Imagine this—you’ve found the laminate hardwood flooring of your dreams and are in the process of installing it in your home. 

You’ve ordered just enough to cover the total square footage based on the handy laminate flooring calculator you used when determining how much flooring you’d need. Because you want to save money, you don’t consider ordering anything extra. 

As you begin to install laminate flooring in the home, a few planks get damaged during installation. Since you didn’t order any backup hardwood flooring for the project, a few spots in your home can’t be covered until your replacement shipment arrives.

Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it? This issue can easily be avoided entirely by simply ordering a minimum of 5% extra laminate flooring over the total square feet of your workspace. Doing so will save you stress and money in the long term. 

How Much Extra Laminate Flooring Do You Need to Buy?

When you order your laminate floors, make sure to get 5–15% over the total square feet to cover for waste from cutting or damaged pieces.

When you’re ready to replace your laminate or vinyl flooring, you need to order the correct amount based on the square footage of your project. If you plan to use laminate, that means adding a little extra square feet to your purchase, an additional percentage added to the exact measurement of the flooring you need.

Many homeowners, however, need help determining exactly how much material they should have on hand to leave room for errors and damage. 

This post will explain why ordering additional flooring materials will help save you time, money, and headaches in the long run. Let’s jump right in! 

Why Order Extra Laminated Flooring?

When it comes to laminated flooring, you can’t just measure the size of the room and then decide to order the exact amount of flooring you need. 

As you put together your room, you’ll need to cut off extra laminate at the ends of pieces that don’t quite fit the exact measurements of the room. Every room size and shape is slightly different, meaning flooring manufacturers can’t accurately cater to every square foot. 

Consequently, you may have some waste left over at the end of your project. Generally, you should include laminate flooring waste when calculating how much laminate you should order.

Always order the entire amount you think you need, including extra for waste, at the start of your project.

The Benefits of Ordering More Flooring than the Actual Square Footage

Some homeowners think ordering extra square feet of laminate is a waste of money, which is a common conception when installing flooring. 

Considering the flooring cost you’re about to pay, you’ll want to be prepared for anything, especially if you’re new to installation or home renovations. 

Ordering more flooring than the square feet in your home accomplishes the following: 

1. Consistency 

You can be sure of consistency within the lot. While laminate flooring usually has few differences between one lot and the next, you may notice some differences in the planks as you pull them out and inspect them. 

Having extra laminate or vinyl flooring on hand means you can create a room with a consistent appearance and lay out the design exactly how you want it to look. 

2. Avoid Delays 

Ordering extra for waste prevents delays. If you don’t order enough laminate flooring in the first place, you may find yourself waiting around for more to come in. 

This can mean wasted time for your contractor or even result in your project being pushed back since the contractor may need to work on other projects while waiting for your materials to arrive. 

Exactly How Much Extra Should I Order?

When you place your laminate order, allow an additional 5–15% of your initial flooring measurement to account for waste.

Suppose the room is relatively simple, like a square with no extra corners or features in the middle that you need to work around. In that case, you can get away with 5% waste, especially with an experienced contractor installing your flooring.

On the other hand, if you have a complicated room, or if the room is particularly small, you may need to go as high as 15% waste for the total square footage. 

What If the Box Doesn’t Come with the Right Measurement?

You need an extra 25 square feet of flooring, but each box only has 20 square feet. 

Can you get away with not ordering five square feet of flooring, or should you take the plunge and order the extra box, despite the flooring cost? 

Short answer? Ordering the extra box has several benefits.

When it comes to flooring, too much is always better than too little. If you don’t need to use all of the extra flooring you ordered when you install it, you can set the laminate flooring to the side.  Ideally, store the laminate flooring in an area climate-controlled approximately the same way as the room where the flooring is installed.

Then, if there is damage to the laminate in the future, you can easily use the extra flooring to make repairs, and it will be a better match for your existing flooring than if you try to buy a new batch. 

On the other hand, if you’re working with an experienced contractor in a relatively simple room, you can get by without buying that extra box, especially if you’re on a tight budget. 

We recommend using a flooring calculator to determine the needed amount accurately. The flooring calculator considers each room’s square foot based on its shape, length, and width.  

Before deciding to leave that extra box sitting on the shelf—virtual or otherwise—talk with your contractor about how much flooring waste they think they will need for your project.

Talking with your contractor can also give you a better idea of how much waste laminate they expect to need in general, which can help you make better buying choices based on the flooring cost and the scope of your project. 

Final Thoughts on Laminate Flooring

When shopping and investing in flooring for your home or office space, having extra laminate on hand has many benefits for you and your contractor. 

Learn more about the benefits of using laminate flooring and shop our versatile options on our website.  

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