Estimating Your Floor Tile NeedsIt goes without saying that it's extremely important to have the right amount of floor tile on hand
to complete your project.
Regardless of whether you're installing travertine, marble or
onyx flooring tile, keep in mind that you will be working with
a natural product that will have differences in vein
patterns and coloration. To insure as much consistency
as possible (and the best 'match'), you'll want to be sure to
order enough natural stone floor tile for the entire
job.
Guidelines for Determining How Much Floor Tile to Order
We'll gladly assist you in figuring out the amount of
travertine, marble or onyx floor tile you will need for your
project, however it's really not rocket science and something
you can very easily calculate on your own. Here are some guidelines to use in managing this process yourself.
When calculating the amount of floor tile needed for a
particular area, the rule is:
Length x Width +
Waste = Amount of Tile Needed
Waste is defined as the tile that has to be
cut down to fit the dimensions of the area to be covered and
should include an additional allowance for breakage. The amount of
waste will vary based upon the configuration of the floor
space, the size of the tile, the tile layout, the pattern, etc...
A good rule of thumb is to allow between 5%
and 15% for waste as follows:
-
5% if the tile is to be professionally
installed
-
10% if you plan to do the job yourself
-
15% if you plan to install the tile
diagonally or in a room that has lots of jogs, curves or
corners. These configurations require more cuts and
therefore more waste.
It's always a good idea to over-estimate waste
so you might consider 10% (perhaps more), as an absolute minimum,
regardless of who's installing the tile. That way you'll
be sure to have plenty of tile on hand to allow for the
unexpected... and any extra floor tile can always be saved in the
event you may need to replace a few tiles at some point in the
future.
How To Calculate Square Footage
Assuming the floor space that's to be covered
does not have a lot of jogs, curves or corners, here are 3 easy steps to determine square
footage and the total amount of flooring tile
that will be needed to complete the job:
-
Measure the length and width of the room
-
Multiple these numbers together. This
will give you the total square feet for the room.
-
Multiple the total square feet of the room by
the waste allowance* to arrive at the total number of square feet of
tile you will need to order.
*waste allowance factors:
- 5%
waste, multiple the room's square footage by 1.05
- 10% waste, multiply square footage by
1.10
- 15% waste, multiply square footage by 1.15
Here's an example using a 10% waste allowance:
-
Actual room size = 20 feet long | 15 feet wide
-
20 ft x 15 ft = 300 square
feet
-
300 sq ft x 1.10 waste = 330
square feet of floor tile needed
Free Online Floor Tile Estimator
To further assist you in calculating your
floor tile needs as accurately as possible, we have a free
online floor tile estimator that is especially useful for
calculating the square footage of irregularly shaped rooms
and/or rooms that have lots of jogs, curves, corners and
cut-outs as part of their configuration.
Before you begin using this tool, you'll want
to make a rough sketch of the room to be tiled and notate the
exact wall by wall measurements that make up the room's footprint. Once
that's accomplished, be sure to have your sketch on hand for use with
this tool.
To access our free floor tile estimator now,
simply click on the link below and use your browser's back
button to return to this page.
Automated Floor Tile Estimator
Whether you calculate your tile
flooring needs by hand or use the online
estimator, it's always a good idea to double
check your calculations and have them reviewed
by an experienced floor tile professional.
Regardless of whether your intend to install the
tile yourself or contract the services of a professional
installer, you'll want to be sure your numbers are absolutely
correct before ordering your
natural stone tile.
Natural Stone Floor Tile
While you're here, be sure to
check out our beautiful collection of all
natural,
Mexican Floor Tile. Whether your
project calls for the warm, earthy tones of
Travertine Tile... the traditional, elegant
look of
Marble Tile... or the luxurious,
incomparable beauty of
Onyx Tile... you're bound to find exactly
what you need among our natural stone floor tile
selections!
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