Lumber Liquidators: Measuring

Bob, our in-house installer, has a simple & effective way for measuring stair parts, even with tricky angles without using a traditional tape measure.

Trying to get accurate measurements for stair parts can be frustrating when using
flexible metal measuring tapes. One simple, no-cost and accurate work-around
is to create an adjustable, sliding “story stick.” Just select a straight board at least 24
inches long and cut 1 inch off each side, saving the sides and discarding the middle
piece. Then fit the tongue and groove together. Now you can quickly and easily get
inside dimensions for stairs, even with complicated angles. Rubber bands on each
end or mini spring or bar clamps can be used to secure the pieces at a given length.

Recently, many people have asked how to properly measure their home for flooring. I talked to Bob, our in-house installer, for his expert advice on how to measure for flooring. I'm hoping that you find this useful in determining how many square feet you will need. Remember, if you ever have any further questions, you can always check our Flooring 101 section or contact Bob and his team.

Sample Bed room - measures 13’8”x 15’2”

The basics

When measuring for square footage, the simplest method is to measure a room’s length x width (L x W). Use a tape measure to measure from wall to wall or baseboard to baseboard, ignoring built-in cabinetry. Using this bedroom as an example, if the room measures 13’8″ x 15’2″ round up the measurement to 14′ x 16′. The room area will now be 224 sqft. Measuring for kitchens? Most dishwashers can be pulled out or have adjustable front legs or panels to allow the flooring to be installed underneath about 3-4 inches. Don’t forget the closets!

Many older historic homes have irregular shaped rooms making accurate measurements more difficult. If this is the case simply break-up rooms into more manageable squares or rectangles. Circular and triangular rooms are a little more challenging. Below are examples of how this can be achieved.

The measurement around a circle is called its circumference. The measurement across a circle through its center is called its diameter. Commonly the Greek letter π pronounced Pi is used to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to the diameter, or = 3.14. The measurement from the center to the edge is called its radius; the radius of this circle is 20’. The area of a circle is the number of square units inside this circle - the area is our focus. Follow this equation for the area;

Area = π x R x R

= 3.14 · (20’) · (20’)

= 3.14 · (400’)

Area = 1,256 sqft

The area of a triangle is the number of square units inside that triangle. It is always half the sum of the height and base..

Triangle area = ^₁/₂ b x h (base 10' x height 20')

(10' x 20') = 200 sqft

¹/₂ of 200 sqft = (100sqft)

Total Triangle sqft area is 100 sqft

Transitions and Trim moldings

Just as a new suit needs new shoes, don’t forget the matching trim pieces for your new flooring. We offer transitions and moldings to color-match most flooring. Trim moldings are not only decorative but also functional, hiding perimeter expansion gaps and even speaker wiring! Transitions also offer décor plus safety while moving or transitioning between varying floor heights. When measuring for quarter round or base moldings, measure along the floor at the wall-base the perimeter of a room, this will give you the “linear feet” (Lnft). For example a 12x12 room would measure 12+12+12+12 or about 48’ Lnft of base moldings. When measuring for transitions there are only 4 basic styles, each designed for special purposes; T-molding, reducer, end-caps, and stair nosing. Keep in mind that these basic styles will work for about 95% of most applications, about 5% will need to be modified slightly by the installer to accommodate unique job site considerations.

Waste Factor and Placing the Order

Using the bedroom as an example, if the room measures 13’8″ x 15’2″ round up the measurement to 14′ x 16′. The room area will now be 224 sqft. Add a typical waste percentage for cutting, defects or damages to complete the project. When placing the order, round up to the next full box/container. Waste percentages are related to the selected product, for example; Laminates usually require about 8% extra be added to the square footage totals. Corks, bamboo and most exotic hardwood need about 10-15% extra. Add about 5% extra for domestic hardwoods.

It is beneficial to know that some wood species may require additional percentage be added to an order to account for such factors as shading, hardness or brittleness like Australian Cypress. These traits are considered species characteristics not defects. When ordering, don’t forget to keep an extra box of material on hand for future repairs if needed.

Last but certainly not least, it’s worth noting that “special buys”, “close-outs” and “odd-lots” are usually one-of-a-kind deals with no way to order extra product! Make sure to get what’s needed at the time of purchase.