When planning a hardwood flooring renovation, one of the most important questions is how much flooring you’ll need. Ordering the correct amount of hardwood ensures you have enough material for the job while minimizing waste.
Calculating the amount of hardwood flooring for your renovation involves more than just measuring the size of the room; factors like layout, waste allowance, and the type of hardwood also come into play. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you determine how much hardwood flooring you need for your renovation.
1. Measure the square footage of your space
The first step in determining how much hardwood flooring you need is to measure the square footage of the room or area you plan to cover. Use a tape measure to get the length and width of the room. Multiply these two numbers to calculate the total square footage.
- Example: If your room is 12 feet wide and 15 feet long, you would multiply 12 by 15, which gives you 180 square feet. This is the base amount of flooring you will need.
- Multiple rooms: If you’re installing hardwood in multiple rooms, repeat this process for each room and add the totals together.
2. Add extra for waste and cuts
When installing hardwood flooring, it’s essential to account for waste. This is because cuts and irregular shapes, such as corners or closets, often result in extra material being needed. Additionally, boards with defects or damage may need to be discarded.
- Standard waste allowance: It’s a good idea to add between 5% and 10% to your total square footage for waste.
- Rooms with angled walls or patterns: If you plan to install hardwood in rooms with angled walls or if you’re planning a complex pattern like herringbone or diagonal installation, consider adding up to 15% extra to account for additional cuts.
- Example: If your total square footage is 180 square feet, adding 10% for waste means multiplying 180 by 0.10, which equals 18. So, you would need 198 square feet of hardwood flooring.
3. Consider the type of hardwood
Different types of hardwood come in varying plank sizes and patterns, which can affect how much material you need. Wider planks, for instance, may require more careful cuts to fit into tight spaces, while narrower planks may be easier to install but could result in more seams and cuts.
- Wide planks: If you’re using wide planks, you may need to account for more waste due to fewer boards being used to cover the same space.
- Engineered hardwood vs. solid hardwood: Both types of hardwood require similar calculations, but engineered hardwood, with its layered construction, is often available in more uniform sizes, which can make installation easier.
4. Factor in additional areas
Don’t forget to include extra areas that might require hardwood flooring, such as closets, hallways, or staircases. These areas often need special attention because of their irregular shapes and smaller spaces, which can increase the amount of cutting required.
- Closets and hallways: Measure these spaces separately and add them to your total square footage. Even small areas can add up and contribute to your final amount of material.
- Staircases: Staircases can be tricky, as you’ll need enough material to cover both the treads (horizontal part) and risers (vertical part). This requires specific measurements and additional material to ensure proper coverage.
5. Order all materials at once
Once you’ve calculated the total square footage plus the waste allowance, it’s important to order all your hardwood flooring at once. Hardwood can vary slightly in color and grain between batches, so ordering all of your flooring at the same time ensures consistency in appearance throughout your space. It also helps avoid delays in your project by ensuring you have all the material you need on hand before installation begins.
To summarize, calculating how much hardwood flooring you need involves measuring the square footage of your space, adding a waste allowance, considering the type of hardwood, and factoring in additional areas like closets and hallways. Proper planning and ordering the right amount of material will help make your renovation go smoothly.
For professional guidance and high-quality hardwood flooring options, visit Tri Point Flooring Inc., servicing Cary and Raleigh, North Carolina.
