Flooring project guides

Prep checklists, underlay and pad choices, product comparisons, and step-by-step how-tos — paired with free box and square footage calculators on flooringboxcalculator.com.

Prep & how-to

How to Measure Rooms for Flooring

Measure length, width, closets, and odd shapes so your square footage and box count are accurate before you buy.

9 min read

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Prep & how-to

How to Prep a Subfloor Before Installing Flooring

Level, clean, and dry the subfloor for laminate, tile, or carpet. Fix squeaks and high spots before you open the first box.

10 min read

Laminate calculator →

Prep & how-to

How to Remove Old Flooring Before Installing New

Strip carpet, laminate, vinyl, and tile safely. What to leave, what to tear out, and when asbestos testing is required.

9 min read

Flooring box calculator →

Prep & how-to

How Long Should Flooring Acclimate Before Install?

Why laminate, hardwood, and vinyl need to rest in the room — temperature, humidity, and manufacturer rules.

8 min read

Prep & how-to

Flooring Transitions, Reducers & Trim — What You Need

T-molds, reducers, stair noses, and baseboards at doorways and height changes. Plan trim before you calculate boxes.

8 min read

Prep & how-to

How to Install Flooring Around Door Jambs — Undercut Guide

Undercut door casings so laminate or vinyl slides under for a clean finish. Tool setup, scrap-plank height trick, and transitions at doorways.

9 min read

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Planning & quantities

How Much Flooring Waste Should I Buy?

10% vs 15% waste for laminate, tile, and carpet — when to add more for diagonal layouts, stairs, and pattern matching.

9 min read

Flooring waste calculator →

Planning & quantities

How Many Flooring Boxes Do I Need?

Divide room square footage (plus waste) by coverage per box. Works for laminate, LVP, and tile cartons.

8 min read

Flooring box calculator →

Planning & quantities

Laminate vs Tile vs Carpet — Which Flooring for Which Room?

Compare durability, moisture, comfort, cost, and DIY difficulty by room type — kitchen, bath, basement, bedroom.

9 min read

Laminate calculator →

Planning & quantities

DIY Flooring Installation Roadmap — Room Redo Start to Finish

Plan a DIY flooring project from material selection and measurement through subfloor prep, acclimation, installation, transitions, trim, and final cleanup.

12 min read

Flooring boxes calculator →

Planning & quantities

When Not to DIY Flooring — Hire vs Install Yourself

Honest DIY vs pro guide: stairs, large-format tile, wet slabs, radiant heat, and uneven subfloors. Still measure and price materials with free calculators.

9 min read

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Laminate & vinyl

Do You Need Underlay for Laminate Flooring? (Yes)

Do you need underlay for laminate flooring? Almost always yes — foam, felt, cork, vapor barriers on concrete, and when attached-pad laminate is the exception.

9 min read

Laminate calculator →

Laminate & vinyl

How to Install Laminate Flooring — Step-by-Step for Beginners

Underlay, first row, spacing, cutting, and finishing at doorways. Floating floor basics without glue.

11 min read

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Laminate & vinyl

How to Choose Laminate Flooring — AC Rating, Thickness & Waterproof

Pick the right laminate for traffic, pets, and moisture. AC ratings, mm thickness, and when to choose LVP instead.

9 min read

Laminate & vinyl

Laminate vs Vinyl Plank (LVP) — Which Should You Buy?

Compare waterproofing, install method, feel, price, and resale for laminate versus luxury vinyl plank.

9 min read

Laminate & vinyl

Laminate Flooring Tools You Need — DIY Install Kit Checklist

Must-have tools for installing laminate or vinyl plank: pull bar, tapping block, spacers, saws, and underlay supplies. What to buy, rent, or skip.

9 min read

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Laminate & vinyl

First Row Laminate Flooring Layout — Straight Start Guide

How to start laminate or vinyl plank: which wall, tongue direction, expansion spacers, and checking square so the whole room stays straight.

9 min read

Laminate calculator →

Laminate & vinyl

Stagger Pattern for Laminate Planks — Joint Rules That Hold

How to stagger laminate and vinyl plank end joints: minimum offset, H-pattern to avoid, random look tips, and why short staggers fail.

8 min read

Laminate calculator →

Tile

Tile Underlayment & Membrane — Backer Board, DITRA & More

Cement board, fiber cement, uncoupling membrane, and when you need them over plywood or concrete.

9 min read

Tile

How to Prep for a Tile Floor Installation

Flatness, layout lines, thinset choice, and dry-fitting before you mix mortar.

10 min read

Tile

How to Choose Floor Tile — Porcelain vs Ceramic, PEI & Slip

Pick tile that survives foot traffic, pets, and wet feet. PEI ratings, COF slip resistance, and size trends.

9 min read

Tile quantity calculator →

Tile

Large Format Tile — Install Tips & Extra Waste

12×24 and bigger tile needs flat floors, leveling clips, and 15–20% waste. What DIYers should know.

8 min read

Carpet

Carpet Pad Guide — Do You Need Pad & Which Type?

Foam, rubber, and fiber pad. Thickness limits, moisture barriers, and ordering the same sq yd as carpet.

9 min read

Carpet

How to Choose Carpet for Bedrooms, Stairs & Living Areas

Fiber types (nylon, polyester, wool), pile cut vs loop, and durability by room.

9 min read

Carpet calculator →