How Do You Get The Sq Ft on Odd Shape House From Outside?

Question

I just asked about how to get the square footage on an odd shape house but the answers were given on how to measure the rooms inside. When measuring a house, it should be measured from outside. How do you compensate for the different outsides shapes and roof pitches? This would give you open space in the house that would not

show from outside? I am trying to measure it from the outside of the house not inside. I want total heated sq ft.If I measure each room, it will not be an accurate measurement of total square footage.

I probably have not made myself clear but try and help.

Answer 1

Sorry but you are wrong..You measure cooled and heated space from the inside..not the outside.....I am a retired paint contractor of 37 years and this uis the way houses are measured..by living space not exterior space.....total heated square footage will be an Interior measurement..for if you measure outside you will be measuring garages, which are unheated usually, porch slabs etc..again ..you wanted heated space measured..this is not an outside thing..

Answer 2

For heating and Air you want the cubic feet not just the square foot.

Take the length times the width and take that times the ceiling height that will give you the cubic sq. feet.

Answer 3

Divide the space into several rectangles, calculate the square footage of the rectangles and add the answers together.

Answer 4

try and break up the house in to rectangles or squares....then subtract the area that is not part of the rectangle or square....kinda hard to explain....wish yahoo would allow us to draw on here, lol

lic. gen. contractor