Patent ID: 8418373

Claim:
A method of preparing for tiling a surface including the steps of: producing a digitized plan of the surface with a cable measuring device including a computer in first input mode by placing a cable free end seriatim on a sufficient number of points of the surface to define the surface; the cable measuring device including: a cable including: a supply end; a midsection; and a free end for placement on points of the surface; a base unit including: input means coupled to the cable for measuring direction and distance to each point and for producing measurement signals indicative thereof; and output means for placing a selected tile layout on the surface; and a computer including a program and memory; the computer including: a first input mode for receiving the measurement signals and for producing a digitized plan of the surface therefrom; and an output mode for placing a selected tile layout on the surface displaying a tile layout for the surface on a display of a computer containing the produced digitized plan and programmed to display tile layouts for the surface depending on parameters including tile size, grout width, and tile orientation; selecting a tile layout for the surface from the display; and switching the computer of the cable measuring device to output mode for placing portions of a selected tile layout on the surface with the output means.