Flooring Calculator

Laminate vs LVP vs Hardwood

Laminate flooring is a photograph of wood laminated over a high-density fiberboard (HDF) core — it looks like wood but is not water-resistant and cannot be refinished. Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) has a waterproof vinyl core, making it suitable for bathrooms, kitchens, and basements where laminate would swell. Hardwood is real milled wood that can be sanded and refinished 3–5 times over its life, making it the most durable long-term choice but the most expensive and moisture-sensitive. For high-traffic areas with potential moisture exposure, LVP offers the best balance of durability, cost ($2–$5/sq ft installed), and ease of DIY installation.

Subfloor Preparation

The subfloor must be clean, flat (within 3/16 inch over 10 feet), and structurally sound before installing any floating floor. Humps and dips cause planks to flex and click joints to fail prematurely. Check flatness with a long level or straightedge and mark problem areas. Low spots can be filled with floor leveling compound; high spots on wood subfloors can be sanded down. Moisture testing is critical for concrete subfloors — excessive moisture vapor will cause LVP to expand and laminate to buckle regardless of installation quality. A calcium chloride test or moisture meter reading should confirm levels are within the product's specification.

Acclimation: Why It Matters

Wood-based flooring products expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity. Most manufacturers require 48–72 hours of acclimation in the installation space before installation — leaving boxes in the room at normal living conditions allows the material to reach equilibrium. Installing cold product in a warm room, or skipping acclimation in newly constructed homes with high moisture content, leads to gapping in winter or buckling in summer as the material adjusts. LVP requires less acclimation than hardwood or laminate but still benefits from a 24-hour adjustment period, particularly if brought from a cold vehicle or warehouse.

Waste Factor and Installation Patterns

Always add a waste factor when ordering flooring. A standard straight-lay pattern requires 10% extra. A 45-degree diagonal pattern wastes 15–20% because more material is cut at angles along walls. Complex room shapes with multiple doorways and alcoves add another 5%. The calculator above uses a 10% default — adjust upward for diagonal installation or irregular rooms. Order all material from the same production lot to ensure colour consistency, since dye lots vary between batches. Returning excess after installation is possible at most retailers, but reordering to match an existing lot months later often isn't.