How Much Laminate Flooring do I Need?
Laminate flooring is an easy look to achieve, which is why it’s so popular in UK homes.
Providing a smooth finish, this floor will spruce up your interior, giving it a rich look for an affordable price. So, how do you measure how much you will need?
Understanding room dimensions
DIY tasks can be time-consuming and overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be.
To make your life easier, we have compiled a step-by-step list to guide you through the process of measuring how much laminate flooring you need.
- Clear the Room: Remove all the furniture within your room to clear the space for accurate measuring.
- Get the Right Tools: Grab a tape measure, notepad, and pencil to jot down the measurements.
- Measure the Length: Choose the longest wall and extend your tape measure from one end of the room to the other, ensuring it’s straight for accuracy. You can record the measurement in feet, inches, meters or centimetres.
- Measure the Width: Choose the shortest wall and repeat the above process, measuring from one side of the room to the other.
Calculate the area of the room
Once you have completed these steps, you will need to calculate the area of the room.
This can be done by Multiplying the length of the room by the width. For example, if the length was 8 and the width was 12, you would multiply 8 x 12 to get 96, which is the total area of the room. This will help you to estimate how much laminate flooring you will need to cover the room.
It is important to discuss any windows or doors that may affect how much flooring you need and adjust the number accordingly.
Accounting for Waste
When adding laminate flooring, or any flooring for that matter, you must purchase extra material to account for any mistakes or pieces you lose along the way. This will also be helpful for any future repairs you may need to make.
To calculate this, add 10% to the total surface area of the room. Using the above example, if your total area is 96, you would multiply this by 1.1 to get 105. So you will need 105 square feet of laminate flooring.
Considering the Layout and Pattern
If you decide on a specific pattern or layout for your floor, such as herringbone, you must calculate how many pieces you need to create the desired look.
With an intricate design like herringbone, you want to make sure you don’t run out of flooring halfway through. To avoid this, add a few extra pieces to your purchase, just in case.
However, don’t buy too much as you will most likely end up with a lot of waste pieces at the end. It may be beneficial to cut up smaller pieces of flooring to cover areas next to a rounded window or wall.
Underlayment and Accessories
It is important to remember that you will need underlayment beneath your laminate flooring, which is soft padding that adds a smooth and soft finish to your new floor.
To prepare for this, leave expansion gaps around the perimeter of the room to allow for the expansion and contraction of the laminate.
An expansion gap of ⅜-inch is necessary for laminate flooring. Insert transition strips and skirting boards around the perimeter of the room to conceal these gaps and give your home a finished look.
Using Online Calculators
To simplify the calculation process, there is a range of online calculators available to gain accurate measurements for your floors.
To use an online calculator, input the measurements of the room you wish to decorate, and it will tell you how many packs of flooring you will need and the overall cost.
Mersey Flooring are here to help
Browse our selection of laminate flooring and give your home the makeover it deserves. Our team will provide you with long-lasting and easy installations at an affordable price.
We stock a wide range of flooring from leading brands with a range of waterproof, herringbone, and regular laminate flooring to choose from. Don’t wait, upgrade your home with us today!