Measure the surface, then describe the difficulty
Square footage is only the start. Dictate tile size and pattern, substrate condition, demolition, waterproofing, transitions, niches, base, access, and who supplies the finish tile.
A voice script you can use
“Estimate a 12 by 15 kitchen floor. Remove existing vinyl, patch the substrate, install 12 by 24 porcelain in a straight pattern with ten percent waste, then grout and seal transitions. Labor is 2,250 dollars. Customer supplies tile.”
Worked example
12 × 15 FLOOR
180 SQ FT
At 10% waste, plan around 198 square feet of tile, then review package rounding. Thinset and grout depend on product coverage, tile, trowel, and joint width.
What to review before sending
- Net area and waste percentage
- Demo, disposal, floor flattening, and waterproofing
- Layout, movement joints, transitions, and trim
- Owner-supplied versus contractor-supplied materials
- Your labor and material prices