Determining the precise quantity of surfacing material needed for a project is a critical step in construction and renovation. An example would be finding the square footage of an area and then dividing by the area of a single unit to ascertain the number of units required. Waste factors, often expressed as percentages, must then be applied to account for cuts and breakages.
Accurate material estimation avoids costly overages or project delays caused by underestimation and reordering. Historically, estimation relied on manual measurement and calculation, often resulting in inaccuracies. Modern techniques, including laser measuring tools and software applications, improve precision and efficiency, minimizing material waste and project budgets.
