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Is my math wrong - square feet??

bridget helm
11 years ago

Can we get the following in around 2500 sf??

Approximates downstairs:
a den that's 19x19

Foyer that is 6x10

Formal dining 11x15

Kitchen 12x16

Breakfast room 11x12

Laundry 9x10

Full guest bath 5 x 9

Playroom 11x11

Master bedroom 14x14

Master bath and closet combined 16x14

Approximates upstairs:
Kid room 11 x 11
Kid room 11x 11
Kid room 14 x12

Kids full bath not sure of dimensions for that 90 sf??

I know its not as simple as that. There's halls and wall space etc, but this leaves a couple hundred square feet leftover that could be for halls and one or 2 linen closets. I didn't think about stairs. How much space do stairs eat up to get to the second floor of 12 foot ceiling downstairs.

The architect says he doesn't think we can get all these rooms in at 2500 square feet. This was in an email. Our initial meeting is tomorrow. I don't want to go in looking too naive, but I also don't want to be dismissed if it's sensible and possible.

What say you?

Thanks!

Comments (4)

  • rrah
    11 years ago

    I'm not going to repeat your math here, but typically sq. footage is based upon exterior measurements, not interior measurements. The interior walls and doorways will take up space. For example, imagine a basic 20 by 40 ft. rectangle. The area is 800 sq feet. Once you deduct for just the interior walls around the basic rectangle, you're down to about 770 sq. feet if you do 2 x 4 construction. I also don't notice any space for kid's room closets. Is that included in your measurements?

  • dreambuilder
    11 years ago

    No. Google calculating square footage and then click on the first "non advertised" link....you just type in your measurements then add them all up....you have some cutting to do to make it fit:) Good luck--I'm in the same boat now.

  • Naf_Naf
    11 years ago

    For circulation and wall thickness you need to add anywhere from 35% to 70% depending on wall thickness (exterior and interior) and if the home is an open concept or not. It also makes a difference if it is an upscale or a modest house. Upscale house use galleries and hallways that are very wide.
    It is not the same if the exterior is all brick (about 12" thick wall) than if you are using a 2x4 wall with vinyl siding (about 4.5")

    Your spaces total 2116 s.f. (I used 70 s.f. for the kids bath.)
    That only allows 18% for hallways and walls.
    You need to give the architect a chance and see what he comes up with.
    If you see wasted space on his preliminary sketch, then you can talk to him about it.
    You did not include the kidâÂÂs closets and linen closets.
    I suggest you to be a bit flexible with the dimensions. Sometimes 11x12 works better than 11"-6"x11'-6".
    Keep in mind that carpets are 12' wide. You make the rooms 11, you are wasting materials but you are paying for the waste.

  • brickeyee
    11 years ago

    Square footage is, at beast, a gross metric for cost.

    Kitchens can be scary expensive on a square foot basis.

    Bathrooms next.

    The living room, dining room, and bedrooms look very inexpensive per square foot.

    Layout is far more important than raw square footage.