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How To Calculate Metal Roofing

Roofing Materials Calculator Features

How To Estimate Material For A Standing Seam Metal Roof Installation

This tool will calculate the exact amount of materials that you will need to install a new roof. You will get measurements and current prices for the following roofing materials and accessories:

  • Materials: shingles, metal panels, or other types of roof materials, based on squares or bundles.
  • Underlayment Ice and Water shield, felt and or synthetic underlayment.
  • Ridge / Hip Caps ridge cap shingles (for asphalt and some metal roofing systems, and ridge / hip cap sections for standing seam metal and flat roofs.
  • Ridge Vent length and price of Cobra or similar ridge ventilation system. Not all roofs will need it, but it is highly recommended to use a ridge vent system along with soffit vents. This will extend the lifespan of your roof and help prevent ice dams, along with having adequate roof ventilation / attic insulation and Ice & Water Shield installed along the eaves of your roof.
  • Accessories roofing nails , pipe vent flashing , step flashing , and roofing caulk .
  • Drip Edge number and cost of 10 foot sections of drip edge.

All prices and materials calculations include waste and are rounded up to the exact amount of what you will need to install a roof, with minimal left over materials. For example, the ridge vent usually comes in 20 feet rolls, so if you have a 25 feet of ridge vent opening, the calculator will price two rolls.

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 Is Metal Roofing Priced

Metal roofing and other types of roofing are based on cost per square.

Metal roof pricing for cost per square is calculated per square foot and then that is added up into the cost per square which is definitely something to pay attention to and understand when you are pricing out or looking for a new metal roof, or perhaps, more importantly, talking to metal roofing contractors or roofing companies about installing a new metal roof.

When you are deciding what type of metal roofing to purchase and install, keep in mind that while there are options at a variety of price points, the cost of metal roofing is a literal investment in the roof over your head as well as the roof over your family or employees and customers heads.

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Why Are Metal Roofs More Expensive Than Asphalt Shingles

Interlocking Shingles this is arguably the most versatile metal roofing system on the market. Interlocking shingles can be installed on nearly any roof, no matter how difficult and cut up it is. Even a round tower can be roofed with metal shingles, while it will pose serious problems for other types of metal roofing, such as standing seam or stone coated steel.

Interlocking metal shingles have a reverse lock on each side, and each shingle is locked into the one below it and the one on its side. Shingles are then attached to the roof deck with clips and nails. In the end, each shingle is also held in place by 6 other shingles around it, making this system very durable and wind resistant. Reverse locks also prevent wind-driven water from penetrating the roof.

Installation of TAMKO Steel Shingles

A metal shingles roof is also best suited for such flashing details as multiple skylights and chimneys. Because of the low profile of metal shingles, the curb flashing will not stick up off the roof deck and the back pan of the curb flashing , will be made of one piece and when done right, will never leak.

Interlocking Shingles Skylight Flashing

Average Cost Of Metal Roof Installation

Roofing Estimate

Once you have the materials, then you need to actually install your roof or more accurately, have it installed by a team of professional roofers.

The costs of installing your metal roof will vary depending on your location, your property, and the type of roof that you are installing, but installation costs are important to account for since they will affect the total price of your new metal roof.

Metal roofing tends to be more expensive to install than asphalt or wood shingles since it is not simply nailed to the top of the roof but rather built on top of a breathable synthetic underlayer, prefabricated trim, fashioning, and requires the installation or customization of pipe boots and roof vents.

This of course increases the overall cost of materials as well as the expertise necessary to do the job roofers in your area or metal roof contractors who can handle metal roofing with the appropriate skill tend to be on the higher end, cost-wise.

Also, keep in mind that smaller orders of metal roofing material tend to cost a bit more per square foot than larger orders.

Ordering through your roofing contractor can be one way to save on your new roof since they likely have the connections to buy at a bulk rate or can get an industry discount.

Plus, metal roofing can often be the most energy-efficient selection, saving you money on heating during the winter and air conditioning in the summer.

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Roof Replacement Vs Repair

An average roof lasts approximately 20 years before replacement becomes an option. When leaks first occur, the question is whether to repair or replace the roof. This must be done quickly to prevent extensive interior water damage.

If the leaks are simple and the roof is relatively new, a repair would be appropriate. If the leaks are widespread and the roof is more than 20 years old, a replacement may be a better option. Additionally, if you are selling your house, a new roof is a major attraction. You can use the metal roofing cost calculator to estimate the cost of replacement depending on the size of your home and the roof design.

Roof replacement is a complex and costly project and should be scheduled at your convenience. Generally, a replacement is necessary towards the end of the roofing materials lifespan. However, it should not be put off until it becomes a safety hazard or a real emergency.

How Do I Verify Measurements For My Metal Roof

Are you a do it yourself person or a contractor thats familiar with shingles but new to metal roofing? If thats you, or if you just want to answer the question How do I verify measurements for my metal roof then this vlog post is definitely for you!When it comes to figuring materials for your roof it all starts with a sketch. And over the years Ive seen all sorts of sketches. Ive seen them range from a doodle on a napkin to full-blown architectural drawings.

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About Our Measuring And Estimating Guide

At Tri County Metals, we have a great measuring and estimating guide for our Ultra Rib panels that will be a big help. And the very first thing on this step-by-step guide is getting a sketch of your roof with all the measurements needed so either you, or the team at TCM, can formulate an accurate material list for your project.

Calculate The Simple Roof Areas

How Many Screws Will I Need For My Metal Roof? Easy Formula To Calculate The Amount Of Screws

On a simple hip or gable roof, multiplying the eave to ridge length by eave length will give the area to be multiplied by pitch factor. Ridge vent openings are best finished with coil rather than partial shingle. Using flat coil stock allows the ridge caps to lay flat and can also be formed with an extra water stop at the ridge opening.

Area for the roof in Figure 3 is 1784 ft2 The blue dash line divides the roof into 2 rectangles. There is a small area calculated as 8/12 that is actually 4/12. On a small area such as this, it is better to err on the side of the higher pitch since it should not significantly affect the total.

Pro Tip: Pythagorean Theorem can be used to calculate the length of the valleys. A general rule of thumb is to add at least 12 lineal inches of valley material to be safe.

Figure 3. Calculating Simple Roof Areas

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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.

Finding The Total Roof Area

Once the area of the roofs footprint is known, the overall roof area can be found by accounting for the roofs pitch. The pitch of the roof is the rise over a 12-inch run. Use our roof pitch calculator to find the pitch of your roof.

Next, multiply the footprint of the roof by the multiplier below for your roof pitch to find the overall roof area.For example, a 4/12 pitch roof that is 100 square feet:

100 × 1.054 = 105.4ft2

Roof Pitch Area Multipliers

Multipliers for common roof pitches that can be used to find the total area of a roof.

Pitch

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Why Should I Measure My Own Roof

If you plan on re-roofing your own home then you will need to calculate materials so you wont waste your own time and money. If youre like most people, youll need to hire a professional.

Knowing your numbers will help you figure out what roofing materials are within your budget and having your square footage handy is a great way to protect yourself from inflated quotes.

Using Our Numbers To Calculate Roof Weight

How to Measure a Roof for Metal Roofing

Now that we have obtained weight-per-foot figures for each metal, we can calculate the approximate weight of your metal roofing. All you have to do is get the area of your roof in square feet, then multiply that by the weight of the chosen material.

The average residential roof is about 17,000 square feet. So, lets plug our numbers into the calculator and see what we get.

  • Aluminum: 0.20 pounds per foot X 17,000 feet = 3,400 lbs
  • Steel: 0.57 pounds per foot X 17,000 feet = 9,690 lbs
  • Stainless Steel: 0.59 pounds per foot X 17,000 feet = 10,030 lbs
  • Copper: 0.66 pounds per foot X 17,000 feet = 11,220 lbs

The square footage of your roof is unlikely to be exactly 17,000 feet. That is an average number, so take it as such. If you dont know how to calculate the area of your roof, heres another handy online calculator that will help you. Once you have that number, just multiply it by the weight per foot of your material, and you will have a pretty accurate measurement.

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How Metal Roofs Save Money

Installing a metal roof may be a substantial initial investment. However, the savings are worthwhile especially if you plan on living in your home for a long period of time.

The savings include up to 40 percent on energy bills and insurance discounts of up to 30 percent. You will also spend less on maintenance and your roof can last up to four times longer than alternative materials. In case you resell, you can recoup up to 95 percent of your investment.

How To Cut Corrugated Metal Roofing Sheets

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Repeat these steps for each corrugated plastic roofing sheet you. Make sure that they perfectly align with your measurements, and remember that being even a tiny bit off can cause irreparable damage to your corrugated sheeting.

What Tool Should I Use To Cut Metal Roofing Home Improvement Stack Exchange

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What Metal Roof Is The Best

Another thing would be the environmental and weather conditions in the area that you wish to install the metal roof in. Coastal areas have a large amount of salt in the surrounding air, making corrosion a huge problem unless you want to go the aluminum or stainless steel route. The presence of extreme weather such as hailstorms or hurricanes can also be a factor, as softer metals dont fare well in these environments. If you wish to choose which metal is best, take stock of all the available factors so you can make an informed decision.

In general, the best and safest all around metal roofing choice, is standing seam panels. They are also ideal for solar installations. The second runner up are steel or aluminum shingles, as there is a huge range of styles and colors to pick from, along with solid durability in pretty much any climate.

Always be sure to go with a reputable metal roofing manufacturer such as McElroy, Decra, Englert, Atas, Classic, Met-Tile, and Metal Works.

Pro Tip: when it comes to metal roofs, quality installation will be the key to ensuring that your roof preforms without any leaks or problems for decades to come. There is no sense to pay extra money for the strength and longevity of metal, only to save a few hundred bucks and get poor installation.

If you want to avoid any roofing problems in the future, make sure to hire a licensed, experienced metal roofing expert who can provide at least three recently completed jobs in your area.

Use The Metal Roofing Cost Calculator Above In 3 Simple Steps

How to measure a roof for Metal Roofing DIY

Step 1: Input area of your house in feet

The roof cost calculator will estimate the area using the length and width of your house. The width is the distance between two corners on the short side of your house. The length is the distance between two corners on the long side of the house.

Step 2: Select the number of stories

How many floors does your house occupy? A one-story house has all rooms on ground level while a two-story house has rooms spread on two levels.

Step 3: Select the roof slope.

Does your roof have a low, medium or high slope? The slope is determined by the vertical rise for every horizontal foot the roof runs. A moderate slope has a vertical rise of 6 inches for every 12 inches horizontally. A steep slope rises 12 inches for every 12 horizontal inches.

The roofing calculator is useful in estimating your roofing costs. However, it excludes replacement of damaged roofing structures, quality of materials from various brands, and the effect of geographic location on cost. It also excludes permits or taxes required to replace roofing and any other roofing systems that may need replacement.

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Standing Seam Metal Roof Panels Calculator

This tool will help you calculate the amount and the APPROXIMATE length of metal panels you will need to install a new standing seam metal roof. The calculator can be used to estimate the amount of materials needed to install either a standing seam or a corrugated steel panels roof. You can choose between gable and hip roof types. Depending on the type you select, you will get different lengths and numbers of metal roof panels.

Factors That Affect Roofing Prices

The cost of your roof is determined by various factors.

Raw materials, processing costs, and designs of the roofing panels affect their pricing. Aluminum and Galvanized Steel are more common in residential roofing due to their top performance and affordability. Stainless steel, copper, and zinc, provide exceptional performance but are too expensive for most people.

Interlocking panels have a more comprehensive production process, have more structural features and require more room on a shipping truck, thus cost more than overlapping panels. Panels that interlock on four sides produce better quality finish and cost more.

Accessibility and physical location determine the required special licenses, permits and specialized equipment to fit in tight spaces. It will cost more to install a roof near power lines and tree branches.

Complex architectural roof designs are more time consuming than simple designs due to fitting and angles. Windows, valleys, skylights, dormers, and chimneys increase material and labor costs. A steep roof pitch may require additional equipment and more time to complete while taller houses are more expensive due to the danger associated with height.

A coating can radically transform the lifespan of your metal roof. Polyester based paints have a short lifespan and are the cheapest while Polyvinylidene Fluoride offers a remarkable lifespan, adhesion, and fade and chalk resistance.

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