How To Calculate Floor Area For Laminate Flooring

Calculating Floor Area for Laminate Flooring: An Essential Guide

Installing laminate flooring is an excellent way to upgrade your home's interior, but it's crucial to determine the correct amount of material you'll need. Calculating the floor area for laminate flooring is an essential first step to ensure an accurate estimate and avoid costly overages or shortages.

Materials Required

To calculate the floor area, you'll need:

Measuring tape or laser distance meter
Paper and pen
Calculator (optional)

Step 1: Determine Floor Layout

Begin by understanding your floor layout. Measure the length and width of each room individually, including closets, alcoves, and any other areas where flooring will be installed.

Step 2: Find Perimeter and Area

For each room, calculate the perimeter by multiplying the length by 2 and adding the width multiplied by 2. Next, calculate the area by multiplying the length by the width.

Step 3: Convert to Square Feet

If your measurements are in inches, convert them to square feet by dividing both the perimeter and area by 144 (1 square foot equals 144 square inches).

Step 4: Calculate Total Floor Area

Add the floor areas of all the rooms together to get the total floor area that requires flooring. Record this value in square feet.

Step 5: Add Allowance for Waste

Laminate flooring installation typically requires a 10% allowance for waste due to cutting, trimming, and possible errors. Multiply the total floor area by 1.1 (10% allowance) to account for this.

Example Calculation

Consider a living room with dimensions 12 feet by 18 feet and a closet with dimensions 6 feet by 4 feet:

Living Room:

Perimeter: (12 x 2) + (18 x 2) = 60 feet
Area: 12 x 18 = 216 square feet

Closet:

Perimeter: (6 x 2) + (4 x 2) = 20 feet
Area: 6 x 4 = 24 square feet

Total Floor Area: 216 + 24 = 240 square feet
Waste Allowance: 240 x 1.1 = 264 square feet

Conclusion

Calculating the floor area for laminate flooring is a straightforward process that can prevent costly mistakes. By following these steps accurately, you can ensure you have the correct amount of material for your project, saving time and money.