RFMS cannot currently Estimate Mosaics set on a sheet. YOU WILL BE SHORT!
Heads up here.
If you are estimating tile set on a backing (mesh or paper usually) that comes in 12"x12" or wherever size sheets. RFMS will calculate ONLY the tile sizes and their area. as illustrated here:
As you can see I have a 2"x2" tile set on a 12"x12" sheet with a 1/2" grout line (i know thats big but its for illustration purposes to get an even 25tiles a sheet) set on a 5x5 shower pan.
The program then calculated the net area as 25sf. Thats right.
But then mistakenly says I need to order and charge for 16sf!
Why?
Because the program calculates tile area only.
It cannot understand that I purchase 2x2 tiles on 12x12 sheets (sold as 1sf/sheet) that have grout lines built into the sheet (and thus the area i need to order)
This calculation error has cost us money in mis-orders and was only caught today.
Comments
Input it as a 12x12 tile for a 12x12 sheet, not a 2x2 tile. I used the sheet size of 12x12 with a 1/2" grout joint and it gave me 25sf. Take Daltile - Fabrique - 2x2 mosaics as an example. The sheet size is 11-3/4" x 11-3/4". I use a 12x12 tile in that case and do not input a grout joint. I could put in 11-3/4" x 11-3/4" and a 1/4" grout joint, but that is the same as 12x12 with no joint. I can tell by looking also that the tiles are not going to be exactly 2"x2" because the sheets have 36 tiles per sheet and they are only 11-3/4"x11-3/4". Sometimes I may end up with extra tiles, but it is a lot better than coming up short.
The problem comes up when i try to use the cubic inch method for estimating the grout use. Otherwise imputing the sheet size is fine.
I just use the grout calculators from the individual manufacturers for grout. Never going to get it exact, but it is close. Also knowing your guys in the field helps a little in figuring need vs estimated.
Yes!
Ive wanted for years for Measure to let us build "mosaic sheets" and Measure figure accordingly.
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