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Millwork & Casework: what bids leave out
Millwork bids can be hard to compare because every shop draws the line in a different place. One bidder furnishes and installs the cabinets, countertops, hardware and trim, with shop drawings and finish samples. Another quotes boxes only, leaves the solid-surface tops to a fabricator, and assumes someone else puts in the blocking and cuts the sink holes. Put them on the same scope before you compare.
Level your millwork bids with this checklist →
Standard scope checklist
Send this to every bidder and ask them to mark each line Included, Excluded or give an Add $. Silence is not inclusion.
Sending it out? Use the free scope letter template to ask every bidder for line-item scope, inclusions, exclusions and alternates. Terms to know: exclusion, by others, NIC (not in contract), alternate.
| # | Scope item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Furnish only, or furnish and install |
| 2 | Elevations and items included (base, upper and tall cabinets, reception desk, shelving, trim) |
| 3 | Construction grade and standard per spec (e.g., the specified woodwork quality standard) |
| 4 | Box material, face material and edge banding |
| 5 | Cabinet hardware: hinges, pulls, slides and locks |
| 6 | Countertops: plastic laminate, solid surface, quartz or stone |
| 7 | Backsplashes and side splashes |
| 8 | Sink, cooktop and grommet cutouts |
| 9 | Support brackets and steel for countertops and overhangs |
| 10 | In-wall blocking for cabinets and brackets (millwork or framing sub) |
| 11 | Shop drawings, samples and finish approvals |
| 12 | Field measurement before fabrication |
| 13 | Factory finish vs. field finishing |
| 14 | Accessible counter heights and knee spaces where required (check local code/AHJ) |
| 15 | Fire-rated or treated materials where required (check local code/AHJ) |
| 16 | Wood trim, wall panels and paneling (if in scope) |
| 17 | Appliances: furnished by whom, and installed by whom |
| 18 | Openings and cutouts for electrical, data and plumbing |
| 19 | Scribe, filler panels and end panels |
| 20 | Protection of installed work until turnover |
| 21 | Delivery, hoisting and storage on site |
| 22 | Punch, adjustment and touch-up |
| 23 | Sales tax, freight and bond |
Common exclusions and how they are worded
| Exclusion | Typical wording | Why it matters | Typical cost to cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installation |
| Supply-only quotes look much cheaper than furnish-and-install bids. Someone still has to set, level, scribe and fasten every cabinet. | TBD |
| Countertops |
| Tops are often a big piece of the millwork number, and many shops sub them out or leave them off. Make sure one bid carries every top on the plans. | TBD |
| Blocking |
| Blocking has to go in before drywall. If nobody carries it, you either open walls later or the cabinets hang on drywall anchors. | TBD |
| Sink & appliance cutouts |
| Cutting a top on site is risky and time-consuming. Confirm who makes the sink, cooktop and grommet cutouts and when. | TBD |
| Countertop supports |
| Overhangs, ADA counters and long spans need brackets or steel supports. They often fall between millwork, framing and miscellaneous metals. | TBD |
| Hardware grade |
| Cheaper slides and hinges look fine at walkthrough and wear out quickly. Check the bid matches the spec, including locks if required. | TBD |
| Finishing |
| Unfinished millwork still needs stain or paint and clear coat. Make sure the millwork or painting bid carries it. | TBD |
| Shop drawings & field measure |
| Without field measurement, built-ins can arrive too big or too small. Ask who measures and who pays if pieces don't fit. | TBD |
| Appliances |
| Owner-furnished appliances still need delivery, set-in and sometimes matching panels. Decide who furnishes and installs each one. | TBD |
“Typical cost to cover” is TBD. We will publish ranges only once we have real, sourced data. Until then, use your own estimate or a confirmed add price from a bidder.
Questions to ask bidders
- Is your price furnish and install, and does it cover every elevation on the plans?
- Are all countertops, backsplashes and cutouts included?
- Who provides in-wall blocking, and when do you need it marked out?
- Are countertop brackets and supports for overhangs and accessible counters included?
- What grade of hinges, slides and locks did you price?
- Is your work factory finished, or does it need field finishing by someone else?
- Will you field measure before fabrication, and are shop drawings included?
- Who furnishes and installs appliances and any appliance panels?
Bid-ready millwork contractors
Contractors who agree to price against the standard checklist above, with exclusions spelled out line by line. Listings are not live yet.
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Bids on the BidGaps checklist
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist