Measuring Tips for Bathroom Tiles
Choosing the type of tile you'd like for your bathroom is fun. Unfortunately, measuring it isn't quite as fun. It can be difficult since you need to take into consideration the space taken up by fixtures, the washbasin, the vanity, the bathtub and the toilet. Ideally, you should get a professional installer to do the measuring. Here are some tile measuring tips if you're a do-it-yourselfer planning to install the tile herself or if you need a rough idea of how much tile you'll need to figure out costs.
The L-Shaped Bathroom
Measuring for tile on the floor involves measuring the length and width of the room. But if your bathroom is odd-shaped this standard measuring advice won't fully work. To measure tile for an L-shaped bathroom, mentally divide the room into two non-overlapping rectangle-shaped rooms. Measure each rectangle separately. If you'd like to tile walls in an L-shaped bathroom, you would do the same mental division. When calculating the numbers, keep in mind whether you'd like to tile the entire wall or only a section of it.
The Rough Calculations
Multiply the length and width of the room to get the total bathroom area. With an L-shaped room figure out the total bathroom area for each rectangle and add the two numbers together. Follow the same formula for the wall and don't forget to multiply the length of the wall with the desired height.
Refining Those Measurement Calculations
Identify all the immovable objects on the floor. The exception might be the toilet if you plan to tile around it. Consider lifting the toilet and tiling right up to the toilet drain. Keep in mind you'll likely need a larger wax seal and bigger bolts to attach the toilet to the floor. Immovable objects include the tub and the cabinets. Measure the length and the width. Multiply the two numbers together to figure out the footprint of each. Add the total footprint of each immovable object together and subtract this number from the total floor square footage you calculated earlier.
Do the same with refining measurement calculations for wall tile. Keep in mind, many things you'll be able to remove. For example, do not tile around a toothpaste holder hanging on the wall. Expect to remove it and tile behind it. Plan to tile behind where the wall and the toilet meet.
What to Do With the Final Calculations
The final calculations will give you the total square footage of tile you need. Tile is sold by the square foot. To calculate rough tiling costs, multiply the total square footage needed with the cost of your desired tile.