Getting Flooring Quotes: How to Compare Three Quotes Fairly

Put the quotes side by side on the same scope: area, preparation, product, number of coats, finish, warranty, payment schedule and dates. A cheaper quote often leaves something out. Keep any deposit within the NSW limit of 10 percent, and check the licence before work starts.

Why quotes differ

Scope differences

Quotes differ because the scope differs. For a coating job, one contractor may include diamond grinding and another may not. In one contractor source, grinding adds roughly $15 to $25 per m2, so two quotes that look $15 per m2 apart may simply be one with preparation and one without. That figure is indicative and from a single source, used here only as an example.

Product differences

Two quotes for "epoxy flooring" can mean different resins, different thicknesses and different topcoats. Two quotes for carpet can differ in grade and underlay. Ask each contractor to name the product, because a price only compares if the product matches.

What is excluded

Furniture moving, old floor removal, waste disposal, repairs to the subfloor and stairs are common exclusions. One carpet cost guide prices removal separately at $8 to $25 per m2 and stairs per step, which shows how much a quote can leave out and still look complete.

What a quote should state

Item	Why it matters
Area in m2	Lets you compare price per m2
Preparation	Grinding, crack repair, moisture testing, removal of old floor
Product and brand	Resin, timber species, carpet grade or plank type
Number of coats or passes	Affects durability and price
Finish and slip resistance	Look and safety
Warranty	What is covered, for how long and what voids it
Payment schedule and deposit	The NSW maximum deposit is 10 percent
Start and finish dates	Avoids open-ended delays
Licence number	Check it with the licence guide linked below
What is excluded	Furniture moving, waste removal, repairs

A three-quote method

Step 1: one brief for everyone

Give all three contractors the same written brief and the same measurements. Different briefs produce quotes you cannot compare.

Step 2: the same list back

Ask each to list the items above in writing. A blank row is a question to ask, not a gap to guess.

Step 3: one table

Build a table with one column per contractor and one row per item. Fill gaps by asking, not assuming.

Step 4: compare per m2 only after the scope matches

Divide each total by the area, but only once preparation, product and coats match. Otherwise the per-m2 figure compares different jobs.

Step 5: check the people

Check each contractor's licence and reviews. See how to check a flooring contractor's licence in NSW and how to read Google ratings when choosing a tradie.

Worked arithmetic with sourced figures

Grinding on a double garage

A double garage of about 36 m2 with grinding at $15 to $25 per m2 comes to $540 to $900 for the grinding alone. That is our arithmetic on a contractor's range, not a price. If one quote includes it and another does not, that gap alone can explain a $540 to $900 difference.

The deposit limit on a $4,000 job

The NSW maximum deposit is 10 percent of the contract price. On a $4,000 job that is $400. A request for $1,000 up front is above the limit stated on the NSW Government contracts page.

Know the limits

Contract rules

The NSW Government contracts page says work over $5,000 including GST needs a written contract, the maximum deposit is 10 percent, and for work over $20,000 Home Building Compensation cover is required before any deposit is paid. The full checklist is in the contractor hiring checklist.

Which trades need a licence

Which flooring trades need a licence is explained in do you need a licence for flooring work in NSW. For cost ranges to sanity-check a quote see what epoxy flooring costs.

Find contractors to ask

Browse Western Sydney flooring businesses, Newcastle & Hunter flooring businesses or South West Sydney flooring businesses. NSW Flooring lists 1,505 businesses and shows no prices. See how listings are placed and ranked.

Quick answers

How many quotes should I get?

Three is a common rule of thumb, not an official figure.

Should I pay a deposit?

Only up to the legal limit, and only after you have checked the licence and read the contract.

Is the cheapest quote the best?

Not by itself. Check what it leaves out before you compare it with the others.

Can I negotiate a quote?

Yes, and a written variation is the way to record any change in scope or price. NSW sources say variations must be in writing and signed by both parties.