LVP vs Laminate vs Engineered Hardwood: Quote Worksheet and Underlayment Check
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A flooring shelf price covers only the stated sale unit. Compare the complete project cost, including required underlayment, preparation, transitions, delivery and installation, for the same measured scope. A lower plank price can result in a higher total if the other requirements cost more.
Why the shelf price lies
Two products with the same per-square-foot sticker can carry very different requirements. One might float over an attached pad; the next might need a separate moisture barrier, a specific underlayment, and more subfloor prep. Add labor — glue-down and nail-down cost differently than a floating click floor — and the “cheap” plank quietly grows a tail of line items. The only fair comparison puts every product through the same scope, so a missing line doesn’t flatter one option.
Build one quote column per product
For each candidate, fill in the same rows from real numbers, not estimates you half-remember:
| Line | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|
| Flooring boxes | measured area, explicit overage, carton coverage, box price |
| Repair stock | separate intentional quantity |
| Underlayment / adhesive | the exact installation sheet and accessory coverage |
| Moisture control | product/subfloor requirement and test result |
| Transitions & stair parts | measured count and matching-product price |
| Subfloor preparation | inspected condition and quoted materials/labor |
| Delivery, tax, tools, removal | local quote or receipt |
| Installation labor | scope-matched contractor quote, if applicable |
Don’t assume one “typical” retail range, and don’t let “it has an attached pad” stand in for checking whether a vapor layer or prep is still required. Requirements vary even within a category — CALI’s bamboo and vinyl resources are one example of how much product-specific differences move the assembly:
Compare on the same denominator
Once each column is filled, reduce them to one comparable figure:
Material boxes = target square footage ÷ carton coverage, rounded up
Project total = sum of all required quote lines
Project cost per measured sq ft = project total ÷ measured installation area
That last number — total dollars over your measured area — is the honest apples-to-apples comparison. It’s often a very different ranking than the shelf prices suggested, because a low plank price with an expensive prep-and-moisture requirement can lose to a pricier plank that floats over what you already have.
A note on the non-dollar differences
The worksheet compares money, but the three systems also differ in water resistance, repairability, feel underfoot, refinishing potential and resale perception. Those aren’t line items, but they belong in the decision alongside the per-square-foot total — the cheapest floor that doesn’t suit the room isn’t a bargain.
Cost comparisons that distort the result
- Comparing shelf prices. They omit underlayment, moisture control, prep and labor.
- Using different scopes per product. A missing prep line makes one option look artificially cheap.
- Letting “attached pad” skip the moisture check. Confirm whether a vapor layer is still required.
- Ignoring per-square-foot total. Rank on total ÷ measured area, not the sticker.
Do you need underlayment?
Underlayment is often the line that changes a quote, and there is no universal yes or no. The exact flooring product, its installation method, the subfloor, moisture conditions and the accessories the maker permits decide it. Two shortcuts cause most of the trouble:
- “My plank has an attached pad, so nothing else is needed.” The pad handles cushioning and sound. A concrete slab may still need a separate vapor retarder that the pad does not provide.
- “It’s concrete, so I’ll buy foam.” The subfloor type does not tell you which foam or film is right. Moisture testing and the product’s compatibility list do.
Before pricing an underlayment, record the exact flooring product, the installation method (floating, glue-down or nail-down), the subfloor type and condition, any moisture tests the maker requires and their limits, and which accessories are required, permitted or prohibited. Using an accessory the flooring maker does not permit can void the warranty.
Once the right product is chosen, the quantity is simple: rolls = installation area ÷ net coverage per roll, rounded up. Use the net coverage printed for your installation method, after seams and overlaps, rather than assuming every roll covers 100 square feet. With 100 square feet of net coverage per roll, a 168-square-foot room needs 168 ÷ 100 = 1.68, so 2 rolls. The flooring’s waste percentage does not apply to underlayment, which follows its own roll size and seam rules. If the documents conflict or the slab has a moisture problem, stop and ask the manufacturer or a qualified installer before buying.
What this quote worksheet cannot decide
This worksheet organizes your quotes; it doesn’t supply national prices or decide which system is compatible with your subfloor and moisture conditions. Use the same inspected scope for every option, and let the installation sheets and, where needed, a qualified installer settle compatibility.
Use the flooring calculator for the measured area, editable overage, box rounding and box price on each candidate; keep accessories, prep and labor as separate lines so the comparison stays honest. These are general-information estimates, not professional advice.