HOW MUCH SQUARE FEET DO I NEED?

The first step to a flooring project is to understand just how big your space is. Finding the correct measurements of your living space will inform you of how much material will be needed to complete the flooring project. Although it may seem challenging at first, there is an easy calculation process to make sure you have all the materials that you need for your space.

Often it’s easier to return an extra box (only unopened boxes and restrictions may apply) however it may become challenging to purchase an extra carton of the same flooring material, especially if it was already low on stock or perhaps being discontinued.

We also need to keep in mind the probable waste, material defect, mistakes and unforeseen accidents; therefore we need to adjust the calculated square feet by 5 - 15%. The extra material can always be used later on for repairs if needed, so it is always advisable to calculate a bit more than less for your needs. We recommend additional of 7% material for vinyl/laminates and 10% for engineered/solid hardwood flooring projects.

So how do we calculate the area we need to cover? All you need is a measurement tape and a calculator (or pen, paper and your head if you trust your mathematic skills) Following these easy guidelines will ensure that you have enough material:

You will need to measure the length (in feet) and the widths (in feet) of your space(s). If you have feet and inches, you can convert the inches to feet by simply dividing the inches by 12.

i.e.: for a 10 feet 3 inches length you’ll divide the 3 inches by 12 which is 0.25 so the length of the room becomes 10.25

Multiply the length by the width and you'll have the square feet. It’s that simple. Here's a basic formula we can follow: Length (in feet) x width (in feet) = area in sq. ft.

i.e. 10 feet (length) x 10 feet (width) = 100 square feet

Now add your extra percentage on top and you have the amount of material needed.

Square Footage of Room x Percent Excess Material = Excess Material Needed
i.e. 100 x 10% = 10 sqft (Excess Material)

Excess Material Needed + Square Footage of Room = Total Square Footage to Order

10 sqft (Excess Material) + 100 sqft (Square Footage of Room) = 110 sqft

Please note that the total square feet per box (or carton) of the materials varies from product to product. In order to calculate how many boxes you’ll need to order, you will have to get the total square footage including excess material (let’s say it’s 110) and multiply it with the square feet/box noted under the material (let’s say it’s 22.96 sqft/box) You will divide 110 with 22.96 = 4.79. You will then need to purchase 5 boxes in total.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need help with your measurement calculations.