Have you ever noticed how flooring manufacturers recommend buying more material than the square footage of your space? It can seem strange, especially when compared to other building projects.
Unlike buying five windows and getting exactly five, flooring often requires an extra 10-20%. But fear not, this isn’t a sneaky tactic! Purchasing extra flooring is a standard practice for successful installations across sheet goods, planks, and tiles. Here’s why you’ll need that additional box or two, and why it can even benefit you down the road.
Dex Flooring offers a wide variety of flooring materials, from luxury vinyl plank to solid hardwood, at competitive prices. Our experts can help you determine exactly how much flooring you’ll need to complete your project, minimizing waste and saving you money. Visit your local Dex Flooring or browse our selection online today!
Why Extra Flooring Is an Expected Purchase?
There are two main reasons why extra flooring is an expected purchase. First, perfect fits are rare. Imagine laying down 16-inch tiles in a 52-inch space. You’ll either need to buy an extra row or get creative with cutting existing tiles. This applies to most flooring types – large carpets need seams to fit rooms, and some tiles might not be usable due to odd cuts.
Second, some materials come with a chance of encountering defects. Natural options like solid hardwood are more prone to this than synthetics like laminate or vinyl. These unusable pieces highlight the importance of having that extra buffer.
How Much Extra Flooring Should You Buy?
Here’s a breakdown of the recommended extra flooring for different materials:
- Luxury Vinyl Plank & Laminate Flooring (5-10% extra): These synthetics rarely have defects, so the extra covers cuts for installation.
- Ceramic Tile (5-15% extra):
- Tile Size Matters: Smaller mosaic tiles are easier to reuse after cutting, so you might need less extra.
- Large Tiles & Breakage: Large format tiles often require cuts and are more prone to breakage during transport, so factor in a higher percentage (up to 15%).
- Wall-to-Wall Carpeting (10% extra): Carpet comes in wide rolls (12ft or 15ft). Buy 10% more than your calculated square footage to account for seams during installation.
- Solid Hardwood Flooring (20% extra): Natural materials have a higher chance of defects. Aim for 20% extra, which includes 15% for waste during installation and 5% for potential defects.
- Engineered Wood Flooring (15% extra): Engineered wood has fewer defects. A 15% buffer covers typical installation waste.
Planning Your Extra Flooring Needs:
While the previous section covered the baseline recommendations, here are some additional factors to consider:
- Flooring Installers: Are you hiring professionals? Opt for the higher end of the recommended extra range to avoid project delays due to material shortages.
- Returns: Did you buy locally with a flexible return policy? Ordering a few extra boxes might be a good idea, as long as you can return unused materials for a refund. However, always confirm the return policy before purchasing. Restocking fees might also apply.
- Online Purchases: Returning online orders often involves significant shipping costs. In this case, stick closer to the minimum recommended extra percentage to avoid unnecessary expenses.
Understanding Flooring Wastage
Here’s the deal with wastage – it’s an unavoidable part of flooring installation, but you can minimize it! Wastage refers to those cut-off pieces that just don’t fit and end up being discarded. Manufacturers typically estimate wastage between 5% and 20%.
Why the Cuts?
Cutting is almost always necessary during installation. Imagine the last row of hardwood planks reaching a wall – you need to cut one to fit perfectly with a small gap for expansion. The leftover piece might be usable in another row, but anything too short or unsuitable becomes waste.
Wastage Champions & Challengers:
- Large planks and tiles: These generate the most waste because they’re less forgiving with cuts.
- Small tiles (like mosaics): These can sometimes fit perfectly with minimal cutting, leading to lower wastage.
Obstruction Obstacle Course:
Rooms with lots of obstacles like toilets, cabinets, or vents will have higher wastage because the flooring needs to be cut around them.
Shape Matters:
Square or rectangular rooms generally create less waste compared to curved spaces or those with alcoves and niches. Installing hardwood diagonally? Brace yourself for more leftover pieces.
Tips to Minimize Wastage:
While some wastage is inevitable, here are a few ways to keep it in check:
- Plan your layout carefully: A well-considered layout can minimize unnecessary cuts.
- Order extra for complex cuts: For intricate cuts around obstacles, factor in some extra flooring.
- Consider smaller tiles: Smaller tiles often require less cutting, reducing waste.
By understanding wastage and taking these steps, you can ensure a smoother and more efficient flooring installation process.
Imperfect Planks: Dealing with Defects
Even the best flooring materials can have a few imperfections. Here’s what to expect:
Solid Hardwood (Up to 5% Defective):
- Types of Defects: Missing tongues or grooves, water stains, cracks, splits, or discoloration.
- The Good News: Skilled installers can often salvage these materials. For example, planks missing tongues can be face-nailed at the end of a room, cracks can be cut out, and discolored pieces can be used in less visible areas.
Engineered Wood:
- Lucky You: Engineered wood boasts far fewer imperfections compared to solid hardwood.
Ceramic & Porcelain Tile:
- Broken Blues: A few broken tiles are a common occurrence.
Resilient Flooring (Vinyl, Linoleum):
- Generally Flawless: Resilient flooring typically arrives in perfect condition.
Tips for Minimizing Defects:
- Inspect before you accept: Thoroughly examine your flooring materials upon delivery. Report any significant defects to the supplier immediately.
- Order extra for potential defects: Factoring in a slight buffer for potential defects can help ensure you have enough usable material to complete the project.
FAQs
Q: Why do I need to buy more flooring than the square footage of my room?
A: There are two main reasons. First, perfect fits are rare. You’ll likely need to make cuts around obstacles or fit the last row of materials, leading to some waste. Second, some flooring materials, especially natural ones, may have defects. Buying extra ensures you have enough usable material to complete the project.
Q: How much extra flooring should I buy?
A: The recommended amount varies depending on the flooring type. Luxury vinyl and laminate flooring (5-10% extra) have minimal defects, so the extra covers installation cuts. For ceramic tile (5-15% extra), the size matters. Smaller tiles waste less. Solid hardwood (20% extra) is prone to defects, so factor that in. See the guide for details on other materials.
Q: Can I minimize how much extra flooring I need to buy?
A: Yes! Here are some tips:
- Carefully plan your flooring layout to reduce unnecessary cuts.
- If you have complex cuts around obstacles, order some extra flooring to account for waste.
- Consider using smaller tiles, which often require less cutting.
Q: What should I do if my flooring materials have defects?
A: Inspect your materials upon delivery and report any significant issues to the supplier immediately. Solid hardwood has a higher chance of defects (up to 5%), but skilled installers can often salvage them. Engineered wood and resilient flooring (vinyl, linoleum) generally have fewer defects.
