Red Seal Painter and Decorator Practice Exam

How do you calculate the area to be painted?

1. Multiply the length by the width of the walls

2. Measure the length and height of walls, subtracting for doors and windows

3. Add up the area of each room

4. Calculate the total length of all walls

The correct answer is: Measure the length and height of walls, subtracting for doors and windows

To accurately calculate the area to be painted, measuring the length and height of the walls and then subtracting the area taken up by doors and windows provides the most precise figure. This method addresses the fact that not all wall space is paintable; fixtures, openings, and other features need to be accounted for. Calculating the area by multiplying just the length by the width of the walls does not sufficiently consider the height of the walls and can lead to an overestimation of the paintable area. Simply adding up the area of each room may also miss the specifics of doors and windows, leading to inaccuracies. Meanwhile, calculating only the total length of all walls without considering height and openings would fail to determine the actual paintable surface area. Therefore, the method of measuring the length and height while subtracting for openings effectively provides the most accurate assessment of the area needing paint, making it the best choice in this scenario.