Determining the square footage of a house is an important task for homeowners, real estate agents, and prospective buyers. Square footage refers to the total area of a property, including all living spaces and finished areas. Knowing the square footage of a house can help you estimate its value, make home improvement decisions, and plan for future renovations or additions. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to find the square footage of a house.
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Measure the Exterior of the House
- Step 2: Measure the Interior of the House
- Step 3: Add Up the Square Footage of Each Room
- Step 4: Calculate the Square Footage of Non-Living Spaces
- Step 5: Total the Square Footage of the House
- Step 6: Factors to Consider When Measuring Square Footage
Step 1: Measure the Exterior of the House
The first step in finding the square footage of a house is to measure its exterior. This includes the area of the foundation, roof, and any attached structures such as porches, garages, and decks. To measure the exterior of the house, you will need a measuring tape, paper, and a pen or pencil.
- Measure the length and width of the foundation and multiply these numbers together to find the area of the foundation.
- Measure the length and width of the roof and multiply these numbers together to find the area of the roof.
- Measure any attached structures such as porches, garages, and decks and calculate their square footage by multiplying their length and width.
Step 2: Measure the Interior of the House
Next, you will need to measure the interior of the house to determine the square footage of each room. To measure the interior of the house, you will need a measuring tape and a floor plan, if available. If you don’t have a floor plan, you can create one by sketching a rough diagram of the layout of each room, including walls, doors, and windows.
- Measure the length and width of each room in the house, including living spaces and finished areas such as bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and hallways.
- Multiply the length and width of each room to find its square footage.
Step 3: Add Up the Square Footage of Each Room
Once you have measured the square footage of each room in the house, you can add up these numbers to determine the total interior square footage of the house . This will give you an idea of the total living space and finished areas in the house. You should also consider any nooks, crannies, and closets in the house and measure their square footage to include in your calculation. When measuring nooks and crannies, it’s best to measure the interior dimensions of these spaces and multiply the length and width to determine their square footage.
Step 4: Calculate the Square Footage of Non-Living Spaces
In addition to measuring the living spaces and finished areas of the house, you should also consider any non-living spaces such as attics, basements, and garages. To calculate the square footage of these areas, you can use the same method as in steps 1 and 2: measure the length and width of each space and multiply these numbers together. When measuring attics and basements, be sure to measure only the finished and usable space and exclude any areas that are not included in the square footage of the house, such as crawl spaces and unfinished storage areas.
Step 5: Total the Square Footage of the House
Finally, once you have calculated the square footage of each room, non-living space, and exterior structure of the house, you can add up all of these numbers to determine the total square footage of the house. This number will represent the total area of the property, including all living spaces, finished areas, and exterior structures.
Step 6: Factors to Consider When Measuring Square Footage
When measuring the square footage of a house, there are a few factors to consider that can impact the accuracy of your calculation. These include:
- Inconsistent wall thickness: If the walls in a room are not of consistent thickness, it can affect the accuracy of your measurement. Consider measuring the thinnest part of the wall to get the most accurate square footage measurement.
- Irregular room shapes: If a room has an irregular shape, it can be more difficult to determine its square footage accurately. Consider measuring the maximum length and width of the room and multiply these numbers together to determine its square footage.
- Attached structures: When measuring the square footage of attached structures such as porches, garages, and decks, be sure to include only the areas that are covered and usable, and exclude any uncovered or unusable areas.
By following these steps and considering these factors, you can determine the square footage of a house with accuracy and confidence. Whether you’re a homeowner, real estate agent, or prospective buyer, knowing the square footage of a house is an important piece of information that can help you make informed decisions about your property.