Installing new flooring can transform a room’s appearance and functionality and raise your home’s worth. Getting accurate figures is crucial to installing your flooring or hiring a contractor because high-quality flooring can be pricey.
To measure a floor, measure the length and width with a tape measure, multiply each area’s length by its width, then add all the areas to obtain the square footage. This helps determine how much flooring is needed since too little or too much of it results in project delays and financial waste.
The formula for measuring flooring remains unchanged despite different floors’ distinct installation techniques. I created this straightforward guide to help you determine how much flooring you require.
How to measure a floor
To measure a floor, you must first determine the length and width of the space in meters, multiply those measures by their square meters, add 1.1 to account for waste, and then double-check your figures using a flooring calculator.
To help avoid complications or complex sums, here is an easy-to-follow guide for simple wooden floor measuring.
You need a tape measure, paper and pen, and a calculator for this procedure.
1: Determine the length and width of each space in your room in meters
When measuring your room, it’s essential to include Alcoves and bays.
How is your room shaped? Before calculating the room dimension, it is crucial to consider the shape of your room. A straightforward square or rectangular room will be measured differently than an L-shaped one. Generally, open floor plans will be easier to measure than closed ones.
The standard procedure is to identify the room’s widest and longest points, then measure them in meters rather than imperial units. All bay windows, alcoves, room entrances, and exits should be included here.
Don’t forget to measure each side at least twice as a double-check to eliminate potential errors.
2: Multiply each area’s length by its breadth
Once you have these measurements, write them down. If you have an irregularly shaped floor, divide it into definite shapes like squares, triangles, or rectangles, then find the areas of each individual shape. It’ll give you a more accurate figure for when you’re refinishing a wood floor.
3. Add up all of the calculations
Once you know the room’s length and width, multiply them to get the square meters. For instance, if your floor is 3 meters long and 5 meters broad, 15 meters squared is the area that needs to be covered.
If you have an L-shaped rectangle, there are more than two measurement areas; you must measure each rectangle separately. Add the figures together at the end for the entire squared area.
4. Account for any waste, and add 10%
Add 10% after your floor measurements have been taken and converted to square meters.
Why add 10%, anyway? It’s not just for cutting or measuring incorrectly; it’s also for harm that can occur after installation.
Don’t skip this step because it will be useful later on if you have real wood flooring because there may be planks you don’t like and may not want to install.
5: Double-check your measurements
The last step is to double-check the measurement. You can use a flooring calculator to ensure you order the correct figures.
How much flooring do I need?
The factors that determine how much flooring you need include the following:
1 . Determine the size of your space.
While doing this, remember that you must consider ALL available floor space. Multiply the room’s width by the length to determine its square footage, ensuring that both dimensions are given in feet. The resultant value represents the floor’s square footage.
You can draw out a floor plan for irregularly shaped rooms and divide it into squares. The total can be obtained by adding the square footage of each component.
2. Calculate the number of tiles required
The second step for stone and ceramic tiles is calculating how many tiles will be required to fill that space. This depends on the size of the tiles you’ve selected. Divide the square feet area of the room by the size you want.
3. Buy extra tiles
Get a few more boxes because you will need more than the estimated amount. It’s common for tiles to break during installation, so it’s wise to keep a backup if any are damaged.
Buy extra stone tiles up front rather than assuming a later match is close enough; tiles might vary due to their natural coloring or manufacturers’ change or discontinued lines.
Multiply the number of tiles by 1.05 for a 5% increase or by 1.1 for a 10% increase to determine how many additional to purchase. For hardwood and laminate floorboards, buy 5 – 10% additional floorboards than the total determined in stage one when making your purchase.
There will be a lot of waste because of how boards are trimmed to fit, and if particular floorboards have uneven color spots, you might even get rid of them. You’ll undoubtedly end up short if you don’t buy extra flooring.
4. Determine the price of the flooring
Multiply the total square footage by the specified price per square foot to determine the flooring cost, or use a flooring calculator. Some of the best living room floorings might be costly, especially for a large house.
Conclusion
This article should give you a better understanding of determining the material you need, accounting for waste, and choosing the best installation method. If you can’t carry out any of these steps, get someone with experience to do it for you.