Square Footage Questions

[Big Builder]

Is there a standard when discussing square footage for homes?

Would a 1800 square foot home be 1800 floor area or are the measurements taken from the outside of the walls?

The same question for square footage pricing. Is 140 psf for floor area or to outside walls?

Also, how do you include an attached garage in these figures?

[concretemasonry]

Are you considering area for tax purposes, real estate sales or cost estimating?

Different municipalities use different methods for tax purposes, but usually re-assess based on exterior dimensions, which are the easiest to get and catch additions.

Realtors do what is the norm for the area, but are usually in error.

The area used by a contractor for estimating would depend on what he bases his past cost history on, but usually uses the livable area footprint for general estimates. When you get serious about costs, the level of finishes and options will change everything.

[Big Builder]

MY question is for costing and discussions with developers and homeowners.

I am a little confused about how everone makes sure we are talking apples to apples for price. When presenting a price do you say 140psf for floor area or would it be "from exterior walls".

[Richard A Hetzel]

What do you mean by "psf"? That should signify a structural load, and would have nothing to do with floor area. Generally, gross floor area is used to describe the size of a building, and that is measured from outside wall to outside wall, including the walls.

[Rich]

I think he means PSF - per sq ft. I get into this all the time as well. What I use for estimating is outside of wall area - or the same area that will be sheeted. Also, on multiple levels my sf price is still based on main level sq footage. So a single level home might be 100 / sf and a 2 level home might be 180 / sf.

[bighammer]

if you are builidng homes for 100.00 per sq.ft. come to iowa and build some for me...that seams low to me, we are averaging 120.00 to 150.00 depending on variables ofcoarse, but we always use sq.ft. number as floor that is sheathed

[Richard A Hetzel]

There are several different methods. One measures from outside wall to outside wall, and then adds things like roofed porches at 50% of their floor area. Some methods include basement and garage, some don't. The best advice I can give is to always ask exactly what the figure includes. There is no recognized standard, or maybe a better way of saying that is that there are several recognized standards.

[ctdecks]

150 sg ft and up on customs