How to Calculate Square Feet for Painting
As you tackle a painting project, there are many details to remember to ensure your finished job is a quality one. After the painstaking selection of paint colors to create just the look you desire in your room, you must then calculate the square feet of the surface to be painted.
If you take the time to figure your square footage accurately, you will end up buying the right amount of paint.
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Measure, in feet, the length of one wall you will paint. Measure the height of that wall, in feet. Write down both measurements. Multiply those measurements to find the number of square feet in the wall.
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Repeat Step 1 to find the square footage of each wall that you will paint.
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Add the square footage of the walls to determine the total area of the wall surfaces.
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Multiply the total area from Step 3 by the number of paint coats you intend to apply to the walls. That will give you the total wall area to which you will apply paint.
Things You Will Need
- Tape measure
- Paper
- Pencil
- Calculator
Tip
In most cases, do not subtract the square footage of doors and windows from the total painting area. Leaving those areas in your total painting area will ensure that you buy enough paint. You can use any leftover paint for other projects. If you have enough doors and windows that make it prudent to subtract those areas from your paint total, subtract 21 square feet for each door and 12 square feet for each window from the total in Step 3. Proceed with Step 4 to reach the total painting area.
Writer Bio
Kathryn Hatter is a veteran home-school educator, as well as an accomplished gardener, quilter, crocheter, cook, decorator and digital graphics creator. As a regular contributor to Natural News, many of Hatter's Internet publications focus on natural health and parenting. Hatter has also had publication on home improvement websites such as Redbeacon.
Photo Credits
- room painting image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
- room painting image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
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