Dimensions Guide

How to Calculate the Correct Footage When Purchasing Hardwood Flooring
When purchasing hardwood flooring, you want to make sure that you add an
additional percentage of flooring to account for any waste that you may have.
Typically, you should add an additional 5% to the total square footage that you
need. This allows the installer to cull out any material with manufacturing
defects, minor imperfections or character that you, the homeowner, deems
unacceptable. For products that are a character or builder grade, you may want
to calculate in a higher percentage of waste due to the amount of character that
is allowed in those particular grades. When installing flooring on a diagonal, a
waste amount of 10-15% should be added to account for larger cuts that are
necessary due to the boards being cut at an angle.
To calculate the total footage needed simply multiply the length of the room by
the width and this will give you the square footage for the room. You then need
to multiply that amount by 5-7%. If you are doing additional rooms, calculate the
square footage and total the amounts for each room. Multiply that number by
5-7% and this will give you the recommended footage needed for your install.
Mullican Flooring recommends that you purchase 1-2 additional cartons of
material, as this can be used later for repairs should any material be damaged
due to water leaks or other job-site issues that may arise.
Calculating Flooring Waste: Room Width x Room Length x 5-7% (more if
installing on a diagonal or if you have purchased flooring of a lesser grade and do
not desire the character that is permitted and allowed in that grade)