How to Find Area & Perimeter to Install Tile
Installing tile is a precise activity. It's important to take exact measurements so you do not purchase more or less tile than required. With certain tools and the correct measurement, the area can have a finished appearance in two or three days. It is important to find the area and perimeter of the region you are working with to install tile accurately. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Find the Area
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1
Measure the length and width of the area to tile. If the area is square or rectangle, you only need these two measurements. If the area has other objects in the way, such as an appliance or a toilet, measure the length and width of these as well.
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2
Keep a record of the measurements in the same unit of measurement, such as inches. For a 13-foot, 5-inch by 11-foot, 7-inch area, you would multiply the feet by 12 and add the inches (13x12+5 and 11x12+7) to obtain the same unit in inches. Write down as 161 inches by 139 inches.
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3
Multiply the length by the width to get the area in square units. Using the example above, it would be 161x139=22,379 square inches. If there were other obstacles within the area, advance to Step 4.
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4
Find the area of the obstacles by multiply length by width. If you are tiling around a toilet that measures 15 inches by 12 inches in the area above, you would do 15x12=180 square inches. Subtract the result from the total of Step 3. The formula is 22,379--180=22,199 square inches of tile.
Find the Perimeter
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5
Measure each side of the tile area in a straight line. The far left side may be 15 feet, 9 inches while the right side could be 9 feet, 6 inches. This is true for the far top and bottom as well.
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6
Write down the measurement in inches. The left side of 15 feet, 9 inches becomes 15x12=180 inches plus 9 inches. The right side at 9 feet, 6 inches becomes 9x12=108 inches plus 6 inches.
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7
Add all four sides together to get the perimeter. For example: 189 (left)+114 (right) + (top) + (bottom) equals (total perimeter).
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Tips & Warnings
To change square inches to square feet, divide by 12 two times. To change 22,199 square inches to square feet, it'd be 22,199 / 12 / 12 = 154 square feet.
If you have a decimal, round accordingly. Dividing by 24 does not equal the same results.
