Four factors determine how much material you will need to redo your flooring. The first two are all about the space getting new floors – size of the space, and layout of the room. The last two are the type of flooring you’ll be using, and the pattern for installation.
Let’s Look at Your Space
Whether you’re putting new floors throughout your home, or just in a few rooms you will need to measure the square footage in each room individually. As you’re measuring the length & width of each room to calculate the area don’t skip the closets! Keep in mind that even though doorways and transitions seem like insignificant space they do add up, so don’t forget to take those into account as well.
The layout of the room figures in for any room that isn’t square or rectangular. If you have a bay window, or any irregular angles it can get tricky to figure out how much material will be needed to cover that area – especially with tile or hardwood. Working with an experienced flooring contractor is the best way to hit the easy button on this! Coming in to get the most accurate measurements is part of our everyday process.
How Does the Material Figure In?
Flooring installation creates some waste, so it’s important to figure in reasonable overages to balance out the loss. Carpet is the most forgiving so you will only need to add about 5-10% to your order. Tile and hardwood both need about 10-15% extra to be sure you won’t run out of materials before the project is complete. Whether to go toward the high end of those percentages or the low end is all in the details. The specific product you choose, as well as any architectural details in your home, and the pattern you want to use for installation are all factors. Again, working with a professional is helpful here.
The installation pattern only factors in with tile or hardwood flooring. For example, installing a hardwood floor in a herringbone pattern will require more materials than a vertical or horizontal installation in the same space.
You may also want to order a bit of extra materials to keep in storage in case you ever need any for repairs. As a rule, it’s better to have a little too much rather than not enough to finish. However, over-ordering can be a budget-buster! Let us help.
