Updated November 30, 2022
A flooring contract is a legal instrument that sets binding terms for an agreement between a flooring installer (floorer) and a client. The contract is intended to clarify the expectations for each party: for the floorer, the work that will be performed, and for the client, the payment that will be provided. In the event of a dispute, the contract can be used to ensure that each party does what is required.
Common Flooring Materials
- Carpet
- Laminate
- Tile
- Wood
Table of Contents |
What Should be Included?
Scope of Work
The scope of work section describes the work that will be performed. It’s common for the work to be broken up by room, with a section listing:
- The room’s square footage;
- The desired flooring material; and
- The price of the material per square foot.
If there are plans or blueprints to guide the project, these can be incorporated by reference. But unlike other kinds of construction work, such as framing, floorers may not have these detailed documents. As a result, it’s important to use the scope of work to make clear what kind of work the client is seeking. Common sub-sections in this area include:
- Removal: Is the floorer responsible for removing the existing flooring before applying whatever surface the client wants, as might be required in a home that wants to replace carpeting with hardwood floors? Or is the floorer just preparing and cleaning the current surface, as might be done in a room where vinyl flooring is layered on top of concrete? Removal can add time and expense to a job, which is an important consideration.
- Materials: Although it is unlikely that there would be a disagreement about, say, carpet or concrete, there are many gradations within categories of flooring materials, some of which are much more expensive than others.
Payment
The contract should memorialize the terms of paying for the flooring job. In many flooring jobs, including carpeting, the floorer will ask for a downpayment of between 10% and 25% of the total cost of the job. Both the total, original cost, and the amount owed after the down payment has been applied should be included.
Job Site
This will identify where the flooring work is taking place. If a client wants to hire the same provider to handle flooring work at multiple locations, the floorer can consult with the client on whether they would prefer using one contract per property or one contract to cover the entire job.
Timeline
At a minimum, this section will state when the project is expected to begin and when it is expected to conclude. It can also be the place to address issues that may come up during flooring work that were not apparent to the client and did not come up during a walk-through. For example, if there are preexisting issues with the foundation of a home that are discovered by the flooring contractor during work, these are likely to impact the project’s duration.
Change Orders
This section explains how changes in a client’s plans should be addressed when they come in the middle of the project. Because flooring is faster than many segments of the construction industry, change orders are unlikely to be substantial, but a client may, for example, change their mind after seeing how a completed room looks.
Insurance
Each state will have requirements about the kinds of insurance that different building trade specialties must carry. It is generally enough to state in the contract that the floorer complies with the relevant local requirements.
Supplements
This section includes documents that may have been referenced in other portions of the contract, such as blueprints or schematics. It may also be called an Appendix.
Common Flooring Rates by Project
There are multiple components to a flooring project, the most important of which is the material.
- Carpeting: $1 – $4/sq. ft.; $0.61/sq. ft. for padding (Source: Home Depot)
- Laminate: $2.70 – $11/sq. foot (Source: modernize.com)
- Hardwood: $6 – $12/sq. ft. (Source: angi.com)
- Tile: $13.5 – $63/sq. ft. (Source: rubi.com)