The CVT Direct team wants to help you measure correctly when purchasing your new flooring!
Whether you are planning to fit carpet, vinyl tiles, or laminate flooring, it is essential to properly measure the size of the room accurately.
Measuring correctly will help you to –
order enough flooring for the job
save you money
save time
On the downside, measuring incorrectly can cause –
ordering insufficient flooring
delays in fitting
excess material and expense
Check and double check!
Even after you have measured the room’s length and width and have taken down the measurements, repeat the whole process, as it is essential to give accurate figures to your flooring supplier.
Here are just a few of the problems that could occur if you provide the wrong measurements for your flooring space.
-
Ordering insufficient flooring
The worst thing that could happen is that you end up not having enough flooring for your project. While this is less of a problem if you have ordered modular flooring such as tiles and planks, as you can simply order more, (beware though as batches can vary in colour shade) it is a big issue when laying a whole sheet of vinyl or broadloom carpet.
Without enough material, this will leave unsightly gaps at the edges of the room.
What’s more, if the metal carpet threshold is installed in the correct place and the carpet is stretched to meet it, this will result in the fibres being pulled apart. Over time, this will wear down the carpet and cause it to fray and become damaged.
Similarly, if vinyl is pulled to fit the edging, it will weaken. This could lead to it either springing back or tearing.
-
Excess material and expense
If you don’t measure the space properly and provide measurements that are too big, you will end up with an excess of flooring.
While it is sensible to overestimate slightly to avoid not having enough, if you have a considerable amount of extra carpet or vinyl that you do not need, this will simply be an expense you could have avoided. Note that some surplus flooring cannot be returned, before ordering feel free to check with the team.
Standard rolls of carpet typically come in widths of 3.6m and 4m. If your space is wider than this, carpets need to be seamed together. Therefore, if you give an overestimation of your room of over 4m, your carpet provider will have to fit two carpets together when this may not even be necessary for your space.
This means paying a considerable amount more than you had to and being left with lots of excess material.
-
Leaving enough space for your door
As well as measuring the room, it is advisable to measure the height of the existing carpet and the gap underneath the door. This will tell you what the door clearance needs to be to enable the door to open properly without getting caught on the carpet.
Although it is tempting to choose a cosy, thick pile, this could mean you have to shave the bottom of your door so it can slide easily over the carpet without damaging it.
Do not forget to account for the thickness of underlay as well as the carpet, as this will add a few millimetres to the height of the flooring.
How to measure a space accurately for flooring
To make sure you have the right size carpet, vinyl or laminate flooring for your room, it is essential to measure the space properly.
Here are some tips on how to do this:
Measure the room (in metres) where the length and the width are the longest.
Remove furniture from the room before measuring for a more accurate figure.
Write down all the measurements in awkward-shaped spaces, such as hallways or odd-shaped rooms.
Take multiple measurements for the length and width to make sure you have done it correctly.
Add 10 cm to each measurement to account for accidents and inaccuracies.
To work out how many square metres you will need, multiply the length by the width.
Some spaces can be particularly difficult to measure, such as stairs with winders. It is a good idea to seek advice on what measurements you need to provide before you order.
Order samples
Get samples of the flooring you like before you order, this will avoid any costly and time consuming mistakes. Samples are available via the CVT Direct site. Please ask if you can’t find the sample you want, we might be able to get it for you.
Please note that this is a general guide only. Technical, installation and maintenance info for our products is given on the product pages.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to get in touch with the CVT Direct team via our Contact Us page or give us a ring on 0345 121 1234.
Browse our flooring and accessories product ranges and use the filters when searching for your new flooring and the accessories needed.
