Our service
Measuring & Planning
Accurate measuring and planning converts a chosen flooring material into a precise specification, covering room dimensions, doorways, staircases, direction of lay and junctions between rooms. It prevents wasted material, unexpected joins in poor positions, and delays on installation day, and it gives you a firm, itemised understanding of what is being fitted and where.
- Step 1
Site visit and measurement
We measure every room to be floored, noting doorways, alcoves, staircases, radiator pipes and any changes in level.
- Step 2
Subfloor and site notes
We record subfloor type, evident damp or unevenness, and existing floor coverings that will need to be removed before installation.
- Step 3
Layout and direction planning
For wood and LVT particularly, we plan board direction and pattern layout relative to light sources and sightlines from the main entrance.
- Step 4
Quantity and junction schedule
We calculate exact quantities including sensible wastage allowances, and plan where joins, thresholds and transition strips will sit.
- Step 5
Written specification
You receive a clear, itemised specification confirming materials, quantities and layout before installation is booked.
Why does measuring need to be done by a professional?
Flooring is rarely a simple rectangle. Bay windows, chimney breasts, staircases and door thresholds all affect how much material is needed and how it should be laid. A DIY tape-measure estimate frequently misses these details, leading to either costly over-ordering or a shortfall discovered midway through installation, when matching the original batch may no longer be possible.
How is board or plank direction decided?
For engineered wood and LVT, the direction boards run in has a significant effect on how a room feels. As a general principle, boards are run in the direction of the longest wall or the main source of natural light, and continuity is considered across openings between rooms so the eye is not interrupted by an awkward junction just inside a doorway.
What happens at doorways and where rooms meet different flooring?
Thresholds need particular attention because they carry both a practical and a visual role. We plan transition strips and height differences at every doorway in advance, particularly where a new floor meets an existing one of a different thickness, so there is no trip hazard and no unsightly gap once installation is complete.
How accurate are the quantities you calculate?
We calculate net area room by room, then apply a wastage allowance appropriate to the material and pattern, for example a higher allowance for a herringbone or chevron layout than for a straight lay. This avoids the common problems of running short partway through a room or over-ordering unnecessarily.
- Room-by-room net area calculation
- Pattern-specific wastage allowance
- Allowance for staircases and returns
- Confirmation of skirting and beading requirements
Can the plan change if I alter my mind on layout later?
Yes, within reason. If you decide to change direction of lay or add a room to the scope before installation is booked, we simply revise the specification and quantities. Once material has been ordered to a confirmed plan, changes become more disruptive, which is why we encourage decisions to be settled at this stage.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a measuring visit take?
- A typical home takes roughly one to two hours depending on the number of rooms, staircases and junctions involved, with larger or more complex properties taking longer.
- Do I need to have chosen my flooring before you measure?
- It helps considerably, since plank size, pattern and material all affect quantities and layout, but if you are still deciding between options we can measure for the likely candidates and refine once you confirm.
- What if my walls are not perfectly square?
- Very few rooms are, and our measuring process accounts for this by taking multiple reference points rather than a single dimension per wall, so the plan reflects the room as it actually is.
- Will you check the subfloor at this stage?
- We note visible subfloor conditions during measuring, but a full moisture and structural assessment is carried out separately as part of floor preparation, since it often requires uplifting existing coverings.
- Do you provide the specification in writing?
- Yes, you receive a written specification setting out materials, quantities and layout before any installation date is booked, so there is a clear shared record of what has been agreed.
Last reviewed 2026-08-04.
Consultation
Planning a flooring project?
Tell us about your property, ideas and timescale. We will help you explore the most suitable materials and arrange the next step.