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How to Measure a Room for Hardwood Flooring

Chances are if you are reading this, you are shopping online looking for new hardwood flooring. If you are looking for an estimate, one of the first things you will need is the total square footage of the area you are looking to have done.

Measuring for Floor Installation

Below is a quick method you can use to find an estimate for total square footage. Of course if you are going to have the job done, a qualified contractor will come to your home and measure first. This method is only to get a rough estimate during the sales process.

For the purpose of this post, let’s imagine an area that looks like this:

how to measure a room

In this illustration, you have a main room area, a closet and a hallway. This is sometimes referred to an “L shaped room.” Instead of trying to measure the “L” itself you want to block off each section into its own square.

  1. Begin by “squaring off” each room, hallway or closet. Imagine each room is a square or rectangle. When measuring for flooring do not go outside the boundary of the room, closet or hallway.
  2. Measure each area length x width and write it down. For a room similar to the illustration, you will have 3 numbers: e.g. – 48×128, 24×48 and 60×128 for example
  3. Add all numbers together: 48×128 (plus) 24×48 (plus) 60×128 (equals) 132 x 304 or about 278 square feet.
  4. We recommend adding another 5% for extra pieces

Also make sure you don’t mix up the length and the width. Be sure to always keep the numbers in the same column.

calculate measure a room
Example calculation, always be sure to keep the lengths and widths in the same column (don’t mix them up)

Once you have this number you are ready to get a flooring estimate. When measuring always remember to measure in a straight line. If your tape measure slides to the left or right you are going to get an inaccurate measurement.

Please keep in mind that the number you came up with might vary depending on the type of room you have, baseboards, and any other room features you might have.

Flooring is also sold in different widths. So if you have 278sq ft room and boxes are sold in 100 sq ft you might have to order 300 sq ft. Remember it is always better to over order than to under order.

Also a lot of families and businesses order an extra box or case of flooring in case something happens to the floor or it gets damaged. For instance if there is water damage, something heavy drops on it or some other floor damage happens it is always good to have a few extra pieces on hand just in case.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to give Lane Sales, Inc. a call at 800-731-3483, or visit us on our website.

How to Choose the Right Commercial or Residential Flooring

Choosing the right flooring can be tricky because there are many considerations. Are you purchasing flooring for commercial use or will you require it for your residence? Knowing about durability, high-traffic versus low-traffic areas and more will help you make a more informed decision on flooring.

If you are in the market for residential flooring, consider the type of room you will be covering.  Is it your living room, dining room, bedroom, office space, kid’s play room, etc? Even though each of these areas is located in one space, your home, they can require a different type of flooring to maximize your return on investment through budget and wear and tear. Because there are varying flooring options that can correspond with a room, we have outlined a few guidelines to help you determine the best flooring for you and your family’s needs.

Step 1: Determine whether an area is high-traffic or low-traffic.

Residential Low-Traffic Flooring Options

Low-traffic areas are any places where foot traffic is light and includes traffic that is mostly sedentary as well. For example, while you may spend most of your time in the living room, chances are it is still a low traffic area since most of your time is spent sitting.  

Other areas that are low-traffic include kitchens, dens, dining rooms and bedrooms. In low-traffic areas you can get away with flooring that is less resilient and more comfort-based. High-quality carpet is perfect in low-traffic rooms for this reason. However, carpet in kitchens and bathrooms is not practical from a cleanliness standpoint. For those areas, laminate, tile or sealed-wood flooring is generally resilient enough to handle food and water spillage, while remaining cost-effective and durable.

Residential High-Traffic Flooring Options

Watch any home improvement show and you will notice that the area with the most worn flooring is always located in the home’s hallways or entryways. In a commercial unit, common areas like public restrooms, elevators or stairs qualify as high-traffic areas.

To sustain flooring over time in high-traffic areas, select flooring made from harder materials. Tile, wood, and bamboo are a few examples of great high-traffic flooring options. While hard surface flooring can be more expensive, in many cases you can tailor your options to meet your budget without sacrificing quality or durability in the long run. Industrial strength carpet exists for commercial units as well. We do not recommend this flooring type for residential use because the feel and texture of commercial carpet is much rougher and less desirable for the function of a home.

Commercial Heavy-Traffic Flooring Options

If you are exclusively in the commercial market then there is an additional category: heavy-traffic. Heavy-traffic areas in commercial units include office “war rooms”, break rooms, cafeterias, and lobbies.

This type of flooring requires a unique approach and can often include a bit of customization. For example, for a room with multiple office spaces, the flooring will need to withstand the wear and tear of stationary objects that can settle in one area as well as mobile objects like roller chairs. To better maintain flooring in a commercial unit, consider carpet tiles instead of traditionally installed carpet. This options lowers replacement costs, as you can replace a few squares at a time in areas that are more worn than others.

There are many other kinds of commercial and residential flooring options for you to choose from. If you are ready to make your flooring selection, feel free to speak to one of the specialists at Lane Sales. Our team would be happy to walk you through your options to help you settle on the one perfect for you.