How To Measure A Roof Using Google Earth
If youre looking for a free way to measure your roof using imagery you can find on a smartphone or computer, consider logging into Google Earth and searching for your home. If you live in a large enough metropolitan area, youll find both the 2D and 3D imagery needed to take roof measurements online.
Begin by entering your address into Google Earths search function. Youll get a birds-eye 3D view of the property, which will allow you to get a good view of the roof pitch. Position the view, so youre looking down on the roof.
Use Google Earths area measurement tool to outline the section of roof you want to measure, making sure to set the display to feet. Once you create a box, Google will tell you the length of each side and the total square footage.
You can use that number with the slope factor of your roof to come up with a fairly accurate estimate.
This method isnt as precise as the expensive apps, but it will give you a good enough estimate of the square footage of your roof to purchase shingles.
Roof Replacement Vs Repair
Here are some telling signs that an asphalt shingles roof need to be replaced:
– Many shingles are noticeably buckling or curling- A significant number of shingles is missing – Many shingles are missing in the area of the roof valley – Numerous shingles have large visible cracks- There is visible shingle discoloration as well as dark streaks on many areas of the roof. Overall, it looks very old and ugly.
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How Many Squares Per Roll Of Underlayment
The roll size depends on the type of underlayment product. Synthetic underlayment comes in 10 square rolls, while regular #15 felt comes in 4 square rolls.
So for the 24 square roof example, you would need 2.4 rolls of synthetic underlayment, or 6 rolls of regular #15 felt.
- 24 squares ÷ 10 squares per roll = 2.4 rolls of synthetic underlayment
- 24 squares ÷ 4 squares per roll = 6 rolls of regular #15 felt
Remember: Add 10%-15% for the waste factor on underlayment, as well.
Finally, if you have any questions about your estimate, ask a roofing contractor in your area. Most will be happy to give you a free estimate.
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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!
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Calculating How Many Packs Of Shingles You Need
With your roofs area and ridge length clear in your mind, the next step is to find the shingles you want to use. Lets take our customer favourite Coroshingles as an example. Each pack covers an area of 2m² with 14 shingle strips. With this, calculating the rough number of packs you need just involves punching the numbers into a simple formula:
Roof Area/Pack Size
Assuming the roof area was 50m², this specific example it would look like this:
50/2
This would give you a final answer of 25 packs. However, that is just for the area of the roof. If you are also using shingles to cover the length of your ridge, you will need to determine how many strips are needed to cover the full run. This may require you to look at the width of the induvial strip to determine exactly how many extra packs you might need based on your initial ridge measurement. We would always advise rounding up, as this would help to account for any mistakes, wastage or off-cuts.
Also bear in mind that most shingles will require a detailing strip to be installed along the eaves first.
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Find The Area Of The Footprint Of The Roof
To calculate a roofs dimensions, you need to measure the roof as if it were flat, then account for roof pitch, calculate square footage, and finally determine how many squares of material are required for the roof.
The calculator above can handle all of this, simply enter the length, width, and pitch, and it will determine the size of the roof in squares.
Start by measuring the roofs length and width in feet as youre standing on the ground. Remember that the length and width need to be found for the roof, not the house, so take into account that the roof overhangs the building.
Then determine the area of the roof as if it were flat. Multiply the length by the width in feet to get the area measurement.
How To Figure Out How Much Plywood To Use On A Roof
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When you are planning to build a new roof or rebuild an existing roof, you will want to have an idea of how much material youll need to cover that roof. If sheathing the roof with plywood, there are basic formulas for roughly estimating the number of 4 foot by 8 foot sheets of plywood you will need to cover your roof.
Measure the length and width in feet of each roof slope with the tape measure. A typical gable roof will have identical slopes on each side of the ridge line. Multiply the length by the width to find the square foot area of one slope. Multiply that figure by 2 to get the total roof area. For instance, if the slope length is 40 feet and its width is 20 feet, 40 multiplied by 20 gives 800 square feet. Since there are two identical slopes, multiply 800 by 2 to get a total roof area of 1,600 square feet.
Divide the total roof area by 32 to get the number of sheets you will need to cover the roof. A typical 4 foot by 8 foot sheet of plywood covers 32 square feet. If your roof area is 1,600 square feet, 1,600 divided by 32 will mean you need about 50 sheets to cover the roof. Add 10 percent to allow for waste.
Things You Will Need
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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.
Next Divide Your Total Area By 100 To Calculate The Number Of Roofing Squares You’ll Need To Buy
How to measure a roof for shingles. This can make it even safer to do your measuring and it also removes a level of guessing. Then each measurement is recorded on the diagram, applicable to that roof surface. How to manually measure a roof.
Record these values as roof rise over run, with the vertical measurement listed first and the horizontal second. Measure the width and length of each plane of the roof , and then multiply those numbers to get the correct figure for the square footage of that area. Conversely, you could measure the roof from the ground using a very rough approximation.
Record the measurements on your sketch of the roof. In such a case, you need to take measurement of. How to measure a roof for shingles.
In the united states, a run of 12 inches is used, and pitch is measured as the rise of the roof over 12 inches. Place the end hook of the tape on the corner and run it all the way to the opposite corner of the house. On this page, we provide you with three different ways to measure roof area for shingles or a new metal roof.
This was before i started using these two calculations. So if your roof is 20,000 square feet, that means youll need 200 squares to coat it. The next step is to measure the pitch of the roof deck.
To use this method, you will need to measure the length of the eaves on each of the roof planes. How to measure a roof for shingles steps. How to measure your roof for shingles.
How To Calculate Shingles For A Roof di 2020 (Dengan
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Plan For Waste Factor
The only roof that will generate no waste from cutting is that rare simple gable whose roof length is divisible by the 3-ft. length of a shingle. Other simple gable roofs will require cut shingles at the rakes. From there, the waste factor increases with every obstruction, such as a chimney, and with every hip or valley.
Laminated shingles typically generate less waste than three-tab shingles do because you dont have to maintain a cutout pattern, but its tricky to determine exactly how many square feet of shingles you will be able to salvage. Its best to plan your order using the same waste factor that you would use for three-tab shinglesat worst youll just have a couple of bundles to return.For a simple roof, I generally figure 1 percent as a waste factor. On a complex roof with open valleys, I add 5 percent and sometimes more. Theres no calculation you can use to determine the extra shingles youll need for waste. With experience estimating jobs, youll get a feel for how many extra shingles to order.
Waste is also generated when shingles are damaged, which is inevitable when youre moving shingles around a steep roof slope and some will slide off. You may be able to salvage part of the damaged shingle, but dont count on it. You can also waste shingles when you nail them improperly and have to remove them. You may drive nails too low in the exposure or fasten one off a control line.
How To Estimate The Size Of A Roof
If youre replacing a roof, the first consideration needs to be the roofs size so you can accurately estimate project materials.
In the U.S., roofs are measured in square footage, and roofing contractors typically quote projects based on the size of the roof in squares. Consequently, gathering the size of the roof in squares and square footage is the first step.
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Types Of Roof Coatings
GAF offers a variety of roof coating systems made with acrylic, silicone, and polyurethane. Below are the key features of each type of system.
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 Do I Calculate How Many Shingles I Need
To estimate how many shingles youll need, you need to know the total square footage of your roofs surface. Find this number by measuring the length and width of each plane on the roof then multiplying length times width.
Calculating the number of bundles, you need is simple if you are using shingles that come three bundles to a square. Each bundle covers 33.3 sq. ft. of roof areawhich is close enough to the 32 sq.
Thereof, How many bundles of shingles do I need for 100 square feet?
three bundles
Also to know is, How many square feet are in a bundle of shingles? 33.3 sq. ft.
Subsequently, question is, How many shingles do I need for a 24×24 garage? Additionally, how many shingles do I need for a 24×24 garage? Three bundles are equal to one square. Each square equates to 100 square feet. In the previous example, three squares, or 300 square feet, of shingles will be needed to cover the garage roof.
Also, How many bundles of shingles do I need for 200 square feet?
How Many Bundles of Shingles Will You Need. The average bundle of shingles covers 33.3 ft2, so three bundles of shingles are needed per square.
What About The Waste Factor Should I Order Extra Roofing Materials
You want to order extra material to account for waste. Waste factors vary.
10%-15% is a good rule of thumb, but your results may be different. More complicated roofs will have a higher waste factor because there are usually more cut shingles around corners, walls, and edges.
It is okay to have a few shingles left over. They can be saved in case there is roof damage later or if repairs need to be done in the future.
So for the 24 square roof example, you would want to add 2.4 squares which equal about 7 or 8 more bundles.
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How Many Nails Will You Need
Nails will also be required for any roofing project. The average 3-tab shingle needs four nails per shingle. High wind areas and other types of shingles may need more. 320 nails will be needed to install a square of standard 3-tab shingles, assuming four nails per shingle and 80 shingles per square.
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