:root {
–primary-blue: #004a99;
–success-green: #28a745;
–light-background: #f8f9fa;
–white: #ffffff;
–gray-border: #dee2e6;
–text-dark: #343a40;
}
body {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
background-color: var(–light-background);
color: var(–text-dark);
line-height: 1.6;
margin: 0;
padding: 20px;
}
.loan-calc-container {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 20px auto;
background-color: var(–white);
padding: 30px;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
border: 1px solid var(–gray-border);
}
h1, h2 {
color: var(–primary-blue);
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.input-group {
margin-bottom: 20px;
padding: 15px;
border: 1px solid var(–gray-border);
border-radius: 5px;
background-color: var(–light-background);
}
.input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: bold;
color: var(–primary-blue);
}
.input-group input[type="number"],
.input-group input[type="text"] {
width: calc(100% – 20px);
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid var(–gray-border);
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 1rem;
margin-top: 5px;
}
.input-group input[type="number"]:focus,
.input-group input[type="text"]:focus {
border-color: var(–primary-blue);
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(0, 74, 153, 0.2);
}
.calc-button {
display: block;
width: 100%;
padding: 12px 20px;
background-color: var(–primary-blue);
color: var(–white);
border: none;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1.1rem;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.calc-button:hover {
background-color: #003366;
}
#result {
margin-top: 30px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: var(–success-green);
color: var(–white);
text-align: center;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1.5rem;
font-weight: bold;
min-height: 50px;
display: flex;
justify-content: center;
align-items: center;
box-shadow: inset 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
}
#result span {
font-size: 1.8rem;
}
.article-section {
margin-top: 40px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: var(–white);
border: 1px solid var(–gray-border);
border-radius: 8px;
}
.article-section h2 {
color: var(–primary-blue);
text-align: left;
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.article-section p, .article-section li {
margin-bottom: 15px;
color: var(–text-dark);
}
.article-section strong {
color: var(–primary-blue);
}
/* Responsive adjustments */
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.loan-calc-container {
padding: 20px;
}
.calc-button {
font-size: 1rem;
padding: 10px 15px;
}
#result {
font-size: 1.2rem;
}
#result span {
font-size: 1.4rem;
}
}
Understanding Carpet Square Footage Calculation
When purchasing carpet, it's essential to accurately calculate the total square footage needed. This ensures you buy enough material to cover your space without significant overage or, worse, falling short. The most common unit for carpet measurement is square feet (sq ft).
The Basic Formula: Area of a Rectangle
For most rooms, the calculation is straightforward. The area of a rectangular room is found by multiplying its length by its width.
Formula: Area = Length × Width
For example, if a room is 15 feet long and 12 feet wide:
Area = 15 ft × 12 ft = 180 sq ft
This means you need a minimum of 180 square feet of carpet.
Accounting for Waste
It's crucial to account for waste when ordering carpet. Waste occurs due to:
- Seams: Where multiple carpet pieces are joined.
- Pattern Matching: If the carpet has a pattern, you might need extra to align the designs across seams.
- Cuts and Trims: Irregular room shapes or cuts around doorways, closets, and furniture can lead to material loss.
- Roll Widths: Carpet typically comes in standard roll widths (e.g., 12 ft or 15 ft). You might have to order in lengths that result in some unusable offcuts to fit your room dimensions efficiently.
A common practice is to add a waste factor, typically between 5% and 20%, to your calculated area. The calculator above includes an optional field for this.
Formula with Waste: Total Sq Ft = (Length × Width) × (1 + Waste Factor / 100)
If the room above (180 sq ft) requires a 10% waste factor:
Total Sq Ft = 180 sq ft × (1 + 10 / 100) = 180 sq ft × 1.10 = 198 sq ft
In this case, you should order at least 198 square feet of carpet. Always round up to the nearest whole unit or standard carpet roll increment if necessary, as you usually can't buy fractions of square feet or specific lengths from a roll.
Irregular Room Shapes
For L-shaped rooms or rooms with alcoves, break down the space into smaller rectangular sections. Calculate the area of each section individually and then sum them up to get the total room area. Don't forget to add the waste factor to this combined total.
Example: An L-shaped room might be divided into two rectangles.
- Section 1: 10 ft x 10 ft = 100 sq ft
- Section 2: 5 ft x 8 ft = 40 sq ft
Total Area = 100 sq ft + 40 sq ft = 140 sq ft.
Add waste factor as needed.
Why Use a Calculator?
Using a calculator simplifies this process, reduces the chance of manual errors, and helps you quickly estimate material needs. It's a vital tool for homeowners, DIY enthusiasts, and professional installers alike to ensure accurate material purchasing and budget planning.
function calculateCarpetArea() {
var lengthInput = document.getElementById("roomLength");
var widthInput = document.getElementById("roomWidth");
var wasteFactorInput = document.getElementById("wasteFactor");
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
var roomLength = parseFloat(lengthInput.value);
var roomWidth = parseFloat(widthInput.value);
var wasteFactor = parseFloat(wasteFactorInput.value);
// Clear previous result
resultDiv.innerHTML = ";
// Input validation
if (isNaN(roomLength) || roomLength <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid room length.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(roomWidth) || roomWidth 0) {
totalArea = baseArea * (1 + wasteFactor / 100);
} else if (wasteFactorInput.value !== " && isNaN(wasteFactor)) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid waste factor percentage.';
return;
}
// Display result
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Total Sq Ft Needed: