Normalize the measurable scope
- Included square footage and waste assumptions
- Rooms, closets, halls, landings, stairs, and vertical surfaces
- Removal, haul-away, and disposal
- Furniture and appliance movement
- Base shoe, thresholds, transitions, stair noses, and vents
- Repairs, lacing, subfloor correction, and board replacement
Name the installed system
| Project | Details that should be identifiable |
|---|---|
| Hardwood refinish | Repair scope, sanding, stain or natural direction, sealer, finish product, coats, sheen |
| New flooring | Manufacturer, collection, construction, installation method, underlayment or adhesive, transitions |
| Concrete coating | Preparation, moisture assumption, crack and joint treatment, basecoat, chip coverage, topcoat, verticals |
Find every assumption
- Subfloor is flat and sound enough
- Concrete moisture is within product limits
- Existing adhesive, sealer, or finish can be removed as expected
- Replacement boards or discontinued planks can be matched
- Furniture and appliances are already out
- Power, water, temperature, parking, and access are available
- Another trade owns trim, doors, reconnection, or paint touch-up
Turn the schedule into household instructions
A start date and duration are not enough. Compare room access, dust protection, ventilation, foot traffic, pet limits, furniture and rug return, appliance reconnection, vehicle return, weather contingencies, cleanup, and final walkthrough.
Read the payment terms
- Deposit amount and what it purchases
- Progress payments tied to clear milestones
- How approved change orders are documented
- Accepted payment methods and processing fees
- When final payment is due
- Whether cancellation, restocking, or special-order terms apply
Read the warranty from the exclusions backward
A lifetime label does not mean every failure mode is covered forever. Identify the covered layer or workmanship, owner maintenance obligations, moisture and movement exclusions, transfer rules, labor coverage, abrasion and chemical exclusions, and the claim process.
The decision rule
Choose the proposal that best fits the result, risk, communication, and price you understand. If a contractor cannot explain a meaningful difference without attacking the competition, you still do not have enough information.
If you want a Fortress proposal to compare against the same checklist, request a flooring estimate after gathering the rooms, known repairs, timing, and access details.