How To Calculate Shingles Needed For A Roof

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.

Your Asphalt Roof Fails Prematurely

Your roofing materials should live as long as the manufacturer specifies. However, there are cases when your roof fails prematurely and leads to a roof replacement well before you should need one.

Two of the common causes of premature roof failure are improper roof installation andinadequate attic ventilation.

When your roof wasnt installed using correct roofing techniques youre going to find shingles in your yard or even full sections sliding off your roof. If your attic wasnt properly ventilated then the damage from the trapped heat and cold will drastically shorten your roofs life.

Be aware, when your roof isnt properly ventilated or properly installed the manufacturers warranty on your roofing materials will be voided. This leaves you with only your contractors workmanship warranty to fall back on to replace your prematurely failed roof.

Recommended Reading: Roofing Cost Los Angeles

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.

Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Roof Coating For A Mobile Home

How To Determine How Many Shingles You Need For Your Roof

By homoes

Even if you do not want to hire a professional, you may want to know how many shingles you would need for your roof. That is not just for convenience but also to avoid overspending and save money altogether. There are a few ways to calculate how many roofing shingles they will need, and by using these methods, an individual can determine the number of shingles they might need without having to purchase anything at all. The information provided in this blog post will allow individuals to make a smarter decision when it is time to repair their roofs or purchase new ones.

Should You Consider Diy Roof Installation

As we discussed before, professional labor to install a new asphalt shingles roof constitutes at least 70% of the total cost. This means that you can potentially save thousands of dollars if you can do the tear off and installation yourself.

The million dollar questions is, should you?

When it comes to asphalt shingles, one of their biggest benefits is that they are extremely DIY friendly. Indeed, asphalt shingles is one of the very few roofing materials that a handy homeowner can put up on their own.

Shingle installation does not require any special tools or technical training. This is the reason why so many roofers install them its the easiest entry point in this field.

You can purchase all the necessary materials and supplies at your local big box home improvement store, and avoid the hassle of hiring a roofing company. In fact, basic 3-tab roofing shingles is one of the cheapest roofing options out there, and you can have a brand new roof for under $3,000.

Moreover, there are many step-by-step guides and YouTube videos on how do this correctly.

Keep in mind that when you buy shingles, you need to carefully measure your roof and also buy extra shingles to account for the waste factor. Typically, gable roofs require about 5% waste, while hip roofs are about 7.5%

Still, if you do everything carefully and educate yourself about the nuances of proper installation, you can do a very successful shingle install and keep thousands of dollars in your pocket.

Read Also: Does Rv Insurance Cover Roof Leaks

How To Estimate Roofing Materials

This article was co-authored by David Bitan. David Bitan is a roofing professional, licensed contractor, and the owner and founder of Bumble Roofing based in Southern California. With over 12 years of construction industry experience, David specializes in restoring, repairing, and maintaining residential, commercial, and industrial roofs. With over 60 years of combined experience, Bumble Roofing provides easy, friendly services to structures including residential, commercial, industrial, multi-family, and government buildings along with hospitals, hotels, and churches.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 16 testimonials and 84% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 720,326 times.

Knowing how to estimate roofing materials is important. Not only will it help eliminate waste, but it will also ensure that you buy just enough for the roofing job. Youll have to calculate your roof area, or the overall size of your roof, to determine the amount of materials youll need. This wikiHow will show you how to estimate roofing materials for your next project.

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.

Dont Miss: How To Melt Snow Off Roof

Also Check: Do You Need A Permit To Fix Your Roof

What Is A Square In Construction

A square is an imperial unit of area used specifically in the construction business in the US and Canada. It is equal to 100 square feet.

Typically, you can expect to see squares in calculations connected with roofing, and it’s also not uncommon to use it for siding materials, like wallpaper or drywall. The unit can come in handy in the case of larger construction endeavors.

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, , 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.

Recommended Reading: How To Roof A Garage

How Many Shingles Do I Need For 1000 Square Feet

shinglesshingles1000 square feetrequiresshingles

. Moreover, how many bundles of shingles do I need for 1000 square feet?

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.

how long does it take to roof a 1000 square foot house? However, in general, you can expect a typical roof replacement on a 1,000-2,000 sq. ft. home to take anywhere from 1-3 days.

Herein, how many shingles do I need calculator?

To determine the number of squares on the gable roof above, divide its total of 24,000 square feet by 100 . This means you would need 240 squares of shingles to cover that roof. The most common type of shingle, called a three-tab or strip shingle, is generally packaged three bundles per square.

How much does it cost to reroof a 1000 square foot house?

Average Cost to Replace a Roof per House Size

How Many Bundles Of Shingles Do I Need

Determining the number of bundles of shingles youll need depends on the type of shingles you are installing, as bundle size depends on shingle type. However, the vast majority of shingles require only 3 bundles per 100 square feet.

For most shingle types, youll need 3 bundles to make a square of finished roof, which is 100 square feet. If you have a roof area of 3000 square feet, youll need 90 bundles of shingles. Shingles with 4 bundles per square will require you to purchase 120 bundles for a 300 square foot roof.

Read Also: How To Install Bathroom Vent Through Roof

How Many Bundles Of Shingles Per Square

A package of roofing shingles is called a bundle. Laminate or architectural shingles, one of the most common types of roofing shingles, are generally packaged in three bundles per square.

So in the 2400 square foot gable roof example, you would need 72 bundles of shingles .

Here are a couple more examples:

How Many Bundles Of Shingles Do I Need For A 1012 Shed

To calculate the amount of shingle bundles needed for a 10×12 shed, you first have to calculate the square footage of the roof.

Lets say this shed has a gable roof running parallel to the long end of the shed. The shed also has a roof overhang of 1 all around. Therefore the length of one side of the roof is 14.

The pitch of this roof is 4:12. A rough estimate of the width of one side of the roof is just a bit over 5 say 53, which is 5.25 feet. Add a foot of overhang and you get 6.25. Multiply this by 14

Multiply the two and you get 87.5 square feet. Multiply that number times two and you get 175 square feet your total roof area.

Now you need to find out how many bundles of shingles is required for 175 square feet of roofing. Divide 175 by 100 to find out how many squares of roofing you have. This equals 1.75. We know that each square of roofing requires 3 bundles of shingles, so 3 bundles of shingles times 1.75 roofing squares equals 5.25 bundles of shingles.

You still have .25 of roof leftover. It would be prudent to purchase one extra bundle of shingles to ensure you cover your entire area and to replace any damaged shingles in the future.

Thus, it takes 6 bundles of shingles to properly cover the roof of a 10×12 shed with a gabled roof and a 1 overhang around all sides.

Read Also: Should I Replace The Roof Before Selling

How To Figure Out The Square Footage Of A Roof

Repairing or replacing your roof can be expensive, especially if you dont know how to calculate its square footage. A wrong estimate can cost you thousands of dollars and might even delay your roof repair, leaving your home exposed to the elements. The good news is you can easily estimate the square footage of your roof with a few tools and basic geometry.

Shingle Roof Installation Cost

The total cost of installing a shingle roof consists of both material and labor costs. Labor is a significant factor and can comprise as much as 60% or more of the total project cost. So, for a job that ends up costing $12,000, at least $7,600 of that goes toward labor costs.

With labor, you may need to pay to tear off and dispose of the old shingles and underlayment. In some cases, it may be possible to leave the existing shingles in place and to install the new shingles on top.

Also Check: What Colors Do Metal Roofs Come In

One: Get Up On Our Roof Safely And Take Initial Measurements

Sketch out the shape of your roof on graph paper. In this example, youd only need to measure the overall width and length, the central ridge, and one of the hips . If you have a more complex roof shape with dormers, take all the measurements you can and prepare to use your eraser to refine the image of your overall roof structure. Make sure you have solid footing and if possible, use fall protection to keep yourself safe. Be mindful of hazards like ridge vents. Note the lengths in feet:

Measure The Base Area Of Your Property

Now, use that tape measure again and take the distance from the edge of one of the eaves to the other edge along the same wall. Record that figure in feet. That will be the roof base width.

Then, measure the distance of the other side of the structure from the edge of the eave to the other. That will be the roof base length.

Multiply those figures together to get an estimate of the base area for the roof structure. For example, if your roof base width is 35 feet and your roof base length is 60 feet, the total base area would be 2,100 square feet.

Recommended Reading: How To Check If A Roofer Is Licensed Uk

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.

Recommended Reading: How To Waterproof Concrete Roof Deck

How To Measure Roof Square

• Written by Darren Spears on Jan 05, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by

Measuring your roof square is an important step when determining how much roofing material you will need during repair or replacement. No matter how large or small your home is, if you have lived in it 15 to 20 years, or plan to, repairing or replacing the roof is inevitable. Your roof is subject to wear from years and years of being exposed to natures elements. Repairing or replacing your roof is an extensive job so accurately calculating the square footage will get you started on the right foot and avoid wasted time, material, and money.

Step 1 Understand your Roof Surface

A homes roof is measured in squares. Each square is 100 square feet. If your roof is 5,000 square feet, you will have 50 squares. If you are replacing your entire roof, you will need to purchase shingles in 50 squares to sufficiently cover your 5,000 square foot roof.

Step 2 Section the Roof

If you have a roof that has different dimensions such as gable ends and hip ends, the sketch of the roof youve drawn up will come in handy. You will have to measure your roof in sections and record it on the sketch. This makes measuring simpler and easy to keep up with your total numbers when purchasing squares of shingles.

Step 3 Consider the Roof Slope

Read Also: What Are Roof Gutters For

How Many Bundles Of Shingles Do I Need For A 10×12 Shed

To calculate the amount of shingle bundles needed for a 10×12 shed, you first have to calculate the square footage of the roof.

Lets say this shed has a gable roof running parallel to the long end of the shed. The shed also has a roof overhang of 1 all around. Therefore the length of one side of the roof is 14.

The pitch of this roof is 4:12. A rough estimate of the width of one side of the roof is just a bit over 5 say 53, which is 5.25 feet. Add a foot of overhang and you get 6.25. Multiply this by 14

Multiply the two and you get 87.5 square feet. Multiply that number times two and you get 175 square feet your total roof area.

Now you need to find out how many bundles of shingles is required for 175 square feet of roofing. Divide 175 by 100 to find out how many squares of roofing you have. This equals 1.75. We know that each square of roofing requires 3 bundles of shingles, so 3 bundles of shingles times 1.75 roofing squares equals 5.25 bundles of shingles.

You still have .25 of roof leftover. It would be prudent to purchase one extra bundle of shingles to ensure you cover your entire area and to replace any damaged shingles in the future.

Thus, it takes 6 bundles of shingles to properly cover the roof of a 10×12 shed with a gabled roof and a 1 overhang around all sides.