by Dirtman » Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:39 pm
Dare2fish:
Carpet comes in various widths, 12', 13.5' and 15', with most carpet being 12' wide.
If the carpet you buy is 12' wide, 1 linear yard of carpet off the roll is actually 4 sq. yards of carpet ((3' x 12')/9 = 4 sq. yds).
It's more involved than just x-number of yards though, either square or linear, as you have to consider the width limitation.
For example, let's say your wall is 8' high x 15'-6" wide. You'll need to purchase 13.78 sq. yards of carpet, right? Wrong! Your carpet is only 12' wide!
If you didn't want a seam somewhere on the wall, you would need to purchase a piece of carpet 5.25 linear yards (15'-9") long. You would have a 4' wide waste strip as the height of the wall is only 8'.
Why not simply 15'-6" long? Surprise but chances are you'll find the corners of your wall aren't exactly square. You'll need a little extra carpet so you can trim it to fit.
I suggest you call a carpet retailer and ask them about your various options. Most will come out and give you a free measurement and estimate. FWIW, DON'T get a measuremnt from one retailer and buy from another as there are various options and methods of measurement.
Good luck with the carpet.