Flooring Installation Quote Checklist

What it should state. What's commonly not stated. What to ask before you sign.

You're about to sign a flooring installation quote — hardwood, vinyl plank, tile, or carpet. This page lists what a complete one states, the lines that are commonly not stated, and the questions worth asking before your name goes on it.

This is a reading checklist, not advice. Spend Defense doesn't tell you whether to sign — we make sure you've actually seen what's on the page, and what isn't.

What a complete flooring quote states

Product by name — brand, product line, and thickness or wear layer — not just "LVP" or "engineered wood."
Square footage and waste — the area being covered and the waste/overage percentage added to it.
The total price — material and labor, either as one total or as two clearly labeled lines.
Removal and disposal — whether tearing out and hauling away the old flooring is included.
Subfloor prep — leveling, patching, or repairs: included, priced per hour or per bag, or excluded.
Underlayment and trim — underlayment, transitions, baseboards, and shoe molding: in the number or not.
Furniture and appliances — who moves them, and whether toilets or appliances are pulled and reset.
Warranty — the installation warranty length, separate from the product warranty.

What's commonly not stated

Subfloor surprises — what happens if the floor under the old covering needs work is often decided after demo, not before.
Acclimation period — many products need to sit in the house before install; the quote rarely says how long.
Moisture testing — whether the slab or subfloor is tested for moisture first is often skipped on paper.
Door trimming — new flooring can be taller than old; trimming doors to clear it may or may not be included.
Leftover material — whether extra boxes you paid for are left with you is seldom stated.

None of these gaps decide anything by themselves. They're the lines to ask about before you sign, not after.

Questions to ask before you sign

“What exact product is this — brand, line, and thickness?”
“Is removal and disposal of the old floor in this total?”
“If the subfloor needs leveling or repair, how is that priced?”
“Are underlayment, transitions, and baseboards included?”
“How long does the product need to acclimate, and is moisture testing part of the job?”

Want a second set of eyes on the actual document?

Send us the paperwork before you sign. A Quick Check reads your document and shows you what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer documents: Document Review $19, Premium Review $49.

Check my document →

We don't decide for you. We make sure nothing on the page — or missing from it — surprises you later.

FAQ

How much does flooring installation usually cost?

We don't price other people's work — cost depends on the product, the square footage, and the condition of the subfloor underneath. What you can check is whether your quote names the product, states its own total, and says what prep is included. If it doesn't, that's a question to ask before signing.

What if something on this checklist is missing from my flooring quote?

Ask for it in writing before you sign. A missing subfloor line or trim line isn't a verdict on the installer; it's an unknown in a contract you're about to be bound by. Getting it stated on the page costs nothing and settles it before the old floor comes up.

Can Spend Defense read my actual flooring quote?

Yes — that's the Quick Check. Send the document and you'll get back what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask, for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Most flooring quotes are a page or two, well within that limit.

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Spend Defense — we read the paperwork before you sign. We don't decide for you.