo XP / Outlast+ Mohawk Pergo laminate lines at HD Index: Pergo
Harmonics / Dimensions (warehouse club) Not TrafficMaster; Costco-era leftovers Harmonics Antique Hickory

How to photograph a label for a Match listing

Match listings and leftover searches move faster when the carton end is readable. Aim for daylight, no glare, and the full short-end panel in frame.

  • Carton end, full panel. Brand, color, model, mil, thickness, coverage, UPC, and dye lot in one shot.
  • Second shot: close-up of the model and mil line. Especially when 6 mil and 22 mil share a color name.
  • Plank face in daylight. Shows tone better than indoor yellow light.
  • Locking edge profile. Short end and long edge; helps rule out look-alikes that will not click.
  • Back stamp if no box. Many planks print a partial code in the groove or on the pad side.
  • Write the model as plain text in the listing (example: I114813L). Do not link SKUs as URLs.

After photos: post on the Match board path via post a match β€” $10, or browse open listings. For search tactics, see how to find leftover flooring boxes and how to find a replacement plank.

No carton left?

  1. Check garage, attic, and closet leftovers for any spare box or cut-off.
  2. Pull one plank from a hidden spot and photograph the back and click profile.
  3. Measure thickness, width, and length with a caliper if you can.
  4. Search FlooringFX by color name, then by any model string you recover.
  5. If the brand is unclear, start with the index and the laminate vs vinyl tests.

Ready to list leftovers with label photos?

Sources: FlooringFX discontinued flooring index, LifeProof and TrafficMaster pattern posts, Pergo vs TrafficMaster and leftover-box how-tos (2026). Homer TLC / Shaw notes follow the index wording for older TrafficMaster laminate cartons. Supplier links for Halstead and Pergo follow FlooringFX brand history posts. Eras and plant marks vary; when uncertain, photograph the full panel and ask before buying.