Question 1

How do I calculate tile from a floor plan?

Accepted Answer

Trace each tiled area and read the square feet. Set the scale with Manual Scale off a dimension you trust, since the takeoff is only as accurate as that calibration, and a PDF shrunk to 11 x 17 has the wrong printed scale. Trace floors, shower floors and backsplash runs with the Area tool. MetreMate gives you the square feet; you add waste and round to boxes.

Question 2

How much waste for straight, diagonal and herringbone?

Accepted Answer

Typically 10 percent for a straight lay, 15 percent for diagonal, and 15 to 20 percent for herringbone or chevron. MetreMate gives you the square feet, then you multiply by 1.10, 1.15 or 1.15 to 1.20 to match the layout. Large-format tile and small, cut-up rooms can need more, so check with the manufacturer and the installer.

Question 3

How do I convert to boxes?

Accepted Answer

Divide by the square feet per box and round up. Coverage is printed on the carton. Take the area from MetreMate, multiply by your waste factor, for example 1.10 for a straight lay at 10 percent, then divide by the box coverage and round up to full boxes. Quote it all from one dye lot so a short order does not turn into a mismatch.

Question 4

How do I measure shower walls?

Accepted Answer

Measure the wall widths, then multiply by the tile height. A floor plan shows wall lengths, not heights, so take the tile height from the elevations or from the customer. Use the Measure tool for each wall, or trace the elevation with the Area tool if one is in the set. Subtract niches and the door opening, then add your waste.

Question 5

How do I quote bullnose and trim?

Accepted Answer

Measure every exposed edge in linear feet. Use the Measure tool along backsplash ends, shower curbs, niches and wainscot caps, and the Count tool for outside corners and trim pieces. MetreMate gives you the linear feet; you divide by the piece length of the trim the customer picked, round up, and add a few extra for cuts.

Question 6

Is it free to start?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Start on the free plan with no credit card, and try the paid tools on a 7-day trial. MetreMate runs in any modern browser on a Windows or Mac computer, so there is nothing to install on the showroom computers. Upload the plan the designer or homeowner brought in, set the scale and start measuring.

Tile square footage and boxes, measured off the plan

The slow way, or the smart way

Everything you can measure off the plan

Lengths in linear feet

Areas in sq ft

Perimeters

Counts

How tile showrooms use MetreMate

Floors, walls and backsplashes

Waste by layout

Boxes, trim and edge profiles

More than measuring

Auto Scale

Manual Scaling

Auto Snap

Layers Manager

Print & Share

Project Organizer

Questions tile showrooms ask

MetreMate works for every supplier

Ready to quote faster, tile showrooms?