Compare flooring estimates with the whole job in view.

1. Gather the details before the walkthrough

• Your town, the rooms involved, and approximate room dimensions. Mark measurements as estimates until the installer checks them.
• A wide photo of each room, plus close-ups of worn areas, thresholds, stairs, trim, and flooring that meets the next room.
• The work you want: install a new floor, refinish existing hardwood, replace damaged sections, or install tile.
• Any flooring product you have already chosen or purchased, including the product name and installation instructions.
• Your preferred timing, whether the home will be occupied, and any moving or other renovation dates.

2. Ask for these items in the written scope

• Removal and disposal: Which existing materials will be removed, and is disposal included?
• Preparation: What subfloor work is included? How will unexpected conditions be documented and priced before extra work starts?
• Materials: Who supplies flooring, finish, underlayment, tile, grout, and trim? Which products are included?
• Edges and transitions: Are thresholds, shoe molding, baseboards, stair edges, and adjoining rooms covered?
• Room access: Who moves furniture and appliances? When can you walk on the floor and move things back?
• Completion: What cleanup, final walkthrough, care instructions, payment schedule, and written workmanship terms are included?

3. Ask the questions that fit your floor

Keeping an existing wood floor

Ask whether the floor can be refinished, which damaged areas need repair, how stain choices will be reviewed, and what the proposed finish means for room access. Read about our Rhode Island hardwood floor refinishing.

Installing hardwood or luxury vinyl plank

Ask how the product suits your room, how the subfloor will be checked, which direction the boards will run, and how doorways and adjoining floors will meet. Compare our hardwood installation and LVP installation services.

Planning bathroom or shower tile

Ask what preparation and waterproofing are included, where the tile will stop, and who handles any plumbing or other work outside the tile scope. See our bathroom and shower tile work.

4. Compare the same work, line by line

Put the written scopes side by side. Check the rooms, products, preparation, trim, disposal, and access arrangements before comparing totals. Ask for an explanation of omissions and allowances. Keep the agreed scope and any later changes together.

This checklist is free to share with a homeowner, agent, or renovation partner. Link to this page so they can print a clean copy.