You've done the right thing: three quotes, three contractors, one bathroom or terrace. Then you line up the numbers and pick the middle one, or the cheapest that didn't feel sketchy on the call. That's the usual process — and also why so many Bangalore homes get waterproofing that fails inside eighteen months, from a contractor who technically delivered exactly what the quote said. The problem was never the price. It was what the quote didn't say.
Why the bottom-line number is the least useful number on the page
Two quotes for the same 6x4 bathroom can genuinely differ by 30-40%, and it's rarely because one contractor is better at the work. It's because one quote specifies a measured area, a named product, a coat count and a written warranty — and the other is a single rupee figure with nothing behind it. The cheap-looking quote isn't cheaper work. It's just less written down, which means more room to cut corners once the advance is paid and the tiles are already off the floor.
Four things missing from most quotes homeowners sign
1. A measured area, not "as required." If your quote says "waterproofing charges as per site conditions" instead of a specific square footage — say, 42 sqft of floor plus 18 sqft of wall up to 3 feet — there's nothing to hold anyone to later. A vague area lets a contractor under-apply material to save cost, or bill extra mid-job for "additional area found." Get the number before you sign, not after.
2. The exact product name, not just the brand. "We use Dr. Fixit" tells you almost nothing — the brand alone sells multiple product lines at different price points for the same surface. The specific product should be printed on the quote. If a contractor won't write it down, assume the one used on the day will be whichever is cheapest and available.
3. Number of coats and where they apply. "Two coats of waterproofing" says nothing about coverage — a full two coats across the whole area, or a thin first coat and a token second one only near the drain? Ask them to walk you through litres-per-coat versus area. If the math doesn't hold up out loud, it won't hold up on your terrace either.
4. A written warranty with actual terms. "5 year warranty" on a quote is marketing, not a commitment, unless it comes with a signed certificate stating what's covered — material, workmanship, or both — and what voids it, such as not reporting a leak within a set number of days. No certificate at handover means no warranty, whatever the quote says.
The advance payment structure tells you as much as the quote itself. Standard practice here is staged — roughly 30-40% advance to book material and labour, balance due on completion or after inspection. A contractor asking for the full amount upfront, however good the quote looks, is a red flag that has nothing to do with price.
What to do with three quotes already sitting in your inbox
- Line them up on five points only: measured area, named product, coat count, written warranty terms, and payment structure — ignore the total until these five match.
- Call whichever quote is thinnest on detail and ask them to fill the gaps in writing. How they respond tells you more than the quote itself.
- Get a revised quote in writing, not a WhatsApp voice note, once details are confirmed. If it isn't on paper, it isn't part of the deal.
Every LoklFix quote states the measured area, the exact product line, the number of coats, and a written 5-10 year warranty certificate at handover — before any advance changes hands. Call +91-8123083393 for a free on-site measurement and a quote you can actually hold someone to.
Frequently asked questions
A price with no measured area behind it — wording like "charges as per site" instead of an actual square footage. Without a stated number, there's nothing to hold the contractor to later.
Yes. A verbal promise of a brand name means nothing once work starts — most brands sell multiple products at different price points for the same surface, so the specific product should be named on the quote.
No. Standard practice is staged payment — commonly 30-40% advance, balance on completion or after inspection. A demand for the full amount upfront is a red flag on its own.
Not in any dispute that matters. A warranty needs a written certificate stating duration, what it covers, and what voids it. If it isn't on paper, it isn't a warranty.