How Roof Area Is Measured
In order to find out how many shingles your roof will require, you first need to estimate its total square footage. This is done in three easy steps:
Here are a few examples of different roof types:
S To Measuring Roof Square Footage
How Much Does A Metal Roof Cost
That all depends on the type of roofing materials that you choose and the style of property, along with any other individual details that may make installing a metal roof more or less complicated.
The cost of metal roofing per sq. ft. or the metal roof cost per square or the cost of a metal roof vs. shingles obviously makes a difference, but there are other factors including the aesthetics of your property, the amount of time you plan to spend there before you resell , and the energy efficiency of having a metal roof versus asphalt or wooden shingles.
You should also keep in mind that the total cost of a standing seam metal roof or a metal shingle roof also includes the specialized labor required to install the metal roof as well as the raw materials, and this may be the reason why some homeowners choose shingles over metal roofing.
For some properties, the style of the home and the climate of the area it is located in may mean that asphalt shingles or wood shingles are a superior choice.
That said if you choose metal roofing systems of any kind whether you go with standing seam, copper shingles, zinc shingles, steel shingles, aluminum roofing, or any other kind of metal roofing system, you will likely benefit from their durability and longevity, heating and cooling efficiency, resale value for both the metal roofing materials themselves and your property as a whole, and overall pleasing visual appearance.
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Builder Mike Guertin Explains 3 Ways To Calculate The Quantity Of Shingles You’ll Need For Your Next Roofing Job
One of the biggest challenges for experienced builder and novices alike is accurately estimating materials for a construction projectespecially for roofs, because they can be difficult to access for taking measurements.
But dont fretIn this excerpt from my book Roofing with Asphalt Shingles, I describe three reliable methods for determining the area of a roof, plus Ive included tips for estimating the number of extra shingles youll need for waste, overlaps, and starter shingles.
Note: be sure to take your time and double-check your numbers when calculating the quantity of shingles, underlayment, flashings, and other materials needed for yourroofing project. The more accurate your estimates, the less time youll waste waiting for material deliveries during the project.
Tips For Calculating Roof Area So Youll Know How Many Bundles Per Square Youll Need For Roof Area Coverage
So you need a new roof, whether its to adorn your newly built home or to replace your existing roof. Like most North Americans, youve wisely decided to go with asphalt shingles due, in large part, to their vast range of styles and color blends. Like most of your neighbors, you plan to have the shingles installed by a professional roof contractor who will handle all the material calculations however, the information below will help you understand how to estimate the amount of shingles and accessory materials you need for your roof.
Calculating how many shingles you need for your roof is very similar to calculating how much carpet you need for your floors or how much wallpaper you need for your walls simply determine the area of the roof and divide by the area covered by each package of shingles.
Sounds simple, right? The only hard part is getting the actual measurements, and there are various ways to do this. Most likely, the roofer will physically get on the roof and, using a good old-fashioned tape measure, measure the areas of all the various roof sections and total them together. Of course, if the house is a new construction, these values will be readily available from the architectural drawings.
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How Shingle Quantities Are Measured
Roof shingles are sold by both the bundle and by the square. A square of shingles is the quantity needed to cover 100 sq. ft. of roof. Shingles are packaged in paper- or plastic-wrapped bundles designed to be light enough for a person to carry, so heavier shingles require more bundles per square. Three bundles to a square is most common, which applies to most three-tab strip shingles and some lightweight laminated shingles. Heavier three-tabbed shingles and laminated shingles require four, or sometimes five, bundles to cover a square. When shingles come three bundles to the square, there are 29 standard-sized shingles in each bundle.
Figuring out the roof area is the first step to determine how many bundles youll need to order. There are two ways to size up a new or freshly stripped roof: the measurement method and the sheet-count method. Theres a third method for calculating bundles when youll be laying new shingles over old or if the old roof is still in place.
Once you have a bundle or square count for the main roof area, youll add additional shingles to account for waste, starter shingles, and extra shingles for hip and ridge caps.
Figure Out Your Homes Footprint
If you use the square footage of your home, youll only get a vague idea of what the square footage of your roof is. Thats why you have to figure out your homes footprint.
A person of average height will have a stride somewhere between 2 to 2.5 feet. To figure out your homes footprint, you can step off the dimensions of your roof by counting the steps you take to get the length of your home. You will then step off the width of your home.
After stepping off the length and width of your home, youll multiply the two numbers to get your homes footprint.
Length x width = your home’s footprint
Your calculations are going to be off, but measuring this way can give you a basic idea of your homes footprint. Keep in mind, square footage of a house does not equal the square footage of a roof.
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Find Out What Size Dumpster You Need For A Roof Tear Off
Tearing off a roof is a work intensive process, and it requires a lot of planning. Milwaukee Dumpster Rental offers roofers and homeowners alike reduced pricing for dumpsters used to dispose of asphalt shingles and roofing materials. We’ll help you figure out what size dumpster you’ll need for your roofing tear off.
Factors That Determine The Cost Of A Roofing Square
Roof pricing is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
- Your homes geographic location
- Your roofs size
- Roofing material
- Material quality
- Current market for roofing materials
- Length of warranty after the replacement
- The contractors experience level and certifications
- How quickly you need the roof replaced
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Aluminum Shingles & Standing Seams: Metal Roofing Options
There are a variety of options and metal roofing prices, and if you are considering installing a new metal roof, the variety might seem overwhelming, and there are a lot of reasons to consider getting a metal roof versus shingles, or vice versa.
Knowing the difference between shingles and standing seams is perhaps the first thing that you should learn, and theres more to it than the cost.
After that, you can get into the various types of metal, their appearance, and the available paint finishes, then all of a sudden that are lots of decisions to make.
Why Homeowners Choose Brava Composite Roofing
More and more homeowners who need to replace their old roofs are choosing the premium, composite roofing products of Brava Roof Tile. Brava composite tiles offer:
- Natural beauty: In most cases, high-quality Brava tiles look exactly like traditional slate, shake, or barrel tiles.
- Excellent performance: Brava products can endure extreme climates and harsh weather conditions, including wind, hail, snow, and high UV radiation.
- A wide range of color: Brava tiles come in all colors thanks to a patented multi-coloring process.
- Lightweight design: Roofing contractors can install Bravas products on structures that cant support heavier materials like clay tile.
Although Brava tiles cost more per square than traditional roofing materials, they save homeowners money in the long run thanks to their resilience and low maintenance properties. Brava tiles can last for decades with comparatively little upkeep. All Brava products have a 50-year limited warranty.
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Roofing Pitch For Square Roof Area
Finally, the more complex part, measuring your roofs pitch.
Low Pitch: 1.07 x Roofing SquaresMedium Pitch: 1.185 x Roofing SquaresHigh Pitch: 1.36 x Roofing Squares
NOTE:We understand a roofs pitch makes this process somewhat tricky. Enjoy Home Advisors free roofing square calculator right here.
What Is A Roofing Square
Roof surfaces are measured in squares.
A roofing square is equal to 100 square feet of the roof.
To determine the number of squares on the gable roof example in this post, divide its total of 2400 square feet by 100 .
This means you would need 24 squares of shingles to cover that roof. Be sure to add 10%-15% to all your material totals for trim allowance .
Pro Tip: Want to skip doing some math?Order a FREE RoofScopeX aerial roof reportto see the size of your roof in squares, as well as the slope of your roof. Keep the report on hand for future conversations with roofers or when reviewing estimates for your next roof replacement or repair.
Ready to get an estimate?
Search our list of independent roofing contractors in the Owens Corning Roofing Contractor Network to find the roofing professional thats right for you.
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How To Estimate The Cost Of Your New Metal Roof
Of course, the cost of a metal roof also depends on the size and shape of your roof, your local market rates, the type of home you have, and any other special conditions such as unique climate or weather factors like wind damage on your roof.
The thickness of the metal roof, the roof type and quality of the paint finish that you choose, and the unique shape, details, and other factors that make your roofing project unique all play a role in the cost of your roof as well.
All of that said, you can begin to estimate based on the aforementioned costs and start to assume that your new metal roof will cost around $12.00 $13.00 per square foot, and a typical single-family home requires between 1,500 2,000 square feet of metal roofing , so you can assume that your new roof will cost between $18,000 $26,000.
There are less expensive or cheaper metal roofing options like corrugated steel or ribbed steel as well.
Read on to learn more about the various types of metal roofing, which range from high-end standing seam metal panels to metal shingles and everything in between.
The most important thing is to find something that fits your budget, style and will provide the best protection as the literal roof over you and your familys heads.
Count The Sheathing Pieces
The easiest method to figure your square footage is to estimate using the exposed roof sheathing. If youre shingling over your old shingles, then this method wont work. But if you are completely removing your old roofing or completing a new build, then this method works for you.
A complete piece of roof sheathing is 4 x 8. Thus, the square footage of one piece is 32 feet squared. Count up all the sheets on all sides of your roof. Add them up. Then account for half or quarter pieces on the edges and roughly add them up to make complete pieces.
Once complete, you can multiply the number of sheathing pieces you have by 32, which will give you a fairly accurate picture of the square footage of your roof.
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Should You Invest In A Metal Roof
A metal roof can be a great choice due to its durability, appearance, and resale value. Using a metal roof cost calculator can help you determine what is the best choice regarding the cost of metal roofing versus shingles, the right style for your property, your budget, and your design preferences as well as a potential price on metal roofing that works for your bank account and style.
The metal roof vs shingles cost can be a complex decision, but your roofing company or roofing contractor can help you sort out the price of a metal roof as well as the different types of metal roofing and help you make the right choice for your property .
Getting Exact Measurements Is Quite Difficult And Could Be Risky
It would be complex and even risky to get an exact measurement of your roofs square footage. There are too many things that can go wrong, such as slips and falls, weather issues, and more. So, if you need a more accurate measurement, it is best to contact your local roofing contractor or carpenter to take measurements of your roof or help you figure out how many squares you have. Or you can always contact us for a free estimate.
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Keep The Slope And Complexity Of Your Roof In Mind
You have to keep in mind the makeup of your roof when doing the calculation for the square footage. The steepness and complexity will change the number you multiply the footprint of your home by.
For example:
For an easy up-and-over, walkable gable roof, youll multiply the footprint of the roof by 1.3 to get the square footage of your roof.
For a hip roof with a low slope, you’ll multiply the footprint of the roof by 1.4 to get the square footage of your roof.
For a steep and complex roof, you’ll multiply the footprint of the roof by 1.6 to get the square footage of your roof.
How Many Architecture Shingles Come In A Bundle
Once you found out how many bundles of shingles in a square, you may wonder, is it the same as all kinds of shingles? Lets take an example from architectural shingles.
Read also: Are Architectural Shingles Worth Extra Cost.
Well, you may find many different answers regarding this topic. Some manufacturers sell 4 bundles for a square while the other sell three bundles only. The number of shingles per bundle is also different some come with 22, the other comes with 26.
For architectural shingles, since manufacturers sell different numbers per bundle, it is always important to count your roofs width beforehand. Also, it is important to know how many bundles of shingles in a square. That way, you can avoid running out of shingles.
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Metal Roof Cost Pricing Guide
by BarrettM | Mar 31, 2021 | Blog |
If you are planning on replacing your roof or building a new property, then youve likely considered various options available to you.
Depending on the style of your home, your location, and your preferred aesthetic, the costs of your new metal roof or any other type of roofing will vary based on a variety of factors that we will detail in this article.
Metal roofing has a lot to offer for homeowners and property owners it can be both practical and visually appealing, plus it will likely withstand weather issues like snow, ice, rain, and roof hail damage better than many other types of roofing.
Of course, this is all depending on your climate and always ask your roofing contractor.
Metal roofs are also highly resistant to fires and related smoke damage, which can make them an excellent long-term choice even though they tend to be more expensive and might require crews with specialized experience to install.
The cost of a metal roof does tend to pay off in the end.
Whats more, there are a variety of options at different price points even though at first glance metal roof price might seem overly high compared to more common wood or asphalt shingle options, so if you are concerned about the cost of installing a metal roof, chances are that there is a type of metal roof or metal roofing material that fits into your budget.
How To Choose A Color For Your Metal Roof
Much of the metal roofing color decision depends on your propertys style, the neighborhoods overall look, your climate, and your personal preferences.
For instance, if you prefer a more subtle look then you might want to pick a color that echoes your roofs siding, or is almost the same color for a chic monochrome appearance.
However, going for contrast can make for some great drama and lend your home some serious curbside appeal due to the visual impact of your new metal roof.
The color of your metal roof also plays a role as to how long it looks like new saturated colors or brighter shades tend to fade more quickly, while more neutral colors tend to weather in a way that looks more natural and that you might find more visually pleasing.
Our guide on roof shingle colors complete with visuals also applies to metal roofing with some caveats.
And naturally, when you are choosing the roofing colors for your home, always check in with your homeowners association or any similar governing bodies if applicable.
If you have a historic home and therefore are subject to specific colors or material types, or requirements for color palettes that may be otherwise limited, it is certainly better to know in advance if theyll have a problem with your new roof.
For instance, some color options for metal roofing include the often-dramatic look of bare metal.
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