Flooring proposals need to address what's going on under the surface — literally. Subfloor condition, moisture barriers, transitions, and acclimation time are the details that separate a professional bid from a number on a napkin.
Flooring type (hardwood, LVP, tile, carpet, laminate), total square footage, rooms included, property type. Note what's currently on the floor (carpet, vinyl, tile) and whether demo/removal is included. If the home is occupied, note how you'll manage dust, noise, and access.
Brand, product line, color/style, plank size or tile size, thickness, wear layer (for LVP/laminate). For hardwood: species, grade, finish type (prefinished vs site-finished), plank width. For tile: material (porcelain, ceramic, natural stone), PEI rating, grout color. Include underlayment type and thickness.
This is where projects go wrong if not addressed. Note: existing floor removal method, subfloor inspection, leveling compound (if needed, specify maximum depth), moisture testing (especially for concrete slabs), plywood overlay or repair. For wood-over-concrete: moisture barrier required. For tile: cement board or membrane.
Method: nail-down, glue-down, floating, or mortar-set (tile). Acclimation period (hardwood needs 3-5 days). Pattern: straight lay, diagonal, herringbone, staggered. Transitions at doorways and between flooring types (T-mold, reducer, threshold). Quarter round or shoe molding at baseboards. Stair installation if applicable (per tread pricing).
Line items: material (per sq ft), underlayment (per sq ft), installation labor (per sq ft), old flooring removal (per sq ft), subfloor leveling (per sq ft, if needed), transitions (each), quarter round (per linear ft), stairs (per tread). Material and labor are often priced together — break them out so the client can see the breakdown.
Material acclimation: 3-5 days (hardwood). Installation: X sq ft per day typical (depends on method). Furniture move-back timing. Walk-on time: immediate for floating, 24 hours for glue-down, 48 hours for tile. First maintenance: when and how to clean. Area rugs and felt pads for furniture.