How To Measure Room For Wood Flooring

Measure Your Room for Wood Flooring Like a Pro

Installing wood flooring is an excellent way to enhance the beauty and value of your home. However, before you start laying down those planks, it's crucial to measure your room accurately to ensure you have the right amount of materials. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to measure your room for wood flooring:

Step 1: Gather Your Tools You'll need a measuring tape, a pencil, a notepad, and a calculator. If your room has any irregularly shaped areas, you may also want a T-bevel gauge or a contour gauge.

Step 2: Determine the Length and Width Start by measuring the length and width of the room. Measure from wall to wall, but don't include any corners or recesses. Record these measurements in feet and inches.

Step 3: Measure Irregular Areas If your room has any irregular areas, such as alcoves or bay windows, you'll need to measure these shapes separately. Use a contour gauge or T-bevel gauge to trace the outline of the irregular area, then transfer the measurements to your notepad.

Step 4: Add Up the Measurements Once you've measured all the areas of your room, add up the square footage. To do this, multiply the length by the width of each area, then add the results together.

Step 5: Convert to Square Yards Wood flooring is typically sold by the square yard. To convert your square footage measurement to square yards, divide the square footage by 9.

Step 6: Add 10% for Waste When ordering wood flooring, it's always a good idea to add at least 10% to your square footage calculation for waste. This will ensure you have enough materials to cover unforeseen cuts, mistakes, or irregular shaping.

Additional Tips
Use a laser level or a chalk line to mark your measurements clearly on the floor.
If your room has a complex shape, divide it into smaller rectangles or squares for easier measuring.
Don't forget to measure any thresholds or transition areas.
Consult a professional if you're unsure about any of the measurements or calculations.

By following these steps, you can confidently measure your room for wood flooring and ensure you have the right amount of materials for your project.