Take careful and precise measurements to properly calculate how much drywall you'll need for a room.
Whether you're installing the drywall yourself or hiring someone else to do it, it's important to correctly calculate the amount of drywall you'll need for the job. If you don't buy enough drywall, it can lead to project delays, while ordering too much will require you to return the extra sheets of drywall. Calculating the number of sheets of drywall needed is a simple task, as long as you take your time measuring and double-check your final tally. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the length of one wall of the room by placing the tip of the tape measure at one corner of the wall along the floor. While someone else holds the tip in place, pull the tape measure along the wall until you reach the other end of the wall. Be sure the tape is flat against the floor so you get an accurate measurement. Record the measurement, in inches, on your pad of paper.
2. Measure the height of the wall by placing the tip of the tape measure at the bottom corner of the wall. Hold the case of the tape measure in your hand and push the tape toward the ceiling until it is up against where the wall and ceiling meet. Record the measurement.
3. Multiply the two measurements and then divide by 12. This will give you the total square footage of the wall.
4. Work your way around the room, measuring the walls and calculating the square footage of each wall.
5. Add the square footage from each wall and then add 10 percent to the total. The 10 percent will help account for waste, such as drywall scraps and broken drywall during the project. This is the total square footage of drywall that you'll need.
6. Calculate the number of sheets of drywall you'll need to order. Drywall comes in 4-by-8 sheets, 4-by-10 sheets and 4-by-12 sheets. If you plan to buy 4-by-8 sheets, divide the total square footage of drywall you'll need by 32. If you plan to use 4-by-10 sheets, divide your total square footage by 40. If using 4-by-12 sheets, divide by 48. Round the total up to the nearest whole number.
Tags: square footage, drywall need, tape measure, total square, total square footage, sheets divide, 4-by-10 sheets
