The Ultimate South African Flooring Guide: Part 5
Measuring Like a Pro: Wastage, Thresholds & Profiles
Achieving a flawless flooring installation begins long before the first plank is laid. Whether you are installing a click-lock floating floor (Laminate or SPC) or a seamless glue-down (LVT), calculating the correct square meterage, wastage, and finishing accessories is critical.
In South Africa, rooms are rarely "perfectly square." Failing to plan for alcoves, expansion gaps, and transition profiles at the measuring stage can stall your project and lead to additional delivery costs if you run short. Here is your expert guide to calculating exactly what you need.
1. The Core Measurement Strategy: "Divide & Conquer"
Measuring a perfectly rectangular room is simple: measure the length and width in meters and multiply them to get your total square meterage (m²). However, for complex layouts, the most accurate method is to divide the room into smaller blocks.
- Sketch the Room: Draw a rough floor plan on paper.
- Divide into Areas: Break the room down into simple rectangular blocks (e.g., Area A, Area B, Area C).
- Measure into the Recesses: Don't stop at the main walls. Expert Tip: Always measure all the way into doorways and bay windows to ensure complete coverage.
- Calculate: Multiply Length × Width for each area, then add them together for the room's total net area.
🧮 Skip the Math: Use Our Smart Calculator
To make your renovation as smooth as possible, we’ve removed the guesswork from ordering. You don't need to do manual box calculations or complex geometry!
Two ways to calculate:
• Total Area: Simply input your total net m².
• Room-by-Room: Input the length and width of each room individually, and our calculator will tally the total for you.
Once your measurements are in, select your required wastage percentage, and the tool will instantly calculate the exact number of boxes you need.
Find your perfect floor and try the calculator in our
Laminate, SPC Vinyl or LVT Vinyl collections.
2. Calculating Wastage: The Golden Rules
You will never use 100% of the flooring you order. Cutting planks to fit against walls and staggering joints inherently produces off-cuts.
- Standard Rooms (Add 10%): Covers normal cuts and end-of-row waste.
- Passages & Corridors (Add 15% to 20%): Long, narrow areas require significantly more cutting to fit around multiple door frames.
- Herringbone & Diagonal (Add 20%): Planks installed at 45-degree angles require every perimeter board to be custom-cut.
3. Factoring in Expansion Gaps & Cupboards
🛑 For Floating Floors (Laminate & SPC)
- The Expansion Rule: You must leave a 10mm expansion gap around the entire perimeter and fixed objects.
- The Cupboard Rule: Heavy cabinetry must be installed before the floor. Installing them on top of the floor pins it down and causes buckling.
✅ For Glue-Down Floors (LVT)
- The Expansion Rule: Because LVT is adhered down, it does not require perimeter expansion gaps.
- The Cupboard Rule: You can safely glue LVT underneath built-in cupboards if you are installing them after the floor.
4. Measuring for Profiles & The "Jargon Buster"
Profiles are generally supplied in 2.7m lengths. A standard door requires ~900mm, meaning one profile covers 3 standard doors. Explore our Supertrim profile range here.
- T-Profiles (Expansion Profiles): Used in doorways. For floating floors, break the floor with an expansion profile every 10m in length.
- Reducers (Adaptation Profiles): Used to bridge the height difference when your flooring meets a lower surface (like raw concrete).
- End Profiles (End Caps): Used to cap off the flooring where it meets an immovable vertical surface like sliding glass doors.
Expansion Profile
Reducer Profile
End Cap Profile
5. Finishing the Perimeter: Skirtings & Quarter Rounds
To cover the expansion gap, you need perimeter trims. View our full range of flooring accessories here.
Quarter Rounds
- Option A (New Skirtings): Remove old skirtings and install new ones over the expansion gap.
- Option B (Quarter Rounds): Keep existing skirtings and use a matching quarter round to hide the gap.
- Option C (The LVT Flush Finish): LVT can be cut perfectly flush against existing skirtings—no quarter rounds needed!
6. Conquering Stairs (Calculating m² & Nosings)
Laminate, SPC, and LVT can be installed on stairs, but they must be fully glued down.
- Calculating the m²: Multiply (Tread + Riser) by the Width. Multiply by total stairs. Add 20% to 40% for wastage. Rule: allow 1 full plank per riser and 2 per tread.
- Measuring for Stair Nosings: Measure the linear width of every step. If the staircase has an open side, add the depth of the exposed sides to your meterage.