How to properly measure a room to buy flooring.
Whether you are planning on installing carpet, laminate, hardwood, vinyl, cork, tile, or even adding an area rug in your home, you'll need to figure out how to properly measure your room. This is the first step to any home renovation, as it will determine how much product you need to buy and what your budget will be.
First of all, measure the width and length of the room in at least two places, just in case the room is not perfectly square. Measure the room in feet and inches, then take the length of the room and multiply it by the width of the room to get the square foot amount of flooring you will need. Use the largest of the two measurements and allow an extra two inches on all sides for rough cut edges, etc. Also, be sure to take into consideration any closets, nooks, or other irregularities, and simply add on an extra 10% for safe measure.
When you are figuring out your budget, keep in mind that the price of flooring materials usually does not include underlay and installation (if necessary). Both will vary in cost depending on what type of flooring you are looking to install, and in general, carpet is less expensive to install than hard surfaces are. Our Flooring Experts will be able to give you a more specific idea about the budget required for additional expenses, such as room transitions, baseboard moulds, or stair materials. Remember to take into consideration any preparation costs, including removing old flooring or moving heavy furniture. In the end, we strongly recommend having an installer take the final measure to ensure that you order the correct amount of flooring.
Here are some other quick tips:
- When installing carpet in pieces, make sure the grain of the pile flows in the same direction. Also, take into consideration where seams will be required.
- When working with patterned carpet or vinyl, you will require extra material to ensure the pieces of the pattern line up evenly. Discuss “pattern repeat" with both your Flooring Expert and your installer to make sure you're all on the same page.
- Don't forget to consider that most vinyl and carpet measures 12 feet wide!
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