Buy 10% Extra Flooring
Generally, you should purchase 10% more flooring than your calculated square footage. This accounts for cuts, waste during installation, and potential mistakes. For rooms with angled walls or complex layouts, increase this to 15%. Always round up to the nearest whole box to ensure sufficient material.
Why Extra Flooring is Necessary
- Cuts and Waste: Flooring rarely installs perfectly without some material being cut off.
- Pattern Matching: Some flooring requires matching patterns, increasing waste.
- Future Repairs: Having extra flooring on hand is useful for future repairs or small replacements.
- Subfloor Imperfections: An uneven subfloor may require more material.
Calculating Extra Flooring
- Measure the Room: Calculate the total square footage of the installation area.
- Add Waste Factor: Multiply the square footage by 0.10 (10%) or 0.15 (15%) for complex layouts.
- Round Up: Round the result up to the nearest whole number.
- Check Box Coverage: Determine how much square footage each box covers.
- Calculate Boxes Needed: Divide the total square footage (including waste) by the box coverage. Round up to the nearest whole box.
Waste Factor Comparison
| Room Layout | Recommended Waste Factor | Typical Waste (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Rectangular Rooms | 10% | 5-10% |
| Rooms with Angles & Curves | 15% | 10-20% |
| Diagonal Installation | 20% | 15-25% |
Flooring Type Considerations
- Tile: Often requires a 10-15% overage for cuts and breakage.
- Plank/Laminate: 5-10% is usually sufficient, unless installing diagonally.
- Carpet: Typically needs less waste, around 5-10%, primarily for seam allowances.