Floor and plasterboard work is quoted in square metres, but the price per metre depends on preparation more than on the visible finish. For floors: whether the old floor comes up, the condition of the screed, levelling, format and laying pattern, skirting and thresholds. For plasterboard: the type of board, the framing, insulation, openings, and lighting coves or recesses. A good quote shows preparation and finish as separate lines so you can compare them fairly.
Why do floor quotes differ when the area is the same?
Two builders measuring the same flat will usually arrive at similar square metres. Their totals can still be far apart, because the floor line is only the last layer of a sequence. Before any new floor goes down, the old one is either removed or covered. If it is removed, the debris has to leave the building. Underneath, the screed may be sound or may be cracked, hollow or uneven, and in some older flats it hides pipes.
A quote that prices “new porcelain floor, m²” without lines for removal and levelling is assuming the best case. If that assumption fails, the extra appears later. A quote that lists removal, debris, levelling and laying separately is longer, but it tells you where the money goes and which part is uncertain.
Which floor lines should a quote contain?
- Removal of the existing floor and skirting, with debris disposal (m²).
- Screed repair or self-levelling where needed (m²), ideally after a check on site.
- Supply of the floor material, unless you supply it (m²), with a waste allowance for cuts.
- Laying (m²), stating format and pattern.
- Skirting (ml).
- Thresholds and transitions between rooms or to the terrace (ud or ml).
- Door trimming if the new floor is higher than the old one (ud).
Note the waste allowance: every floor needs extra material for cuts, breakages and future repairs, and the allowance grows with large formats and diagonal patterns. Keeping a box or two of spare tiles after the job is good practice. If laying over the existing floor is proposed, the quote should say so and explain why it is suitable. Our itemised quote page shows how lines like these are worded.
How do format and material change the floor cost?
Material choice moves the supply line, but format and pattern move the laying line. Large-format porcelain looks seamless but needs a very flat substrate, two people to handle each piece and careful levelling systems. Small formats are forgiving but have more joints. Herringbone or diagonal patterns produce more cuts and more waste than a straight lay.
Timber and laminate floors need a dry, level base and an underlay, and are sensitive to moisture at terrace doors and in kitchens. Porcelain and ceramic are the usual choice on the coast for their resistance to sand and wet feet, while timber-effect porcelain is a common compromise. We do not recommend brands; we price the type and format you choose and tell you if the substrate needs more preparation. For a comparison of floor types see quitargotelemalaga.eu.
How is plasterboard work priced?
Plasterboard (pladur in Spain) is used for new partitions, suspended ceilings, wall linings, built-in shelves and niches. It is measured in m² for walls and ceilings and in units or linear metres for details. The variables are:
- Board type: standard, moisture-resistant for bathrooms and kitchens, or acoustic.
- Framing: single or double, stud spacing, height.
- Insulation inside partitions or above ceilings.
- Openings: doors, access hatches, recessed lights.
- Finish level: joints taped and filled for paint, or prepared for a smoother finish.
A simple flat ceiling is one thing; a ceiling with a perimeter cove for indirect LED light, steps and recessed fittings is another, with more framing, more cuts and more finishing.
Scenarios without figures: floors and ceilings in a 70 m² flat
Scenario 1 – laying over. Existing tiles firmly bonded and flat. New porcelain laid over them, doors trimmed, new skirting. Lines: preparation, supply, laying, skirting, door trimming. No removal or levelling.
Scenario 2 – full replacement. Old tiles hollow in places, uneven screed. Lines: removal and debris, self-levelling across the flat, supply, laying, skirting, thresholds.
Scenario 3 – floor plus ceilings. Scenario 2, plus suspended ceilings in hallway and living room with a lighting cove and recessed spots, moisture-resistant board in the bathroom. Lines for framing, board, finishing and electrical points by an authorised partner installer.
Same floor area, very different quotes. Each scenario is legitimate; the difference is what you ask for and what the substrate allows.
What is commonly missing from floor and ceiling quotes?
The usual gaps are predictable:
- Levelling left out, then added once the old floor is up.
- Waste allowance not included in the material quantity.
- Skirting and thresholds missing.
- Electrical work for ceiling lights assumed to be someone else’s job.
- Painting of new plasterboard not included.
When you compare quotes, check these five points first, and ask the builder to confirm each one in writing. Our guide on comparing quotes explains how to line up two documents chapter by chapter.
How do we quote floors and plasterboard?
Send photos of the existing floor in each room, a close-up of any cracked or loose tiles, the thresholds to terraces and bathrooms, and the ceiling heights. Tell us which floor type and format you are considering, even roughly, and whether you want new ceilings or partitions.
After a first assessment we visit, tap-test the floor, check levels and measure. The quote separates removal, preparation, supply and laying for floors, and framing, board, finishing and painting for plasterboard, with VAT on its own line. For how wall preparation fits into the same job see gotelé removal cost, and for typical overspends read the best and worst ways to save.
Bauman Raymond Attila · Presupuesto Reforma · Avenida Antonio Belón 3, Marbella. Last reviewed: 05/11/2026.
