How To Measure For Wood Flooring

Measuring for wood flooring is an important step in the installation process. Ensuring accurate measurements will help you determine the amount of flooring you need to purchase, as well as the amount of underlayment and other materials. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to measure for wood flooring:

1. Determine the Area to Be Floored

Start by measuring the length and width of the room you want to floor. Multiply these two measurements to get the square footage of the area.

2. Account for Obstacles

If there are any obstacles in the room, such as closets, fireplaces, or kitchen islands, you will need to subtract their square footage from the total area. To do this, measure the length and width of each obstacle and multiply them together to get the square footage.

3. Add 10% for Waste

When purchasing wood flooring, it's always a good idea to add 10% to your total square footage to account for waste. This will ensure you have enough flooring to complete the installation without running short.

4. Convert Square Footage to Board Footage

Once you have the total square footage, you will need to convert it to board footage. Board footage is a measurement of the volume of wood needed to cover a given area. To convert square footage to board footage, multiply the square footage by the thickness of the flooring in inches.

For example, if you have 1,000 square feet of flooring and the flooring is 3/4 inches thick, you would multiply 1,000 by 0.75 to get 750 board feet.

5. Determine the Number of Boxes Needed

Most wood flooring is sold in boxes. Each box typically contains a certain number of square feet of flooring. To determine the number of boxes you need, divide the total board footage by the number of square feet per box.

For example, if you have 750 board feet of flooring and each box contains 20 square feet, you would divide 750 by 20 to get 37.5 boxes. Round up to the nearest whole number, so you would need 38 boxes of flooring.

6. Purchase the Flooring

Once you have determined the number of boxes you need, you can purchase the flooring. Be sure to check the product specifications to ensure the flooring is suitable for your needs.

Measuring for wood flooring is a relatively simple process. By following these steps, you can ensure you have the correct amount of flooring for your project.