How to Choose a Flooring Contractor in NSW: A Checklist

Check the licence, get a written quote that names the prep work and products, and keep any deposit to the legal limit. NSW sources say a deposit cannot be more than 10 percent, and Home Building Compensation cover is required where work is worth more than $20,000. Then compare ratings, reviews and at least three quotes.

Start with the licence

Check it before you ask for a quote

Where a licence applies, check it before work starts. Use the Service NSW search described in how to check a flooring contractor's licence in NSW. It takes a few minutes and works with a name, licence number, ABN or ACN.

Know which trades are covered

Which flooring trades need a licence is explained in do you need a licence for flooring work in NSW. Tiling, waterproofing and minor trade work above $5,000 need one on the NSW Government pages. Carpet laying, floor sanding and epoxy coating are not named, so ask.

Get the contract and the limits in writing

Which contract applies

The NSW Government contracts page says work priced over $5,000 including GST needs a written contract. Jobs from $5,000 to $20,000 use a small job contract. Jobs over $20,000 use a large job contract that must be signed and dated by both parties, show the price on the first page, attach the plans and specifications, and include the statutory warranties.

The deposit limit

The maximum deposit you can be asked to pay is 10 percent of the contract price. One news report we found described a different limit, which conflicts with the NSW Government page, so use the official 10 percent figure and confirm with Fair Trading if the amount matters.

Insurance

Home Building Compensation cover is required where the work is worth more than $20,000 including labour and materials. The contractor cannot take a deposit or other payment until the cover is in place and a certificate has been given to you. Check the certificate before you pay.

The cooling-off period and the Consumer building guide

For contracts over $20,000, the contract must state a cooling-off period of five clear business days after you receive a copy. For work over $5,000, the contractor must give you a copy of the Consumer building guide. You should receive a copy of the signed contract within five business days.

What a good quote states

Scope and measurements

A flooring quote should state the area in square metres, the rooms or surfaces, and what is excluded, such as furniture moving and waste removal. Quotes that look cheap often leave something out, which is why the comparison method in how to compare flooring quotes fairly lines the items up one by one.

Preparation, product and warranty

For coatings, the quote should say whether the concrete is diamond ground and how moisture is tested. For all floors it should name the product or brand, the number of coats or passes, the finish, the warranty and what voids it.

Payment schedule and dates

Progress payments should match work actually completed, not time spent. The quote should also give a start and finish date, so a delay is a breach of something you can point to.

Statutory warranties

Statutory warranties apply even if they are not written into the contract. They last six years for major defects and two years for other defects, from completion of the work. Secondary summaries of the Home Building Act list structural and waterproofing failures in wet areas among major defects, so check the Act or Fair Trading for how a specific fault is classed.

Read the ratings with care

Rating and review count together

A 5.0 rating from three reviews tells you less than a 4.7 from 300. Read how to read Google ratings when choosing a tradie for how to weigh rating against review count. NSW Flooring shows each business's Google rating and review count with the retrieval date (22 October 2026), but does not verify them.

Ratings are not a licence check

A rating says nothing about licence, insurance or whether the contractor suits your job. Treat it as one signal among several. See how this directory collects data and the NSW Flooring disclaimer.

If something goes wrong

NSW Fair Trading says home building disputes must go through it before the tribunal will accept an application. A homeowner can start the process without the contractor's consent. Fair Trading can send an inspector for a major defect, and an inspector can issue a rectification order. If agreement cannot be reached, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal can hear the dispute.

Shortlist by area and trade

Browse flooring contractors in Western Sydney, flooring contractors in Newcastle & Hunter or flooring contractors in South West Sydney. The directory lists 1,505 businesses across 22 regions. Contact at least three, and keep every promise in writing.

Quick answers

How many quotes should I get?

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

Is a high rating enough?

No. A rating does not show whether the contractor is licensed, insured or suited to your job.

What if I have already paid more than 10 percent?

Read the contract and the Fair Trading dispute pages, then raise it with the contractor in writing. The 10 percent limit is stated on the NSW Government contracts page.

Who checks that the work is done properly?

You do, with the written scope in hand, and Fair Trading can inspect a major defect if the dispute goes that far.