Planning guides

Field-specific guidance for measuring, laying out and checking renovation work before materials are cut or ordered.

Single or double herringbone: what actually changesBoth patterns lay with any rectangle. What the measured module changes is whether band joints run through or stagger, and what you cut and buy.
How to stagger plank flooring: check the joints, not just the startersA worked plank layout shows why starter length and joint offset differ, how to check every row, and why a 300 mm rule is not universal.
How much extra tile should you order?Ten real solved floors, and their measured offcut waste — from 1.9% to 46.6%. Why a flat 10% leaves some rooms short, and what to order instead.
How narrow can a tile cut be before it breaks?Three separate limits decide a minimum tile cut — the cutter, the handling and the bond. Real figures for each, and the floor where the strip is 2 mm.
Where to start setting out a tiled floor (and why the corner is usually wrong)Set out floor tile from measured reference lines, avoid fragile edge slivers, and verify the start point with a worked 3200 × 4100 mm example.