ESTIMATING CARPET YARDAGEInsider Tips from a Retired Carpet Installer...
"The Goal when Estimating Carpet Yardage is to have enough Carpet to install your carpet properly, without having too much waste".Estimating Carpet if you are Carpeting Only One or Two Rooms...* When Estimating Carpet Yardage for a room that is wider than the roll of carpet, you need to figure the "Fills". In other words, if you have a room that is 15' x 25' and the carpet roll is 12' wide, you will need a 3' x 25' fill. * However, all carpet has a "Nap" and when that roll of carpet is seamed together either to complete a fill in a room or to join to the carpet in the doorway of the next room, the nap must flow the same direction. The question when Estimating Carpet yardage is how do you figure it so they all flow the same direction? There is a simple method. I call it the 12, 15, 16, 18. 12 method. With this method you figure every room either 12' wide, 15' wide, 16' wide or 18' wide. * Estimating Carpet Yardage for extra large rooms, simply make each room "Fill" either 3' wide. 4' wide, 6' wide or 12' wide.
The formula for Estimating Carpet Yardage to cover the fill.* For a 3' fill, take the length of room and divide by 4 and round up to nearest quarter of a foot. (Rounding up insures the installer has enough materials to cut the seam properly). * For a 4' fill take the length of room and divide by 3 and round up to nearest quarter of a foot. * For a 6' fill take the length of room and divide by 2 and round up to nearest quarter of a foot. * For a 12' fill take the length of room and round up to nearest quarter of a foot. Estimating Carpet Yardage Examples:For the example below lets assume the room is 25' in length and the carpet is 12' wide:
Room Size:12' x 25'-Order 12' x 25' (No Fills also known as a "Drop Room") 13' x 25'- 25 divided by 4= 6.25 (rounded up 1/4 foot would be 6.5) so take 25 plus 6.5)Order 12' x 31'-6" 14' x 25'- 25 divided by 4= 6.25 (rounded up 1/4 foot would be 6.5) so take 25 plus 6.5)Order 12' x 31'-6" 15' x 25'- 25 divided by 4= 6.25 (rounded up 1/4 foot would be 6.5) so take 25 plus 6.5)Order 12' x 31'-6" 16' x 25'- 25 divided by 3= 8.33 (rounded up 1/4 foot would be 8.5) so take 25 plus 8.5)Order 12' x 33'-6" 17' x 25'- 25 divided by 3= 8.33 (rounded up 1/4 foot would be 8.5) so take 25 plus 8.5)Order 12' x 33'-6"18' x 25'- 25 divided by 2= 12.5 (rounded up 1/4 foot would be 12.75) so take 25 plus 12.75)Order 12' x 37'-9" 19' x 25'- 25 Multiplied by 2= 50 (rounded up 1/4 foot would be 50'-3")Order 12' x 50'-3" 20' x 25'- 25 Multiplied by 2= 50 (rounded up 1/4 foot would be 50'-3")Order 12' x 50'-3" 21' x 25'- 25 Multiplied by 2= 50 (rounded up 1/4 foot would be 50'-3")Order 12' x 50'-3" 22' x 25'- 25 Multiplied by 2= 50 (rounded up 1/4 foot would be 50'-3")Order 12' x 50'-3" 23' x 25'- 25 Multiplied by 2= 50 (rounded up 1/4 foot would be 50'-3")Order 12' x 50'-3" 24' x 25'- 25 Multiplied by 2= 50 (rounded up 1/4 foot would be 50'-3")Order 12' x 50'-3"
When estimating carpet yardageDO NOT take the lazy person method and take the square footage and add 10% for waste. This is not Estimating Carpet Yardage. While sometimes you will be in the ballpark, other times you will be short (not good if you purchase a one of a kind piece of carpet like a Carpet remnant), or you will have too much waste which you will be paying for.
DO Consider the Carpet Roll Width when Estimating Carpet Yardage: Carpet standard width is 12 feet. Some berber carpet comes 13'-6" wide and 15' wide. What this means is if you need carpet for a room that is 10' x 10', you will be purchasing a piece of carpet that is 12' x 10' or 13'-6" x 10' or 15' bx 10', unless you happen to find a piece of carpet that is close to the size you need (not easy to find).
On the other hand, if you are Estimating Carpet Yardage for a few rooms or whole house, then the leftover pieces might fit in the closets but you have to sit down and plan it out to make sure you have enough. This is not very difficult but do not cut corners otherwise you may pay later. Now that you know about Estimating Carpet Yardage, the next step is to learn the Insider Secrets on
How to Choose Carpet.
If you want, you can go back to the Home Page. |
