Calculating Surface Area for Floor Covering

Comment calculer une surface à couvrir d’un couvre-plancher

Whether you’re embarking on your first flooring project or are a seasoned pro, accurately calculating the dimensions of your floor is essential to ensure you have the right amount of materials. While in-store advisors can assist, you can easily do the calculations yourself to align with your specific needs. Follow these steps to ensure your calculations are spot on.

 

1) Create a Plan

Start by sketching a rough plan of your room. This doesn’t need to be to scale ; just having a visual will help you with your calculations and material list. Pay special attention to areas that might create more waste, such as diagonal cuts, counters, or a central island. And don’t forget to include closets !

  

2) Take measurements  

Next, measure all relevant dimensions, including walls and any features identified in your plan that might influence material loss. It’s helpful to use feet and inches, so even if you're accustomed to the metric system, consider rounding your measurements to the nearest inch for simplicity.

  

3) Calculate the area  

With your measurements in hand, you can now calculate the total area to be covered.

  

4) Account for Waste

After determining the total area, it's important to add extra material to cover any waste. This includes unusable scraps or potential miscalculations. Here are some factors to consider for your percentage :

1. Type of Flooring

Different materials have varying waste rates. For instance :

  • Wood, laminate, and vinyl floors typically require an extra 5 % to 10 % for waste.
  • Porcelain and ceramic floors also suggest a 5 % to 10 % buffer.

  2. Room Shape

If your space has many corners or unusual angles, consider adding an additional 5 %.

 

5) Calculate Total Materials

Finally, add your waste percentage to the total area to determine the amount of material you need.

For example, let’s apply this to a dining room :
  

 

 1. Make a plan


2. Measure the Space

3. Calculate the area

  • Room area : 14 ft x 11 ft = 154 sq. ft.  
  • Pantry : 2 ft x 1.5 ft = 3 ft2  
  • Island : 3 ft x 2 ft = 6 ft2  
  • Total area : 154 ft2 + 3 ft2 - 6 ft2 = 151 ft2  

 

4. Calculate Waste/Loss

For the exercise, the installation of a vinyl floor will be done by a person with little experience. The loss will then be 10 %.  

10 % of 151 sq. ft. will then be 15.1 sq. ft.  

 

5. Calculation of materials  

Calculation of materials required: 151 + 15.1 = 166.1 sq. ft.  

If each package of vinyl covers 24.86 sq. ft, you’ll need 166.1 / 24.86 = 6.7 packages..  

Round up to 7 packages for your project.

 

To assist with your installation, each product will provide a coverage chart. Coverage may vary based on the specific installation, so don’t hesitate to ask our advisors for guidance on product specifications.

Keep in mind that these calculations are recommendations, and every project is unique. At Céramique l’entrepôt, we’re here to help validate your calculations and support you through your projects. Count on us for a wide selection and quality at unbeatable prices !

Contact the team at Céramique l'entrepôt, where you'll find a wide selection of high-quality products at unbeatable prices !

 

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