DIY Consulting
Measuring Existing Conditions
General
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We do our Existing Conditions measurements in inches, not feet+inches.
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Measurements should be rounded to the nearest ¼”.
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For a Tape Measure, secure the fixed end of the tape first, then rotate/pivot the measuring end until it is at the shortest distance/length.
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For ceiling measurements using a metal tape measure, first secure the fixed end on the floor using your shoe. Then extend to about chest height. Next, double over the tape measure and slowly extend the double-over tape until it reaches the ceiling, rotating at the top to find the shortest dimension.
Overall Room Measurements: Where possible, measure dry-wall (or plaster) to dry-wall. Try to find areas on opposite sides of walls, directly across from each other which are clear of
- Furniture
- Moldings
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Additional wall finishes over drywall (tile or panelling)
Wall Thicknesses
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Exterior: At exterior doors, determine the wall thickness at the door frame
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discount/ignore interior door casing
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discount/ignore any bricked half-walls
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Where there is lapped siding (horizontal, angled siding), take the measuring midway vertically for the siding itself.
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Interior: At interior doors, determine the thickness at the door frame.
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discount/ignore door casing on each side by identifying the lines of the door casing
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Doors: The measurements we will need are
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Door height: finished floor (not threshold) to the top of the opening
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Door width: width of the opening itself ignoring the door stop.
Windows: The measurements we need are:
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Sill Height: Finished floor to top-of-sill
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Window Height: Top-of-sill to inside height of window
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Width: inside width of window, ignoring any window hardware or sash channels.
Sizing of Structural Members