Layline

Carpet and vinyl come off a roll of a set width. Layline works out which way to run it, how many lengths to order, where any seam falls and how much you waste.

The room

Measure the widest and longest points, into any alcove or doorway, and round up.

The roll

Trim is the overlap cut off at each end. A pattern repeat makes each length round up to a whole repeat so the pattern lines up across a seam.

Why the roll width matters

You don't buy flooring by the square metre; you buy a length of a roll that comes in a set width, and pay for the full width even where the room is narrower. Running the roll one way might cover the room in a single piece, while turning it the other way leaves a join. A seam is the thing people notice and regret, so Layline tries the roll both ways round, points you at a single piece when there is one, and when a seam can't be helped it picks the way with the shortest run and tells you where the join lands. These are planning figures: measure the widest points, add for alcoves and the doorway, and ask the shop to confirm the roll width before you order.