Measuring It Right
Measuring hardwood floors

Flooring is ordered by the square foot, a measurement of the surface area to be covered. We also suggest you factor in 5 to 10 percent waste on your order.

How to Measure

Step 1: With a yardstick or measuring tape, measure the length of the room.

Step 2: Then, measure and the width of the room.

Step 3: Multiply the length by the width to determine square feet. If the room is not rectangular, break it up into smaller sections that are. Also don't forget to include closets or hallways that need to be covered.

Step 4: Finally, multiply the square footage by 1.05 to account for 5 percent waste.