[Soon2B]

Can anyone shed some light on square footage of TV houses?

Looking at several current TV house plans, square footage doesn't quite add up. Online versions are better than a brochure we have, only because they added a concrete pad which is included in the total sf.

For example, the Lantana is billed as 2834 total sf with 2030 climate controlled. So the non-controlled 804 sf 'living space' are the garage, lanai, and a 10x10 concrete pad outside the lanai (my brochure didn't show the concrete pad).

BUT no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to come close to the climate controlled square footage. No matter what method (scale measurement, planimeter, et al) nothing gets any closer than about 200 square feet less than what's shown (i.e. Lantana 1820 sf rather than 2030)! That's a fair sized space missing.

Other plans seem to show similar shortfalls.

Thanks

[graciegirl]

In the same style homes, the frame model is slightly larger inside than the block and stucco version.

How are you computing the square footage? Seems like the easiest way would be to multiply the exterior numbers and back out the garage figure....with the thickness of the walls probably being the pesky number difference you are getting.

No house here is EXACTLY like another of the same style it seems. Some models are stretched or kicked in some areas when built as a spec home or as directed by the owners.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by Soon2B

Can anyone shed some light on square footage of TV houses?

Looking at several current TV house plans, square footage doesn't quite add up. Online versions are better than a brochure we have, only because they added a concrete pad which is included in the total sf.

For example, the Lantana is billed as 2834 total sf with 2030 climate controlled. So the non-controlled 804 sf 'living space' are the garage, lanai, and a 10x10 concrete pad outside the lanai (my brochure didn't show the concrete pad).

BUT no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to come close to the climate controlled square footage. No matter what method (scale measurement, planimeter, et al) nothing gets any closer than about 200 square feet less than what's shown (i.e. Lantana 1820 sf rather than 2030)! That's a fair sized space missing.

Other plans seem to show similar shortfalls.

Thanks

Hi Soon,
Are you saying that when you add the square footage listed for each of the rooms, this doesn't add up to advertised climate controlled square footage? Have you factored in the bathrooms and closets for which square footage is not listed?

BTW, congratulations on being Soon2B! How soon?

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by Soon2B

Can anyone shed some light on square footage of TV houses?

Looking at several current TV house plans, square footage doesn't quite add up. Online versions are better than a brochure we have, only because they added a concrete pad which is included in the total sf.

For example, the Lantana is billed as 2834 total sf with 2030 climate controlled. So the non-controlled 804 sf 'living space' are the garage, lanai, and a 10x10 concrete pad outside the lanai (my brochure didn't show the concrete pad).

BUT no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to come close to the climate controlled square footage. No matter what method (scale measurement, planimeter, et al) nothing gets any closer than about 200 square feet less than what's shown (i.e. Lantana 1820 sf rather than 2030)! That's a fair sized space missing.

Other plans seem to show similar shortfalls.

Thanks

Square footage is usually figured from measurements from the outside of studs or block. Therefore stud built houses will have slightly more usable space.
Square footage of individual rooms are usually measured from centerline to centerline or centerline to outside stud. It is difficult to come up with accurate figures from plans printed on brochures.

[Xavier]

Originally Posted by Soon2B

Can anyone shed some light on square footage of TV houses?

Looking at several current TV house plans, square footage doesn't quite add up. Online versions are better than a brochure we have, only because they added a concrete pad which is included in the total sf.

For example, the Lantana is billed as 2834 total sf with 2030 climate controlled. So the non-controlled 804 sf 'living space' are the garage, lanai, and a 10x10 concrete pad outside the lanai (my brochure didn't show the concrete pad).

BUT no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to come close to the climate controlled square footage. No matter what method (scale measurement, planimeter, et al) nothing gets any closer than about 200 square feet less than what's shown (i.e. Lantana 1820 sf rather than 2030)! That's a fair sized space missing.

Other plans seem to show similar shortfalls.

Thanks

Have you tried?: http://www.thevillages.com/homes/new...Lantana-FP.pdf

For our home, a Gardenia, the specifics are pretty accurate. We just have to add in the bow window in the den and the extended lanai.

[Soon2B]

Thanks for your responses. We hope to be in TV before the year's end.

The plans I had used where the ones Xavier pointed out.

Having an engineering background, I'm familiar with plans such as these and how to calculate space. I gave it the benefit of the doubt by including everything possible and from outside walls. (btw a planimeter is a device to calculate surface area of any arbitrary figure; but I also tried to find the scales even assuming that the drawings were distorted and had different horizontal & vertical scalings).

I am aware that there are all sorts of additions possible (2' wall setbacks, cart space, etc etc). Oh well, as they say "it is whatever it is".

I'm afraid I'm a bit old-fashioned. I just expect when the butcher measures out a pound the weight of his thumb's not in the cost.

[Zass38]

Note that there are disclaimers on every one of the floor plans issued by The Villages. The only real square footage is that shown on your deed and the accompanying house plans as submitted to the town building department.

[aljetmet]

Originally Posted by Soon2B

Thanks for your responses. We hope to be in TV before the year's end.

The plans I had used where the ones Xavier pointed out.

Having an engineering background, I'm familiar with plans such as these and how to calculate space. I gave it the benefit of the doubt by including everything possible and from outside walls. (btw a planimeter is a device to calculate surface area of any arbitrary figure; but I also tried to find the scales even assuming that the drawings were distorted and had different horizontal & vertical scalings).

I am aware that there are all sorts of additions possible (2' wall setbacks, cart space, etc etc). Oh well, as they say "it is whatever it is".

I'm afraid I'm a bit old-fashioned. I just expect when the butcher measures out a pound the weight of his thumb's not in the cost.

I agree. We visited TV in Feb. and were looking at stretching a Gardenia on all four sides. Finding a lot that the house would fit is the challenge. So our agent printed a scale version of the house and placing on plans of the various properties available. You can imagine there are set backs and you can't be off by an inch. With the scale version of the house I bet you can calculate the exact sq. footage. For me, having my tape measure in a model gardenia was the key to know if my 11.5' wall unit or my 7' dresser were going to fit!
good luck!

[herbaru]

Originally Posted by aljetmet

I agree. We visited TV in Feb. and were looking at stretching a Gardenia on all four sides. Finding a lot that the house would fit is the challenge. So our agent printed a scale version of the house and placing on plans of the various properties available. You can imagine there are set backs and you can't be off by an inch. With the scale version of the house I bet you can calculate the exact sq. footage. For me, having my tape measure in a model gardenia was the key to know if my 11.5' wall unit or my 7' dresser were going to fit!
good luck!

Did you ever find the right lot?

We had a similar problem when we were there looking in Feb. as well. We wasted about 3 hours driving around (in the rain) looking at lots. Our agent was on the phone with his assistant and than some other people to find out if the house we wanted would fit. No luck in finding the right lot. We will make sure things are better planned out next time we come looking.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by herbaru

Did you ever find the right lot?

We had a similar problem when we were there looking in Feb. as well. We wasted about 3 hours driving around (in the rain) looking at lots. Our agent was on the phone with his assistant and than some other people to find out if the house we wanted would fit. No luck in finding the right lot. We will make sure things are better planned out next time we come looking.

The difficulty getting the right size lot for just such a home is the reason we are considering building the Williamsburg, the Premier version of the Gardenia/Camellia. We own a Camellia now and just love it but would like a little more square footage for when we move here year around.

[aljetmet]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

The difficulty getting the right size lot for just such a home is the reason we are considering building the Williamsburg, the Premier version of the Gardenia/Camellia. We own a Camellia now and just love it but would like a little more square footage for when we move here year around.

No we haven't found the right lot but we have some time to go...
Just that you need an extra $100 K for the Williamsburg, pretty steep for 10-15% more footage... oh well if the market could only rebound ...

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by aljetmet

No we haven't found the right lot but we have some time to go...
Just that you need an extra $100 K for the Williamsburg, pretty steep for 10-15% more footage... oh well if the market could only rebound ...

Yup. I understand totally. That is the reason I MAY buy my yearly lottery ticket.

"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride."

I have NO clue who said it but I sure heard it from my grandmother time after time.......

I am gonna wish anyways.

[swrinfla]

It's always so handy to have actual books on hand to look up stuff!

The quote is actually "If wishes were horses, beggars might ride." My Bartlett's Quotations attributes it to one John Ray (1627-1705) in a work called English Proverbs published in 1670.

I hope y'all are impressed!

SWR

[collie1228]

"If wishes were horses, I'd have a ranch"
- Lucinda Williams, 2008

[graciegirl]

I very much appreciate your accuracy Swrinfla. I strongly suspect you are another one of those cussed English Majors, but I do really like everything else about you.

Oh, and Swrin? I like the way my grandmother said it and it is just possible she said it first. It sticks in my memory she was as old as God. Surely not the age I am now.