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GUIDE

How to Plan Flooring Materials

Measure floor area, allow for cuts and installation waste, and use package coverage to turn square footage into boxes.

Measure the room

Measure length and width in feet for a rectangular room. For an L-shaped room, divide it into rectangles and add the areas.

Add a waste allowance

Waste depends on the product, layout and installer. Straight layouts may be more efficient than diagonal or patterned layouts. Use the manufacturer’s recommendation when available.

Use actual package coverage

Find the coverage printed on the box. Do not assume every flooring product covers the same area per box. Different plank widths, tile sizes and package configurations can change the coverage.

Round to whole packages

Multiply the floor area by the waste factor, divide by package coverage and round up to a whole number of boxes.

Keep a small repair reserve

If the product may be discontinued or difficult to match later, retaining a small number of spare pieces can be useful. Store them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Check installation requirements

Subfloor preparation, acclimation, moisture limits, underlayment and expansion gaps vary by product. The quantity calculation is only one part of the installation plan.

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