How To Determine How Many Squares A Roof Is

Roofing Squares: A Way To Measure Your Roof

So youve decided to re-shingle your roof, youve called the contractor and all seems well until the contractor comes down and you hear a term youre not familiar with, roofing square

What? you ask yourself, wondering what exactly the person you hired just said to you, did they mean a square foot, a panel, something else entirely? Dont worry, youre not alone. Its a question we at Rennison Roofing get all the time!

How Do You Calculate Square Footage For A Roof

Related Articles

• How to Measure a Roof From the Ground

When a roof needs to be replaced, one of the first steps you may perform is figuring out the roof area. Both the roof area and pitch contribute to the cost of a roofing job. Calculate square footage for a roof by measuring and by performing some basic math equations. With the area measurement, you can learn the approximate cost of a new roof. Use this information if you are purchasing a home that needs a new roof or if your current home needs one.

Things You Will Need

The Type Of Roof You Want

The type of roof you want will have a big impact on the cost of your roof replacement. There are a variety of different types of roofs for you to choose from based on your budget and the look you want.

If youre on a tight budget and looking for an affordable roof, an asphalt shingle roof might be right for you. But if youre looking to upgrade to a longer-lasting and sharp looking roof, theres the standing seam metal roof.

Asphalt and metal are two of the most commonly seen roof types, but there are also premium shingle roofs that come at a premium price. These roofs give you a unique look that really stands out. These premium roofs include cedar shake, slate, and tile.

The premium shingle roofs can get expensive quickly and be more than triple the cost of an asphalt shingle roof.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Know If Your Roof Is Leaking

How To Compute It

Step 1: Measure the length of your roof in feet.

Step 2: Multiply this number by itself.

L*L=Square feet of roofing

Example: Your house is 25 long and 10 wide, so 25×10=250 square feet of roofing. You will need to buy about 1000 square feet of roofing to cover your entire house.

Some roofs, like a hip roof, are not a perfect square and so may require more or less roofing material. Always consult with a professional to get the most accurate measurements for your specific roof.

Why Is It Important

A roofing square is an important measurement for roofers. It is the most common way to measure a roofs size. Roofers use this measurement to calculate the amount of material they will need to cover a roof. This measurement is also used to price a new roof. A roofing square is equal to 100 square feet.

Roofers will measure the length and width of a roof and divide it by 100. This will give them the roofs square footage. Most roofs are not perfect squares, therefore this measurement may be difficult to calculate without a roofing square ruler or tool such as a credit card that is 100-square inches long.

Recommended Reading: Shingling A Shed

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.

Do You Need Roof Repair Replacement Or New Installation In The Fort Worth Area

If so, TX Roofing Solutions is the first choice for residents in the Dallas, Texas, area.

Providing free, no-obligation roof inspections, our company can handle any service request you may have. Whether youre in Euless, Arlington, Flower Mound, Keller, Coppell, Grapevine or a surrounding area, were happy to provide you with honest, reputable roofing services.

Call us today at 726-1369 or complete our form here to request your free, on-site roof inspection.

You May Like: How Do I Know If My Roof Is Leaking

What Influences A Roofing Projects Cost

Although a roofs size is always a major factor in calculating project costs, other elements may influence a contractors quote, such as:

• Your location and the average roofing project prices in your area.
• Your choice of roofing material
• Roof accessibility and ease of installation
• The contractors certifications and level of work
• Project timeline
• Season

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:

Don’t Miss: Should I Replace The Screws On My Metal Roof

Figuring Out The Square Footage Of Your Roof

While it may seem difficult at first, you can divide your roof into 10 x 10 roofing squares, a standard unit of measurement used by roofers.

But first, some terminology you’ll need to know:

• Ridge – Where two sloped roof areas meet
• Valley – Where two sloped roof areas meet , often with a metal channel running along the fold
• Hip Roof – Type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls
• Hip End – The triangle shaped end of a hip roof

Related: Roofing 101: What Are the Different Parts of the Roof Called?

So What Is A Roofing Square

A roofing square is a measurement, but it has nothing to do with square feet, meters, yards, or miles. A roofing square is commonly used by roofing companies and is roughly equivalent to 100 square feet. This measurement does not change whether it is a square of shingles or a square of tarp. This is because roofing squares are used to make calculating the cost of materials and labor easier than if you had to use square feet or yards.

Also Check: How Much Shingle Roof Cost

How To Measure Your Total Roof Area

Length x width = square footage

In order to determine the amount of shingles you need for your roof, youll need to know the square footage of your roofs surface. Measurements for the area of the roof will depend on what roof type you may have, whether its a gable roof with fewer planes or a hip roof with more.

To find the square footage of your roof, measure the roof length and roof width of each plane, including overhangs, and multiply them together. Then, add up the square footage of each plane. This will give you the total square footage.

How Many Shingles Are In A Square

When the time comes to buy shingles for your roof, keep in mind that they are usually sold by the bundle. Each bundle is a wrapped package of shingles with such a weight as to be lifted easily by a person.

The most common is to have three bundles of shingles for a square of roof area. In other words, if you buy 3 bundles of shingles, this will cover one square which is 100 sq.ft of area.

The most usual case when buying standard shingles , there are 29 standard-sized shingles in each bundle.

Summary of the above:

1 Square of Roof = Covers 100 sq.ft area = Need 3 bundles of standard shingles

Don’t Miss: Repair Roof Trusses

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.

How Much Roofing Underlayment

Up till now, we were discussing how to measure roofing shingles for re-roofing. When talking about a new roof, the same amount of square footage is required for the underlayment.

You will find underlayment in rolls of four squares each. In order to determine how many rolls of underlayment you would need, you need to divide the number of squares for 2 planes by rolls of one square.

• Rolls of underlayment required: 280 sq. ÷ 4 = 70 rolls

If you are applying the shingles over an asphalt roof, then you dont need underlayment.

Pro Tip: In order to avoid any delays in installment due to shortage of shingles, add 10% to the total material requirement for trim allowance.

Also Check: Roofing Costs In California

A Roofing Calculator For Quick And Easy Measurements

First you have to measure each side of your house from the ground using a measuring tape. If you multiply the length by the width youll know the ground area of your house. Many times a house does not have a square or rectangular shape. If your house has an irregular shape, you have to divide the ground area in separate parts and figure their area. To know the total area of the house, simply add them together.

The second step is to convert the area of the house in roofing squares. Each 100 square feet of roof is one roof square. So you have to divide house area by 100. If your house area is 2000 square feet, the number of roofing square for the roof will be 20. In metric system, the house area will be approximately 186 square meters, because 1 meter is equal to 10.76 feet. The number of roofing squares for 186 sq. meters is also 20.

The next step is calculation of the roof pitch. Roofs have one of three pitches: low, medium or high. A low pitch rises 3 inches every 12 inches of base horizontal length. A medium pitch rises 6 to 9 inches every 12 inches of base horizontal length. A high pitch roof rises more than 9 inches for every 12 inches of base horizontal length. You can estimate the roof pitch by sight.

Roof pitch

Finally, to get the square roof area multiply the number of roofing squares for a low-pitch roof by 1.06 to 1.42 depinding of the roofs pitch. to get the square roof area.

Need A Rooferget 4 Free Quotes From Local Pros:

Enter Your Zip Code:

Below, there is a simple triangle, and the math used to work out how to make a proper measurement. Once you work through the basic triangle, we will review a typical roof, and how to apply some simple math to calculate how much material you will need for a roof used in our hypothetical example.

1 roof square = 100 square feet The length times the height of a triangle is twice its area . So if you divide your answer of a product of length times height by two, you will get the area of a triangle. /2 = Area

In Figure above: l=30 feet h=12 feet /2 = 180 square feet

Now that the basic concept has been covered, lets take a look at a more complex roofing system. In this overhead view you see both a hip-end section, and gable ends. With a more complex roof such is this one, it is highly recommended that you make a basic sketch. By doing so, it will be easier to mark your measurements, and calculate the necessary materials for the project. For this example we will break this roof up into sections labeled A through E.

In the figure B. above, a sketched portion is a basic triangle. As we did in the first example, measure the length of the eaves, and the vertical line from the eaves half way point to the peak. Multiply these numbers, and then divide the answer by two./2 = 270 square feet

S1 = /2 = 135 square feetS2 = 50 × 15 = 750 square feetS3 = /2 = 135 square feet

Also Check: Garage Roof Trusses

How To Calculate Number Of Roofing Shingles

Fortunately, you don’t have to make a haphazard shingle estimate when planning for your roofing project: your roof size and chosen shingle type will guide the purchase process.

Shingles are sold in prepackaged bundles, not individually. Roofing manufacturers take the guesswork out of how many bundles you need per squareit’s listed in the specifications of each shingle they make. The specs for any given shingle will tell you how many bundles make up a square, how many shingles are in a square, and even the approximate number of nails you’ll need per square.

Often, three bundles of prepackaged asphalt shingles make one square, as is the case with the Timberline® HDZ Shingles. That said, the number of bundles you need can vary depending on shingle design. For example, five bundles of architectural asphalt shingles with artisan-crafted shapes, such as the Grand Sequoia® Shingle, cover one square. Once you know the number of squares of material your roof needs, check the shingle manufacturer specifications so you get your hands on exactly what you need.

If you’re still deciding on the perfect shingle for your roof, play around with the GAF VirtualRemodeler. The free online tool helps you envision how different shingle colors and styles would work with your home’s style. Be sure to keep local building codes in mind as you weigh your shingle options..

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.

Read Also: Metal Roof Skylight

How Do You Calculate The Number Of Shingles For A Roof

To calculate the number of shingles youll need, youll need first to measure the square footage of your roof, which is covered above. Once you have the square footage, divide that number by 100. This will tell you how many roofing squares you have. If your roof is 4500 square feet, divide this number by 100 and youll get 45.

How Big Is A Square In Roofing

The calculations above will give you the total number of square feet of the roof area.

As you have noticed in the roofing industry however, the surface of the roof is being measured in squares. This refers to the roof area that measures approximately 100 square feet.

Therefore: 1 Square in Roofing = 100 square feet

Now, in order to determine how many squares are there on the gable roof for example, all you need to do is divide the total square footage by 100.

• Total square footage from Example 2 above: 28,000 sq. ft.
• Number of squares for 2 planes: 28,000 sq. ft. ÷ 100 = 280 squares

This means that both planes of the roof will require 280 squares of shingles. A three-tab shingle, which is most commonly used, is packed in 3 bundles per square.

Recommended Reading: How Often Should You Get Your Roof Replaced

Leading Manufacturer Of Composite Roof Tiles And Shingles

We hope that with the above information, weve answered your question What is a square in roofing? If you are considering synthetic roofing materials, Brava tiles give roofs an authentic look, unrivaled performance, and unmatched durability.

Lightweight, versatile, and long-lasting, our composite roofing products are a top choice for homes in all climates.

Enjoy the elegant appearance of traditional tiles combined with all the benefits of eco-friendly, recyclable, easy-to-install composite roofing.

To request a sample, call Brava Roof Tile at 844-290-4196 or fill out our contact form.

Experience the Brava Roof Tile DifferenceNo matter where you live, Brava Roof Tile will protect your property for a lifetime. Send me samples now!