Start with the decision
Use tile and stone exclusions to make responsibility clear, not to hide essential work in fine print. The interfaces most worth discussing include substrate repairs, waterproofing, trims, movement details and protection after installation. If the invitation requires an item you do not include, identify the gap through its permitted clarification process before assuming your bid is comparable.
This guide is for business-to-business project planning in the United States and Canada. For the wider trade context, visit the tile and stone resource hub.
Create a responsibility matrix
| Package | Boundary to classify | Reference to check |
|---|---|---|
| Substrate and assembly | preparation, repairs and waterproofing responsibility | substrate information and assembly details |
| Finish installation | material supply, pattern and proposed substitutions | tile or stone schedule and approved layouts |
| Edges and protection | trims, joints, cleanup and later protection | junction, trim and handoff details |
Download the tile and stone bid exclusions worksheet (CSV)
Fill in the response, owner or source, and date checked. Keep unresolved items visible. The file contains planning prompts only; it does not calculate quantities or make an approval decision.
Put the checklist to work
- Give each interface a status: included, excluded, by others, optional or unresolved. Name the responsible party only when that allocation has been confirmed.
- Separate a factual scope exclusion from an assumption about site conditions. Explain what information would resolve the assumption.
- Check exclusions against approved selections, accepted substrates and resolution of layouts and junctions. An omitted prerequisite can affect timing as well as price.
- When the scope changes, revise both the inclusions and exclusions. Keep the final offer aligned with the clarification record.
A scope gap worth discussing
Illustrative example — not a Build Accord client project
A washroom tile quotation excludes waterproofing that another proposal includes. Confirm the assembly boundary and responsible contractor before comparing prices.
Apply this to your decision: A responsibility matrix that makes gaps discussable before selection, with no assumption that a blanket exclusion overrides project requirements.
Using this in the US and Canada
For a project in the United States
Record the state, local jurisdiction and actual service area. For federal notices, use SAM.gov Contract Opportunities and check the individual notice’s stage and instructions. A prime-contract notice is not automatically a subcontract invitation.
For a project in Canada
Record the province or territory, municipality and actual service area. Use CanadaBuys tender opportunities as one public-procurement source, then read the issuer’s documents and submission route. Do not assume it lists every private construction package.
For either market, state the currency, units and deadline time zone. This worksheet is general planning guidance, not a determination of licensing, procurement eligibility or technical compliance.
The next useful step
Continue with tile and stone subcontractor bid proposal checklist. For the other side of the conversation, see the tile and stone project scope guide.
Build Accord coordinates introductions between construction project teams and trade contractors. An inquiry starts a discussion of fit and availability; it does not guarantee a contractor, an invitation to bid or an award. These guides are not a listing of currently available crews or projects.