Flooring quotes are notoriously easy to manipulate and difficult to compare. The same square footage of “hardwood flooring installed” can mean wildly different things — different species, different grades, different installation methods, different subfloor preparation, different edge and transition detailing. Understanding what to ask about a flooring quote is the only way to make a meaningful comparison between contractors.
“The three things I always tell homeowners to check when comparing flooring quotes are: the specific product with full specifications, what subfloor preparation is included, and how transitions and thresholds are handled. Those three line items represent the vast majority of where low quotes cut corners. If all three are specified the same way across quotes, then you’re actually comparing price. If they’re not, you’re comparing apples to invoices.”
— Finlay Morrison, certified flooring specialist and product consultant with 13 years of experience in residential flooring sales and installation across the Toronto and Hamilton areas
Table of Contents
Before You Compare Quotes
Are you getting at least three quotes?
For any flooring project above $2,000 — and most full-room or full-floor installations exceed this — three quotes is the right minimum. Product quality, installation quality, and included scope vary significantly across flooring contractors.
Are all quotes based on the same specifications?
Before comparing prices, confirm each contractor is quoting the same product (by name and specification) and the same installation scope. A quote for 20-mil LVP and a quote for 6-mil LVP are not the same quote — even if they say “luxury vinyl plank” on the same line.
Questions About What’s Included
What specific product is specified, with full details?
Any flooring quote should name:
– Manufacturer and product line
– Species (hardwood) or construction type (engineered, LVP, etc.)
– Wear layer thickness (for LVP/LVT and engineered hardwood)
– Plank or tile dimensions
– Grade and finish
Ask for this level of specificity. Without it, you cannot compare quotes meaningfully or hold the contractor to what was agreed.
What subfloor preparation is included?
This is the most commonly underspecified and most consequential line item in a flooring quote. Ask specifically:
- Is a subfloor assessment included?
- What flatness tolerance is required for the product?
- What happens if the subfloor needs leveling — is that included or an additional cost?
- Will moisture testing be performed before installation?
- Is removal of squeaks and loose panels included?
What a good answer looks like: A specific subfloor assessment included as standard, with a clear per-square-foot or per-project cost for leveling if required.
For more detail: Questions to Ask a Flooring Contractor About Subfloor Preparation
Is underlayment included?
Underlayment — the cushioning layer between the subfloor and the flooring — is required for most floating floor installations. It affects sound transmission, underfoot feel, and in some cases moisture management. Ask whether underlayment is included and what specific product is being used.
Some LVP products come with underlayment pre-attached; others require a separate layer. Ask which applies to the proposed product.
Is removal and disposal of existing flooring included?
Removing existing flooring adds time and disposal cost. Confirm explicitly whether removal and disposal are included.
How are thresholds and transitions handled?
Transitions at doorways, between different flooring types, at stair nosings, and where flooring meets other surfaces require specific trim pieces. Ask specifically how many transitions are included, what type (T-molding, reducer, stair nose), and at what additional cost for any beyond the included number.
This is one of the most commonly excluded line items in low flooring quotes.
Is trim reinstallation or replacement included?
When flooring is installed, existing baseboards typically need to be removed first, then reinstalled with new shoe molding (quarter-round) at the base to cover the expansion gap. Ask whether baseboard removal and reinstallation is included, or whether that’s a separate cost.
How much overage is factored in, and why?
All flooring installations require ordering more material than the precise square footage — for cuts, waste, pattern matching, and future repairs. The percentage varies:
- Straight-lay hardwood or LVP: 10% overage
- Diagonal layout: 15% overage
- Herringbone or parquet pattern: 20%+ overage
- Tile with pattern matching: 15–20% overage
Ask what overage is factored in and why. If the overage seems too low for the pattern complexity, ask the contractor to explain how they calculated it.
Questions About Measurement and Pricing
How is the space being measured?
Ask whether the contractor is measuring net floor area (excluding cabinetry, islands, and closets) or gross area. Confirm the measurement basis so you can verify the square footage being quoted.
Is pricing per square foot installed, or a flat rate for the project?
Understand the pricing structure. Per-square-foot pricing makes it easy to understand the cost components; flat-rate pricing may include elements that per-square-foot pricing excludes (or vice versa). Ask for a breakdown either way.
Questions About Payment
What is the payment schedule?
A reasonable payment schedule: a deposit of 10–30% at signing to cover initial material ordering (flooring is often custom-ordered), a milestone payment when material is delivered, and the balance at satisfactory completion.
Deposits above 50% upfront, or full payment before installation begins, are red flags.
Do you accept cheque or e-transfer?
Pay by cheque or e-transfer. Cash-only flooring contractors leave you no paper trail and no recourse.
Related Questions
- Questions to Ask a Flooring Contractor Before You Hire One
- Questions to Ask a Flooring Contractor About Flooring Products
- Questions to Ask a Flooring Contractor About Subfloor Preparation
- How Much Does New Flooring Cost ?
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