How Are Roof Squares Measured
Roof squares are measured in square units, which is equal to 100 square feet. This measurement means that for every 100 square feet of roof area you will need one roof square. To calculate the number of roof squares needed for a project, first you will need to measure the length and width of the roof area and then multiply the two measurements together.
This will give you the total square feet of your roof, which you can then divide by 100 to determine the number of roof squares needed. Its important to note that roof squares are the same as roofing squares and do not refer to the shape of the roof.
Generally, roof shapes will not affect the square footage and will not affect the number of roof squares you need.
Whats Your Roof Slope
You will also need to know the slope of your deck.
To determine this, measure the vertical rise of your deck in inches over a 12 horizontal distance.
If this rise is 4, then your roof slope is 4 in 12.
Roof slopes are always expressed with the vertical rise mentioned first and the horizontal run mentioned second.
Calculate The Square Footage Of Your Roof
After considering the slope and complexity of your roof, youre ready to learn how to calculate the square footage of your roof.
To get a rough estimate for your roofs square footage, youll use this equation:
For example, if you have an easy up and over, walkable gable roof and a house that measures 56 feet lengthwise and 28 feet widthwise, your calculation will look like this:
56 x 28 = 1,568
1,568 x 1.3 = 2,038
Using this equation wont be 100% accurate, but knowing your roofs square footage is a great jumping-off point to learn how much youll have to invest in your replacement. After getting your roofs rough square footage, put that number in our free Roofing Calculator to get an idea on the cost of your new roof.
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How Much Shingles Do I Need For 1010 Shed
In order to figure out how much shingles you need for a 10×10 shed, you will need to measure your roof and find its square footage. Generally, a 10×10 shed will have a roof that covers approximately 100 square feet.
This means you will need approximately 10 bundles of shingles, as each bundle usually covers about 30 to 33 square feet of roof. However, it is always best to measure your roof and add about 10-15% more shingles than you think you will need, just in case you need more than what you estimated.
Doing this could save you from having to purchase more shingles later if you find you need extra coverage.
Ask Alpha Roofing For An Estimate
As you can see, a roofing calculator can give you an idea of the materials for a roofing project however, its complicated. Roofing contractors have different methods that can be used, so you really should ask a professional for help.
Alpha Roofing is an award-winning contractor serving Austin, Texas and surrounding areas. We offer a full range of rooftop services, including asphalt shingle installation and repairs, metal roofing systems and chimney repair. We also installsiding and skylights. Our crews are highly trained and work only for us. We are committed to providing quality work and outstanding customer service at affordable rates. Call 777-1086 or complete the online form to request a free quote.
We service the areas of Buda, Kyle, Killeen, Cedar Park, Leander, Belton, Hutto, Tyler, Lakeway, Lago Vista, and Taylor, TX!
See Recent FAQs Below-
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Flawless Roof Replacement & Repair Services Using Top
Im very impressed with Home Genius Exteriors. From the sales opportunity, to ordering, and finally execution everything was smooth sailing. Rob, who sold us our roof, was educated on the product and process. He answered all my detailed questions with patience. A special comment must be left for our Project Manager, Mike, who went above and beyond in every way. He was always available, answers all our questions, thoroughly reviewed the work was done, and even let us know that he is available after the project with any questions. You can tell he truly takes pride in his work. I have worked with others, and so has my family, and Ill tell you right now were sticking with Home Genius Exteriors for all future projects due to Mikes customer service. Highly recommended company to work with! Our roof is gorgeous.
– Anthony L.
Calculate The Slope Of The Roof
The next piece of information you need is the slope of the roof. Finding the slope is important because so far, weve only figured out how big the roof would be if it were flat across the footprint of the house. Since residential roofs are usually sloped, creating more space on the roof surface than if it were flat, you need to account for the extra square footage.
Image credit: Roofing Calculator
As you can see in the image above, finding the slope is based on the geometry of a right triangle. The slope is the longest side of the triangle , and the rise and run make up the other sides, forming a right angle. When finding the slope, the run is always going to be based on 12 inches. So you just need to determine the rise and youll be all set.
There are a few ways to do this without getting all the way up on the roof. The first is to measure from inside the attic if you have access. Heres how:
- Gather up a level, a tape measure, and a pencil.
- Measure 12 inches from one end of the level and make a mark.
- Place the end of the level against the bottom of a roof rafter and hold it perfectly level, using the bubbles as a guide.
- Measure vertically from the 12-inch mark on the level straight up to the underside of the rafter. This is the number of inches the roof rises in 12 inches and is called the slope.
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How Many Squares Do I Need For My Roof
The amount of squares you need for your roof will depend on several factors, including the size of your roof, the style of roof, and the type of material you choose. To determine how many squares you need, you should first measure the area of your roof.
A roofing square is an area of roof covering typically consisting of 100 square feet, therefore one roofing square covers 100 square feet. Once you have the area of your roof, simply divide the area by 100 and you will be left with the number of roofing squares needed for your roof.
For example, if the area of the roof is 1500 square feet, you would need 15 squares. Also, keep in mind that when calculating the area of your roof, you must include attic space, balconies, and other additions when figuring out your overall area and number of squares needed.
Additionally, there may also be a waste factor when estimating the number of squares needed for your roof, due to cutting and fitting of corners and slopes. Therefore, you should factor in an extra 5-10% to account for this.
Measuring Or Calculating Gable And Hip Lengths
The slope factor is also used to determine gable lengths when the run length is known. For example, in Figure 4 the bottom left gable measures 16 across from eave to eave and therefore has a run of 8. When this is multiplied by 1.202 the gable distance is 98 . Note that this run can also be multiplied by the hip/valley factor of 1.563 to get a valley length of 126.
Record all your calculations on your drawing as seen in Figure 5 below.
Figure 5. Completed Roof Plan Drawing
Pro Tip: A Note About Waste Factor
Once you have figured out your roof area, you will need to also calculate how much room you need to allow for waste. For metal roofing products on a medium complex roof a waste factor of 15% is advisable. In other words for the 2468 ft2 roof in our example you should multiply by 1.15 giving you 2838.2 ft2 roofing material needed.
Important Note: Most metal roofing products are packaged and sold by the square so for our example roof the number of squares or boxes to purchase is 29.
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How To Calculate Roof Squares For Your Backyard Storage Shed
This article describes the basic math to calculate roof materials. If you have ever asked yourself how many squares is my roof? this article will help you find the answer. This article teaches you the math formula to figure out how much roofing and underlayment you need to order.
Roofing is talked about using the term square, as in This shed roof is 16 squares. A square refers to 100 square feet of roof or a 10 foot by 10 foot area. So a roof that has 1600 square feet of area has 16 squares. Remember that unless the roof is flat, the square footage of the building is different than the square footage of the roof. This is because of the pitch of the roof and the overhangs.
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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Calculate Roof Pitch From The Ground In Three Quick Steps
Roof pitch is one of those things that middle school math and geometry instructors can easily point to, and say, See? Learning how to work with rise over run is fun and useful, right? If at any moment you start having PTSD flashbacks to algebra or geometry class, take a deep breath. Well walk you through this slowly in three simple steps. All you need is a tape measure, and possibly a helper to hold it.
Step One: Grab that tape measure, notepad, and pencil and head outside. Find the slope of your roof youd like to measure, and start measuring the distance from the outer edge of the eave to the point at which the plane of the roof slope is barely visible to your eye. Write that number down in both inches. This figure is the horizontal run.
Step Two: Stand directly underneath the gutter or edge of the roof plane you want to calculate the slope for. Measure the distance from your eye to the top of the drip edge of your roof overhang. Write that number down in inches, too. This figure is the roof rise.
Step Three: Take the roof rise figure in Step Two and divide it by the horizontal run from Step One. In the example above, the rise is 60 inches and the run is 120 inches. This reduces down to a roof pitch of 6/12. Well use this figure in just a bit, so keep it handy.
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How Many Shingles Are In A Bundle Of Architecture
4.8/5three
Moreover, how many square feet are in a bundle of architectural shingles?
If the shingles you are using come three bundles to a square, calculating the number of bundles youll need is simple. Each bundle covers 33.3 sq. ft.
Likewise, how many bundles of shingles do I need for a 10×12 shed? Most companies make it to be 3 bundles make a SQUARE. Two squares . Remember, the roof will be bigger than the footprint of the shed itself.
Regarding this, how many bundles of shingles do I need for 1600 square feet?
A bundle of shingles covers 33.3 sq. ft. 1,700 / 33.3 + 10% for trim = 57 bundles. A bundle of shingles covers 33.3 sq.
How much is a bundle of shingles?
Retail price for 25-year, 3-tab shingles is about $25 to $30 per bundle, plus tax. You need three bundles per square, so the total price is around $75 to $90 per square. For architectural shingles, the retail price jumps to about $33 to over $52 per bundle, or $100 to $160 per square.
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Dont Forget To Add In The Waste Factor
The last thing to take into consideration is the waste factor. This accounts for material that gets overlapped in hips and valleys, as well as material that gets cut off around flashings, penetrations, and gable ends.
If its a relatively simple gable roof, most roofing contractors typically add 10-15% to the total square footage to account for waste factor. If its a more complicated hip roof, the waste factor can be higher.
In fact, we once worked with a company that had a job with a shocking 41% waste factor. It was so shocking, in fact, that they didnt believe it when the EagleView report came in with the numbers. But this was no ordinary roof and there were things that jumped off the page when looking at the report:
- Structure Complexity: Complex
- Areas per Pitch: Nearly 83% of the roof, or 2,364 square feet, had a pitch of 3/12
- Waste Calculation: Suggested waste percentage of 41%, or 33.66 squares
The suggested waste factor of 41% grabbed the attention of the salesperson in charge of submitting a bid. They balked at such a high number, knowing it would result in a higher bid and a lesser chance of winning the job.
A tough decision had to be made: either to go with the 41%, or to use their judgement to lower the number. After much deliberation, the salesperson decided to underbid the job based on a lower waste factor. After all, theres no way the waste could actually be as high as 40%, right?
9.4869 roofing squares x .10 = .94869
9.4869 + .94869 = 10.43559
What Does A Square Mean In Roofing
In roofing, a square refers to the required amount of material necessary to cover 100 square feet of roofing. It is a common unit of measurement used by roofers and is often used when estimating the cost of a job.
Typically, a square can be broken down into 9 bundles of shingles, and each bundle will cover approximately 33. 3 square feet. In addition to shingles, a square can refer to other roofing components such as underlayment, flashing, and ridge caps.
Its important to remember that a square is not equal to an actual square foot in measurements they are simply a unit of measure used to estimate the total amount of material needed to cover the roof.
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Measure The Footprint Of The House
The footprint of a house is a bit different from square footage because it refers to the perimeter of the exterior walls at ground level.
Image credit: Aluminum Lock Roof Inc
Square footage, on the other hand, includes the entire area of the house within the walls, including additional stories. Since you only need one roof regardless of whether its a one-story or three-story house, the footprint is a more accurate starting point than square footage.
To measure the footprint, use a tape measure or wheel and measure the length of each side of the house. Be sure to measure all the way out to the roof overhang, as you can see in the picture above, since thats where the roof ends.
Also, make sure to include any additions to the house like sunrooms, garages, or other bump-outs. As you measure, record your findings on your diagram so that you know which measurement corresponds to which side. This will be important in the next step.
How Many Rolls Of Felt Will You Need
Roofing felt is sold by the roll. The average roll of 15-pound roofing felt covers about 400 ft2, or 4 squares, while the average roll of 30-pound roofing felt covers about 200 ft2, or 2 squares.
Rolls of felt are 36 wide x 144 long for 15# and 72 long for 30#. Consider other underlayment options as needed, such as rubber or tar products.
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How Many Shingles In A Square
For regular 3-tab, non-laminated shingles, youll have around 78 shingles per square. Some older styles of 3-tab shingles will have up to 87 shingles per square. Architectural shingles will have anywhere from 57 to 66 shingles per square.
The number of shingles in an architectural or laminated shingle bundle vary since there are many, many different varieties of these types of shingles available for purchase. Sizes are different and therefore the number of shingles in a square differs from square to square for that type of shingle.
Multiply The Slope Factor By The Number Of Roofing Squares
Ok, so now we know the slope of the roof but we need to find the slope factor to figure out how many more roofing squares we need. Fortunately, lots of roofing companies share this information online. You can see the chart above from Everlast Roofing as an example.
Image credit: Everlast Roofing
So, going back to our roof with a 4:12 slope, you can see that the corresponding slope factor is 1.0541. To find what this means in terms of roofing squares, you would do the following calculation:
9 roofing squares x 1.0541 = 9.4869 roofing squares
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