Posted By: Kevin Wielgus
Carpet Comes on a Roll, Not in a Bucket
I decided to write this after a conversation with a client who had some great questions about how much carpet his project needed. It reminded me that, as flooring professionals, we often take the planning and math behind a carpet job for granted. But walking a customer through the logic? That’s not just helpful, it’s part of good service.
A Math Teacher with a History of Carpet Jobs
This particular client had lived in the same house for nearly 40 years and was replacing his carpet for the third time. He still had paperwork from the earlier installs, which were faded carbon copies with barely any info, but it was fascinating to see how prices had changed over the decades.
And as a retired math teacher, the man had done his homework. His area calculations were spot on:
I definitely gave him an A+ for effort. Despite the precise math, he was confused why the same rooms needed different amounts of carpet each time.
Why Carpet Width Matters
The last carpet we removed was a Berber, likely a 15' wide roll. Because both rooms were narrower than 15', the installer could run one continuous piece front to back—no seams, no waste.
This time, the client wanted something different. Unfortunately, none of the 15' wide carpet styles appealed to him. So we turned to the much larger selection of 12' wide carpets—and that’s when things got interesting.
Layout Options We Considered
We ran through several layout scenarios. Here's a simplified breakdown:
Option 1: 15’ Wide Carpet (No Seams) 439 sq ft
- One solid piece, 15' wide x 29'+ long
- Zero seams = fast, clean install
- Minimal waste
- Pros: Ideal for installers, clean look
- Limited style selection (client didn’t like any
Option 2: 12’ Wide Carpet – Fewest Seams
- Three large pieces: one full-length + one fill piece per room
- Significant waste (extra chunks ~16' x 9'
- Pros: Fewer seams, simpler seams
- Cons: Wasteful, more material cost
Option 3: 12’ Wide Carpet – T-Seams 449 sq ft
- Five pieces: one long + two small fills per room
- Reduced waste (~6' x 9' leftover)
- Pros:Smart balance of efficiency and aesthetics
- Cons: More seams, but well-placed (under furniture)
Option 4: 12’ Wide Carpet – Maximum Efficiency, Many Seams 417 sq ft
- More seams using smaller fill pieces
- Pros: Very little waste
- Cons: Lots of seams—installers and clients typically dislike this
- Note: We've seen big box stores do this to save material, often with poor seam placement. Not ideal.
Option 5: “The Forbidden Option” – Rotate the Fill Pieces ~430 sq ft
The client asked why we couldn’t just rotate the fill pieces to save carpet.
We explained why this is a big no-no:
- Carpet has a nap or grain (directionality).
- Changing the direction between pieces creates visible shading and texture differences.
- It might feel different underfoot or even look like a different color.
- In most cases, all carpet in a continuous space should run in the same direction.
There are rare exceptions, like a closet behind sliding doors or a basement stairwell. But only with full disclosure and careful planning.
Final Decision
We landed on the 12’ wide T-seam layout. It struck the right balance between material usage, seam location, and overall appearance. Bonus: both seams were hidden - one by a hutch and the other by a sofa.
(And don’t even ask how much trickier this would’ve been if the client had picked a patterned carpet...)
🧭 Final Thoughts
I don’t expect most people to do all this math when they get a carpet quote. But your flooring pro should be able to walk you through the logic when you ask. If their answer is just, “because I said so,” you might want to keep shopping.