Glossary
Flooring takeoff glossary
Plain-language definitions for the terms estimators, retailers and installers use every day.
TermFlooring takeoffMeasuring a floor plan to produce the quantities — area, perimeter, material — needed to quote a flooring job.TermLinear metresA one-dimensional length measurement (a metre measured along a single line) used for skirting, trims, transitions and any flooring product sold by the metre.TermWastage allowanceAn extra percentage added to a flooring quantity to cover offcuts, pattern matching, damaged pieces and installation losses.TermBroadloom carpetCarpet manufactured on a wide loom and sold from a roll — distinct from carpet tiles (modular squares).TermScale barA graphical bar or labelled dimension on a floor plan used to calibrate measurements against a known real-world length.TermOffcutThe leftover piece of carpet, vinyl or other flooring material after cutting to fit a room — sometimes reusable in another part of the same job.TermCarpet seamThe visible join where two pieces of broadloom carpet meet — usually placed behind a door or against a low-traffic wall to keep it out of sight.TermPile directionThe orientation of the carpet pile (the upright fibres) — which way it lies determines how light reflects off the surface and how rooms look together.TermHeat weldA seamless join in sheet vinyl flooring made by melting a vinyl welding rod into a routed groove between two sheets — used in wet areas and commercial fitouts.TermRoll lengthThe total length of carpet or vinyl on a single supplied roll — typically 25-50 m for carpet, 20-40 m for sheet vinyl — independent of the roll width.TermRiser and treadThe two surfaces that make up a stair step — the vertical face (riser) and the horizontal walking surface (tread). Both can take flooring on a carpeted or covered staircase.TermStair winderA pie-shaped stair step that turns a corner — wider on one side than the other, common on quarter-turn or half-turn staircases. Wastes more material than a straight tread.TermOrigin wallThe reference wall from which a flooring lay-out is planned — usually the longest straight wall in the most-visible room. Sets the pile direction and seam orientation for the rest of the job.TermBox coverageThe square metres of floor that a single box of vinyl plank, hybrid plank, laminate or tile will cover. Used to convert area-with-wastage into a box count for the supplier order.TermFlooring transitionA trim profile installed where two different flooring types meet — at a doorway between carpet and tile, vinyl and timber, or any other material change.TermBroadloom roll widthThe width of the roll a broadloom carpet is manufactured on — the fixed dimension that forces seam and wastage decisions. In Australia, 3.66 m (12 ft) is dominant, with 4 m and 5 m rolls also common.
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