The surface area of your roof has a significant impact on the cost of a new roof. It is larger than the total floor area of your house and is based on the features, pitch, and design of your roof. The method below may be used to measure your roof accurately and determine its area, regardless of how it looks. We’ll walk you through measuring and selecting the appropriate quantity of roof shingles or other roofing supplies.
Things to Consider Before Starting
To lessen your chance of injury, assemble the necessary equipment and follow safety measures before you ascend to the top. Observe appropriate ladder usage and exercise caution when climbing onto and off of the roof. placing a ladder on level ground and tilting it such that for every four feet of height, it is one foot away from the side of the house. This indicates that in a one-story home, the base of the ladder should be three feet from the roof’s edge. Ask another adult to hold the ladder’s sides while you climb, or secure the ladder where it hits the roof.
Put on slip-resistant, closed-toe footwear. To prevent your pen or pencil from rolling away, think about fastening it to your body or your notebook. Don’t try to catch your pencil if you drop it. When it comes to a stop, wait and then collect it, adjusting your ladder as needed.
Why Accuracy Matters
It’s critical to precisely calculate the entire square footage of your roof in order to establish your budget and determine the quantity of material you require. Square footage is the main factor that determines the cost of metal roofing, roof shingles, and other materials. The more precisely you measure, the more effectively you can make plans. If you need to get more resources, you don’t want to have too little, which will waste time, or too much, which will waste money.
Shingle Terms And Measurements
Squares
Shingles for roofing are frequently expressed as a roof’s square count. One square is equivalent to one hundred square feet of roof. Simply divide the total square footage by 100 to get the number of squares you’ll need for your new or existing roof. The square footage of your roof will determine how many bundles you need for your house.
Bundles
The majority of roof shingles, including asphalt shingles, are commonly sold in bundles. Three bundles of roofing shingles are required for every 100 square feet, or roofing square. A thirty-square roof usually requires ninety bundles of three-tab shingles or any other beginning strips.
Knowing The Fundamentals Of Roof Measurement
Learn about the many types of roofs and important terms associated with roof measurement before beginning the measuring procedure. You may use this information to choose the best methods for your particular roof.
Different Roof Styles And How They Affect Measuring Methods
Gable Roofs
These roofs are reasonably easy to measure since they feature two sloping sides and a triangular top.
Hip Roofs
Compared to gable roofs, hip roofs are more difficult to measure and have four sloping sides.
Mansard Roofs
These roofs have two slopes on each of their four sides, therefore estimating the number of shingles on them accurately requires precise measurements.
Flat Roofs
Despite its apparent simplicity, flat roofs nevertheless call for precise measurements to establish the required number of roof shingles.
Important Terms And Measurements To Understand
The following words are important to know in order to measure your roof accurately:
Roof Pitch
Roof pitch, which describes the roof’s slope or steepness, is crucial for shingle estimate.
Eave Length
The distance measured horizontally between the slope’s beginning and the roof’s edge.
Rafter Length
The length measured diagonally between the roof’s eave and ridge. The measures taken horizontally along the roof’s highest points are called the ridge and hip measurements.
Valleys And Flashings Measurements
Those are needed in places where multiple roof planes meet.
Estimating The Number Of Shingles, You Need
Determine the overall square footage of the roof’s surface to determine the number of shingles you’ll require. Measure the length and breadth of every roof plane, including the dormers, to do this. Next, multiply the width by the length to find each plane’s square footage. Lastly, sum the square footage of each plane to determine the overall square footage of your roof.
This shed roof, for instance, has a single roof plane. Just multiply the length (A) by width (B) to find the roof’s total square footage: A x B = 120′ x 100′ = 12,000 sq. ft.
Plane 1: 12,000 square feet (120′ x 100′).
Plane 2: 12,000 square feet (120′ x 100′).
The overall square footage is 24,000 square feet (Plane 1 + Plane 2). Divide the 24,000 square feet of the gable roof above by 100 to find the number of squares on it. The answer is 240, which indicates that 240 squares of shingles would be required to cover the roof. The most popular kind of shingle, known as a strip or three-tab shingle, comes in square packaging with three bundles per square.
You will also require the same quantity of underlayment for a new roof. Therefore, you would use 240 squares of underlayment in the gable roof example above. Typically, underlayment is supplied in rolls of four squares apiece. Thus, 60 rolls of underlayment would be needed to cover 240 squares. If you are installing shingles directly over an asphalt roof that already exists, underlayment is not required. Remember to include in 10% for trim allowance when adding material totals.
Lastly, get in touch with a local roofing contractor if you have any queries concerning your estimate. Most are pleased to provide you with a free estimate.
Conclusion
You may be able to measure a roof for shingles with confidence if you adhere to the detailed instructions in this blog article and take into account the advice and suggestions offered. You’ll be well on your way to a professionally done roofing project that yields the best outcomes with accurate measurements. You may confidently start your roofing adventure now that you know how to measure your roof for shingles. Take careful measurements, make precise calculations, and relish the process of turning your roof into a long-lasting, attractive structure.