Of all the questions we are asked at Southside, there is one that we hear over and over. “How many boxes of flooring should I buy?”
The answer is – it depends. Because flooring is packaged in many different sized boxes, ‘flooring math’ can be confusing.
Boxing. The number of square feet in a box is the number of square feet it will cover when laid. The number of square feet in a box varies widely. You may see a box with 28.84 square feet, or one with only 11 square feet.
Pricing. Flooring is priced by the square foot – twelve inches by twelve inches. Take the number of square feet, and divide it by the price of the carton, and you get the price per square foot. Some companies have less in their boxes, to make the box cost less, so it’s important to do the math. At Southside, you’ll find the price per square foot clearly marked.
Measuring. To determine how much flooring you will need, first measure the area of flooring. If your room is 12 feet by 20 feet, you’ll need 240 square feet total.
Buying. Divide the total number of square feet you need by the number of square feet in the box. Then add at least 10% to cover waste, mistakes, and to have have some extra left over.
If you feel like you’re back in middle school math, you’re not alone! But the good news is that we do the flooring math all day long, and we can help you with your calculations.
All you have to do is choose the quality, color, and style that you want in your home. The price for square foot is posted, so you can easily make your price comparison.
Whether it’s measuring, calculating, or choosing which flooring you want, Southside Building Center employees are happy to assist! We’re whizzes in flooring math, and in helping you make the best choice for all your flooring needs.