A flooring contract specifies the material by brand/line/color, the measured area plus a 5–10% waste factor, subfloor preparation as a separately priced scope, and moisture testing for wood and some vinyl installs (manufacturer warranties require it). Typical installed pricing: LVP $4–$12/sq ft, carpet $3–$8, hardwood $8–$22, tile $10–$25. Payment runs deposit (25–50%, capped lower in some states) plus completion, with furniture moving, old-floor removal, and transitions priced as named line items.
Flooring Contract Template
Reviewed by the Agiled editorial teamUpdated June 2026
Flooring jobs hide their disputes under the old floor: the subfloor that turns out wet, soft, or out of level; the 'square footage' that didn't include the...
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Full template text
FLOORING INSTALLATION CONTRACT
Date: _______________
Project Address: _______________
PARTIES
This Flooring Installation Contract ("Agreement") is entered into by and between:
Owner: _____________ ("Owner"), with a mailing address of _____________
Contractor: _____________ ("Contractor"), doing business as _____________, with a mailing address of _____________, License No. _____________, insured under Policy No. _____________
CLAUSE 1 — SCOPE OF WORK
The Contractor agrees to furnish all labor, materials, tools, and equipment necessary to complete the following flooring installation at the Project Address:
| Area | Square Footage | Flooring Type | Product/Brand | Color/Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Work includes removal of existing flooring (if applicable), subfloor preparation, moisture testing, installation of underlayment or moisture barriers as required, installation of the specified flooring material, and installation of transitions, moldings, and trim. All work shall be performed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation guidelines and applicable building codes. |
CLAUSE 2 — MATERIALS
All flooring materials shall conform to the specifications listed in the table above and in the attached Exhibit A. The Contractor shall order materials with a waste allowance of ___% to account for cuts and fitting. Where a specified product is unavailable, the Contractor shall propose a substitute of equal or greater quality for the Owner's written approval before ordering.
CLAUSE 3 — CONTRACT PRICE
The Owner agrees to pay the Contractor the total sum of $_____________ ("Contract Price") for the satisfactory completion of the Work. The Contract Price is itemized as follows:
- Materials: $_____________
- Labor: $_____________
- Subfloor preparation: $_____________
- Removal and disposal of existing flooring: $_____________
- Transitions, moldings, and trim: $_____________
CLAUSE 4 — PAYMENT SCHEDULE
- 20% ($___) deposit upon execution of this Agreement
- 30% ($___) upon delivery of materials to the Project Address
- 40% ($___) upon completion of installation
- 10% ($___) retainage due upon Owner's final acceptance and punch-list completion
Payments are due within five (5) business days of the Contractor's invoice. Late payments accrue interest at 1.5% per month.
CLAUSE 5 — PROJECT TIMELINE
The Contractor shall commence Work on or about _____________ and shall complete all installation within _____________ business days of the Start Date. Material delivery is estimated for _____________. Delays caused by material back-orders, subfloor conditions requiring additional preparation, or Owner-requested changes shall extend the timeline proportionally.
CLAUSE 6 — SUBFLOOR CONDITIONS
The Contractor shall inspect the subfloor upon removal of existing flooring and perform moisture testing as required by the flooring manufacturer. If the subfloor requires leveling, repairs, or moisture mitigation beyond what is described in Clause 1, the Contractor shall notify the Owner in writing and provide a cost estimate. Additional subfloor work shall be authorized through a written Change Order before proceeding.
CLAUSE 7 — CHANGE ORDERS
Any change to the scope, materials, price, or timeline must be documented in a written Change Order signed by both Parties. The Change Order shall describe the modification, state the cost adjustment, and note any schedule impact. The Contractor shall not perform changed work without a signed Change Order.
CLAUSE 8 — WARRANTY
The Contractor warrants all workmanship for a period of _____________ year(s) from the date of completion. This warranty covers defects in installation, including gaps, buckling, or loose planks/tiles attributable to improper installation technique. The warranty does not cover damage caused by moisture from sources the Owner failed to disclose, improper maintenance, or normal wear and tear. Manufacturer product warranties are separate and shall be provided to the Owner upon project completion.
CLAUSE 9 — CLEANUP AND DISPOSAL
The Contractor shall remove all debris, packaging, old flooring materials (if removal was included in the scope), and surplus materials upon completion. The Project Address shall be left in broom-clean condition.
CLAUSE 10 — INSURANCE
The Contractor shall maintain general liability insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and workers' compensation insurance as required by law. Certificates of insurance shall be provided to the Owner before work begins.
CLAUSE 11 — OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
The Owner shall clear all furniture and personal belongings from the work areas before the Contractor's start date. The Owner shall provide access to the Project Address and ensure that utilities (electricity, water) are available. The Owner shall make timely decisions on material substitutions and change-order requests.
CLAUSE 12 — DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Any dispute arising under this Agreement shall first be submitted to mediation. If unresolved within thirty (30) days, either Party may pursue arbitration or litigation in the courts of the state where the Project Address is located. The prevailing Party shall recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
CLAUSE 13 — TERMINATION
Either Party may terminate this Agreement for cause upon ten (10) days' written notice if the other Party fails to cure a material breach within the notice period. The Owner may terminate for convenience, compensating the Contractor for all Work completed, materials ordered, and reasonable costs incurred. Upon termination, the Contractor shall leave the project in a safe condition.
CLAUSE 14 — GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of _____________.
CLAUSE 15 — ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement, including all exhibits and executed Change Orders, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties. No oral agreements or representations shall modify this Agreement. Amendments must be in writing and signed by both Parties.
SIGNATURES
Owner: ___________________________ Date: _______________
Printed Name: ___________________________
Contractor: ___________________________ Date: _______________
Printed Name and Title: ___________________________
Exhibit A — Material Specifications and Product Data Sheets
- LVP installed
- $4 – $12 per sq ft
- Hardwood installed
- $8 – $22 per sq ft
- Waste factor
- 5% – 10% over measured area
- Deposit
- 25% – 50% (state caps may apply)
What your flooring contract should cover
Material specification
Brand, product line, color, thickness/wear layer, and quantity including the waste factor. 'Luxury vinyl plank' spans a 4× price range — the spec line is what guarantees the floor that shows up matches the sample that was approved.
Measured area and waste factor
The room-by-room measurement and the 5–10% waste allowance (10%+ for diagonal layouts, patterns, and tile). The client pays for the ordered quantity — saying so prevents the 'I'm paying for flooring I don't have' conversation.
Subfloor inspection and prep pricing
Leveling, patching, replacing damaged sections, and underlayment are separately priced — either unit rates agreed up front ($2–$5/sq ft for leveling) or a change order after the old floor comes up. Prep discovered mid-job is the #1 flooring change order.
Moisture testing
Concrete slabs and wood subfloors get tested before wood, laminate, and many vinyl installs — manufacturer warranties require documented readings within spec. The contract assigns the test and records the results.
Old floor removal and disposal
Tear-out priced per square foot by material ($1–$4/sq ft; tile at the high end), with disposal included or passed through. Discovering asbestos-era sheet vinyl stops the job — the contract should route that to a licensed assessment.
Furniture and appliance moving
Included, priced per room, or the client's responsibility before crew arrival — pick one. Disconnecting appliances, electronics, and plumbing (washer, gas range) is normally excluded.
Transitions, trim, and thresholds
Transition strips between materials, baseboard removal/reinstall vs. quarter-round, and stair nosing — each a line item. These 'small' pieces are where punch lists stall; itemizing them gets them installed.
Acclimation and site conditions
Wood and some LVP must acclimate on site (commonly 48–96 hours) at normal living temperature and humidity. HVAC running and wet trades finished before delivery — the conditions belong in the contract because the warranty depends on them.
Payment schedule and warranty split
Deposit (25–50%, capped lower in some states — California allows the lesser of 10% or $1,000 on home improvement), balance on completion after walkthrough. Workmanship warranty (1–2 years typical) separate from the manufacturer's product warranty.
Typical installed flooring pricing (U.S., 2026)
| Material | Installed, per sq ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet | $3 – $8 | Pad included |
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) | $4 – $12 | Wear layer drives price |
| Laminate | $4 – $10 | |
| Engineered hardwood | $8 – $16 | |
| Solid hardwood | $10 – $22 | Site-finished higher |
| Tile (ceramic/porcelain) | $10 – $25 | Pattern and size drive labor |
| Old floor tear-out | $1 – $4 | Tile at the high end |
| Subfloor leveling | $2 – $5 | Quoted after inspection |
Installed prices bundle material and labor; regional labor rates, stairs, patterns, and furniture handling move totals significantly. Several states cap home-improvement deposits — check yours before setting the schedule.
How flooring contracts work in practice
Whole-home LVP replacement
The most common residential job in 2026: tear out carpet and aging laminate, level the worst sections, install LVP throughout. The contract sequence that keeps it clean: measured area plus waste ordered against the spec line, tear-out priced per square foot, a prep allowance or unit pricing for leveling discovered under the carpet, and transitions itemized per doorway. Payment: lawful deposit at signing, balance after the walkthrough — with the punch list (missing quarter-round, a lifting transition) written, dated, and tied to the final payment.
Hardwood and the moisture story
Wood floors fail from moisture more than from anything else, and manufacturers deny warranty claims without documented testing. The contract assigns the moisture test (slab and subfloor readings against the manufacturer's spec), requires acclimation time on site, and conditions installation on readings in range. When a slab tests wet, the moisture-mitigation system ($2–$4/sq ft) is a written change order — an expensive surprise, but a priced one, instead of a failed floor and a finger-pointing exercise two winters later.
Tile in wet areas
Bathroom and shower tile adds waterproofing to the scope: the membrane or backer system specified by name, slope-to-drain on shower floors, and movement joints per industry (TCNA) standards. These details belong in the contract because they're invisible after grout — the only evidence of what's behind the tile is the paper. Payment milestones on larger tile jobs: rough-in/prep, tile set, grout and finish.
Mistakes that weaken a flooring contract
A materials line that just says the material type
'LVP' or 'oak hardwood' without brand, line, and wear layer invites substitution to whatever's in the warehouse. The spec line and the approved sample are the same floor — make the paper say so.
Pretending the subfloor will be fine
Nobody knows what's under the old floor until it's up. A contract without prep unit-pricing or a change-order path turns the discovery into a standoff with the house torn open.
Skipping the moisture test to save a day
An undocumented install on a wet slab voids the manufacturer warranty and leaves the installer owning a cupped floor. The test costs little; the skipped test can cost the whole job.
Front-loading the payment
A floor that's 95% done with 100% paid stays 95% done. Hold a real balance to completion — and note that several states cap deposits on home-improvement work by law.
Leaving furniture handling unassigned
Install day with full rooms is a crew standing still at the hourly rate. The contract names who empties the rooms, what moving costs if the crew does it, and that appliance disconnects are excluded.
How to use this template
- 01
Download the flooring contract template in Word or PDF.
- 02
Specify each material by brand, line, color, and quantity including the waste factor.
- 03
Price tear-out, subfloor prep (unit rates), and itemize transitions, trim, and stairs.
- 04
Assign moisture testing and acclimation requirements per the manufacturer's instructions.
- 05
Settle furniture moving and appliance handling.
- 06
Set a lawful deposit and a completion balance tied to the final walkthrough, then have both parties sign.
Skip this template if…
- Gym floors, commercial epoxy, and sports surfaces — specialty systems with their own substrate and curing requirements.
- Refinishing existing hardwood — sanding and finishing is a different scope with dust containment and occupancy terms; use a dedicated refinishing agreement.
FAQs
How much does flooring installation cost?
Installed prices typically run: carpet $3–$8/sq ft, LVP $4–$12, laminate $4–$10, engineered hardwood $8–$16, solid hardwood $10–$22, and tile $10–$25. Add tear-out ($1–$4/sq ft) and any subfloor prep — leveling commonly runs $2–$5/sq ft where needed.
What should a flooring contract include?
Material specs by brand and line, measured area with the waste factor, separately priced tear-out and subfloor prep, moisture testing and acclimation requirements, furniture handling, itemized transitions and trim, the payment schedule, and the workmanship warranty separate from the manufacturer's warranty.
Why am I paying for more flooring than my square footage?
Cuts, pattern matching, and board selection consume material — the industry-standard waste factor is 5–10% over measured area, higher for diagonal layouts and tile patterns. The contract orders and bills the quantity including waste, and leftover full boxes are usually returnable.
What is a moisture test and do I need one?
A documented reading of slab or subfloor moisture against the flooring manufacturer's spec, required before wood, laminate, and many vinyl installs. Skipping it voids most product warranties — if a slab tests wet, a mitigation coating is installed first as a priced change order.
How much deposit should a flooring contractor take?
Typically 25–50% to cover the material order — but several states cap home-improvement deposits by law (California: the lesser of 10% or $1,000). The balance should be due on completion after a walkthrough, with milestone payments on large multi-material jobs.
Who moves the furniture for flooring installation?
Whatever the contract says: client empties rooms before arrival, or the crew moves furniture at a stated per-room price. Appliance disconnects (washers, gas ranges) and electronics are normally the client's responsibility regardless — installers don't want the liability.
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The contract sets the terms — the invoice collects on them. Free download with the right line items pre-filled.
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