How do I tell how many square feet my walls are?

1. 91

   Georgie Loweryposted 11 years ago

   How do I tell how many square feet my walls are?
   
   I want to tile the walls in my master bathroom. I just moved in and it looks like it fell out of 1972. All of the places online I've seen are selling tile by the square foot, but I don't know what that means. Help?
   
   

   replyreport
2. 84

   SidKempposted 11 years ago

   It is very easy to measure square feet for any rectangular area.
   
   Let's say you want to tile two walls. One is behind the bathtub. It is 6 feet long, and goes from the top of the bath to the ceiling, 5 feet high. We multiply 6 ft x 5 ft = (6x5) ft x ft, or 30 square feet. (Yes, it works to multiply units of measure a foot times a foot is a square foot.
   
   Let's say another wall is 10 feet long and 8 feet high. That is 10 x 8 = 80 square feet.
   
   What if a wall is not rectangular? Say part is from floor to ceiling, and part is from bathtub to ceiling. Then break it up into rectangles. Measure each rectangle, and multiply to calculate the square feet of each section of the wall. Add up the size of each section (in square feet) and you get the total size of the wall.
   
   Take a deep breath, we're almost there!
   
   If a wall has a fraction of a foot, the multiplication still works. Say you have a short wall, maybe on one side of a door, that is 2 feet 6 inches wide and 8 feet high. 6 inches is 1/2 of a foot. So the wall is 2 1/2 feet x 8 feet, or 20 square feet.
   
   Working this way, you can measure each wall, and add it all up.
   
   Be sure to buy perhaps 3 extra square feet of tile. Good if you make mistakes, or if something breaks later, say, when you're putting in a towel rack.
   
   Good luck!

   replyreport
3. 69

   MarieAlana1posted 11 years ago

   
   
   This is a basic geometry problem. To find the square foot of one of the walls. Take a tape measure and measure the distance from one end of the wall to the other end in inches. Then, divide the inches by 12 to equal feet. After this, measure the distance from the bottom of the wall to the top of the wall in inches. Dvide by 12 to equal feet. Multiply the height by the width and put square ft at the end and you have it. The picture might demonstrate this a little more clearer.
   
   This is how to do the square footage of one of your walls. You need to do this for each one of the walls you are tiling.

   replyreport
4. 68

   ShootersCenterposted 11 years ago

   An average master bath from an older home will usually take 70-80sf of tile. Make sure you get about 10% extra in case of cuts, mistakes or broken ones. Before you start, you may want to get a piece of plywood cut to cover your tub, if you drop tile it will chip your tub.

   replyreport
5. 62

   JON EWALLposted 11 years ago

   GEORGE
   I will assume that you do not know how to use a measuring tape, if that is true you are a non professional homeowner. My SUGGESTION IS TO CONTACT local tile contractors to get a competitive bid on the work for starters.Shop the local tile distributors where you can select a tile. note sizes vary, so consider a size that will make the finish product look terrific.good luck on your venture.

   replyreport