Measuring your space for tile, made easy.

There comes a time in every kitchen, bath or fireplace remodel where you have to ask yourself, “Just how much tile do I need anyway?” Followed quickly with, “Ugh, math.” Measuring your space may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. I am happy to figure the square footage for your next Fire Creek order. However, it is always a good idea to determine the square footage for yourself. So I am going to break it all down for you and provide you with a handy, dandy worksheet to walk you through. Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Take the following steps to start measuring for your next project!

• Step 1: First, take a photo of the space that you would like to tile. Print the photo out, grab a tape measure and pencil.

Step 2: Draw on your photo by dividing the spaces up into smaller, distinct sections. As in the photo, mark each of these sections with a letter.

Step 3: Now it is time to measure. Measure the height and the width in inches and then multiply the numbers for each section. Like this:

Section A: 18 inches high x 30 inches wide= 540 inches

Section B: 32 inches high x 32 inches wide=1,024 inches

Section C: 18 inches x 30 inches wide=540 inches

• Step 4: Add up the total numbers for each section: 540+1,024+540=2,104 total inches and divide this number by 144. 2,104 inches/144= 14.6 square feet.

• Step 5: Round up to the nearest whole number. For example, 15 square feet and then add 10% for overage.

Don’t forget to grab your free worksheet…

What is overage, you ask? It is a good idea to add at least 10 % more tile than what you think you will need. There are a lot of reasons why having a few extra tile laying around may come in handy. Houses have weird nooks and crannies and you will need to cut a tile to fill in these small spaces. When cutting the tile, it may break on you. Extra tile is good to have on hand if you need to replace a broken or loose tile later on.

So, it all comes down to tile will vary from run to run. Since glazes react to the environment in the kiln, the color of the glaze can vary depending on the environment in the kiln during that particular firing. Slight changes in the glaze can occur due to how hot the kiln fired, what was the weather that day, did the kiln cool quicker than usual. So many variances can affect a firing and the end result. If you decide to order more tile at a later time, you could see some noticeable differences. By having a little extra tile on hand, it will spare you a lot of grief later on.

You’re on your way to a great new space!

Congratulations! You are now a pro at measuring your space and now know how many square feet you need to cover with tile. See, that wasn’t so bad, was it? Are you ready to start measuring for your project? If so, click the link below to download your free worksheet.

Great, so you know the square footage, but how does that tell you how many tiles you need? I’ll make it easy, check out the table below.

Now you are ready to tackle that new tile installation that you’ve been dreaming of. If you need a little help in determining the best tile for you, check out Secrets to a beautiful, handcrafted tile installation or A Complete Guide to Fire Creek Handmade Field Tile on the blog. You now have the tools you need to complete your dream project!

Happy Remodeling!

~Dana