FLOORING
How to Bid a Flooring Installation Job
How to bid flooring installation profitably: material grade, waste, prep, stairs and transitions.
Flooring bids lose money on prep. The material is simple — the removal, subfloor repair and stairs are where the hours disappear.
THE SHORT ANSWER
How do you bid a flooring job?
Confirm the exact product and grade, measure waste (5-15%), inspect the subfloor, and quote material, labor, removal, underlayment, stairs and transitions as line items. LVP runs $5-13/sq ft installed; hardwood $6-25/sq ft.
Confirm the product and grade
LVP, laminate, hardwood and engineered wood all carry different material and labor rates. Confirm the exact product and grade before quoting, because a 'wood floor' can mean $4/sq ft or $15/sq ft.
Measure waste and prep
Add 5-10% waste for straight lays, 15% for diagonals. Check the subfloor, ask about old-floor removal, and count stairs and transitions — each is a line item.
Quote the line items
Material, labor, removal, underlayment, stairs and transitions are separate line items. Use the Flooring Installation Cost Calculator and stay within 10% before markup.
Set the trip and prep minimums
Small jobs need a minimum. A 200 sq ft room is a half-day trip for a crew; price the mobilization, not just the square footage.