Roofing Square Conversion Calculator
If you have read it till now, you will know that converting square feet to roofing squares is fairly straightforward. You will just have to divide the area of your roof, which is measured in square feet by 100.
For instance, if your roof is 1600 square feet, then you will have,
1600/100 = 16 Squares.
Note that the calculation is not as simple as this. Why? Because every roof shape and style is different.
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 has 16 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 691,565 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 Big Is A Square In Roofing Measuring For Shingles
Planning to find out how much a new roof would cost you and you need to measure your roofs area or find out how big is a square of shingles? Well then, you have come to the right place.
Installing a new roof on your own is never a good idea. Yes, replacing a few shingles here and there on your existing roof is quite easy but since this is such a huge investment, it is better to call a professional roofer.
If you are a DIYer though and want to start such a project, then read on as we provide some very useful tips.
In order for your roofing project to be successful, you need to invest in both your money and time. It is completely understandable that you would want to find out how much a roof costs.
We would like to warn you beforehand that roofing estimations can be quite difficult to decipher, which is why we are going to be straightforward.
how to measure for roofing shingles
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Calculate The Complex Roof Areas
Most roofs in Canada would be considered on the complex side. Multiple adjacent pitches, dormers, and turrets are common. Keep in mind that an experienced metal roofing contractor will need to factor in extended labour time for areas of your roof that will require precision metalworking skills.
Start by finding the footprint area and multiply by the correct slope factor determined by pitch . In Figure 4 below, the dashed blue lines give a simplified view of the footprint. Multiply L x W to calculate the area for each rectangular section. Note the area of 77ft2 that needs to be subtracted for the recessed area.
Once the footprint including overhang areas have been determined for each area, find the appropriate slope or pitch factor in the chart below. For example, a roof area with an 8/12 pitch has a slope factor of 1.202 so 2053ft2 x 1.202 = 2468ft2 total roof area.
A Note about complex roofs: Complex roofs need more accessories and trims thaneasy roofs resulting in a slightly higher total cost/square foot.
Figure 4. Calculating Complex Roof Area
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.
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Roofing Square: How Its Calculated And More
Can there be anything more exciting than building your own property? There are so many things that go into building your establishment, be it commercial or residential.
You have to think of the location, the layout, the size and measurement of the rooms, and so much more. The type of roofing you will opt for is another important aspect to take into account. While all of this sounds exciting, it can be equally tedious.
When you leave it to a contractor to choose a roof type for your home, or to replace the roof in your home, you may come across them using the following term, roofing square to describe the size of your roof.
No matter how good you are at math, you may have found that your calculations in terms of how much roofing supplies are required to put up the roofing system in your home are entirely different from what the roofing contractors you hired calculate them.
When it comes to building roofs, there are two important aspects to keep in mind:
- Roof measurements
- Roofing materials estimation
The one word that commonly gets thrown around in the world of roofing construction is roofing squares. Lets look more into what a roofing square is and why and how it matters in evaluating the shingles or roofing materials you will require in the following sections.
Ready To Raise The Roof
Now that you have an idea of what to expect, gathering and evaluating roofing estimates will be much less overwhelming. But even with this background knowledge, dont be shy about asking your roofing candidates any questions you haveno matter how nitty gritty. Roof repairs arent cheap, so clarify anything youre unsure of before you sign on that dotted line.
Eager to get your feet back on the ground? Check out our DIY section for projects you can safely handle yourself.
Also Check: How To Hire A Roofer What Questions To Ask
How To Measure Your Roofs Square Footage
The square footage of your roof has a huge impact on the cost of your replacement. It affects a number of cost factors, including the amount of materials used, labor, and time.
Be aware, the only way to get a 100 percent accurate measurement is to have a local roofing contractor come out to professionally measure your roof and give you a quote. However, I can give you the calculations to get a rough measurement of your homes square footage.
Figure Out The Area Of The Shed Plus The Overhangs
Determine the squre footage of the shed foot print by measuring the length and width of the shed including the overhangs. For example, if you have a simple 12 foot by 16 foot shed you add the overhangs to those dimensions. If the overhangs are 1′-0″ then you have 2′ extra each dimension. 14′ x 18′ = 252 sf. flat.
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Why Use The Term Roofing Square
Now, there are two major advantages with this kind of calculation:
1. You will get a clear idea of the quantity of material for covering 100 square feet of roof area for the building you are gonna build or the roof you are going to remodel for whatever reason.
2. Basically, a roofing square is a unit and in the roofing world all contractors, constructors, manufacturers, suppliers-basically every roof professional or expert involved in taking care of the roofing needs of a house use this term roofing square, 1 roofing square. What they mean by this is 100 square feet.
So, no matter what material goes into the roof construction, we have a basic unit to denote the quantity of roofing substance needed to install the roof of your property.
A basic standard always comes in handy when you think about materials for roofing and the cost, and this is something that is understood by pretty much everyone in the industry.
No matter the substance used, layout, roofing type, and shape, when there is a standardized unit of measurement in place, it just makes understanding your roofing requirements so much easier. So, whether you are going with Flat roofs, Gable roofs, Mansard, Shed, or Gambrel roofs, each has its own set of dimensions. So, no matter which roofing type you go with, a standard unit will make computing the quantity of material and cost required so much easier.
How Do I Measure A Steep Roof
Most roofers wont go on a roof with an 8/12 roof pitch or greater with special equipment such as scaffolding and roof jacks and neither should you. Instead, use one of the four methods described above that allow you to measure the roof while standing safely on the ground or from the comfort of your computer.
While these methods may not be quite as accurate as taking actual measurements from the rooftop, theyre close enough for calculating how many shingles youll need to purchase for a new roof.
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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 2100 square feet.
Factors That Determine The Cost Of A Roofing Square
Roof pricing is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
- Your homes geographic location
- Your roofs size
- Roofing material
- Material quality
- Current market for roofing materials
- Length of warranty after the replacement
- The contractors experience level and certifications
- How quickly you need the roof replaced
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Varying Roof Styles Make The Term Roofing Square More Common
Another reason that you cant always divide square footage by 100 to get the number of square is because every roof shape and style is different
For example, measuring a gable roof is fairly straightforward, but measuring a gambrel or mansard style roof can be a bit more complicated. Waste becomes a major factor when measuring more intricate roofing types like mansard and hipped roofs. Waste happens when shingles need to be cut to fit tight spaces . They are not always nailed in even rows along the roof deck.
With more complex roof types, you quickly realize that not every square foot of measurement is created equal! Overall, the phrase roof square helps bridge the gap for projects both simple and complex.
As long as you have an experienced roofing contractor to work with, you can breathe easy knowing that at the end of the day, the correct amount of materials will get delivered and that your roof installation will go 100% according to plan! You can skip the hassle of measuring your roof, ordering materials, and DIYing the project by hiring Roof Hub. Our guarantees, time-tested processes, and 50 year warranty are just a few of many reasons hundreds of homeowners have trusted us with their #1 asset. If youd like to get started on a roof estimate, click here.
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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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.
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.
Get Free Project Estimates
Find Qualified Roofing Professionals in Your Area
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Headlap 1 Square Isnt Always Exactly 100 Square Feet
If youre hiring a qualified contractor for your project, then you dont need to worry about this, but if youre replacing your own roof you need to understand headlap!
Earlier we mentioned that a roofing square is equal to 100 square feet. While true in most cases, this calculation does not consider headlap.
What is headlap? Headlap is the overlap of a row of shingles on top of the next row, which helps protect against water penetration. Because of headlap, a square of roofing shingles never really equals exactly 100 square feet of roofing when you line all the materials up.
Put plainly as possible: one square of roofing is not 100 square feet exactly, but is enough to cover 100 square feet of roofing area. The materials themselves may, and often are, more than 100 square feet in total.
What Roof Pitch Is 30 Degrees
7/12 roof pitchthat for ever 12 of horizontal distance the roof will increase in height by 7
| Conversions Table | |
|---|---|
| 10 Square Feet to Roofing Squares = 0.1 | 800 Square Feet to Roofing Squares = 8 |
| 20 Square Feet to Roofing Squares = 0.2 | 900 Square Feet to Roofing Squares = 9 |
| 30 Square Feet to Roofing Squares = 0.3 | 1,000 Square Feet to Roofing Squares = 10 |
How many bundles of shingles do I need for a 2000 square foot house?
60 bundles
Whats a normal pitch roof?
between 4/12 and 9/12
Is a 4/12 roof pitch good?
most commonly considered the lowest slope for standard shingle installations
What is a 9/12 roof pitch?
rises 9 in a length of 12
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Final Thoughts On Measuring Your Roof
If youre looking for a simple ballpark estimate of your roofing materials needs, Google Earth really does a great job of quickly allowing you to measure the square footage youll need to cover. While its technology sure is surreal, it has drawbacks in its ability to precisely measure distances represented in 3D. Therefore, it can be helpful to gauge estimates of your materials costs by measuring from the ground and on top of your structure. As always, if youre feeling confused, dont hesitate to get in touch with a local roofing contractor to help you out. Many will provide estimates for free. Simply ask how many squares of material they estimate youll need, and compare that to the results you got from using any of the methods we outlined above.
How To Calculate Square Footage Of Roof For Shingles
The most precise way to calculate the square footage of the roof for shingles is by taking exact measurements. This is also one of the riskier methods, as it involves you climbing up on the roof with a tape measure and physically measuring each plane of the roof. If the roof is 8/12 or steeper, do not attempt this method!
Once on the roof, use a tape measure to take measurements of the length and width of each plane of the roof. Multiply the length and width of the roof to get a measurement of each planes total area. For example, a roof with a single plane that is 50 feet long by 30 feet wide has a total square footage of 1,500 square feet.
For roofs with two roof planes, such as a gable roof, add up the areas of each plane to get the total square footage of the roof. For example, a roof with two sides that are each 30 by 50 square feet would have the total square footage of 3,000 square feet.
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How Big Is A Square Of Shingles
If you are just starting out in roofing and construction, or youre undertaking a DIY roofing project on your home, then youll need to get to grips with the jargon and specialist units of measurement used in this industry.
One term you may have come across already is the common measurement of squares. This is a widely used term to describe how big a roof is and calculate how many shingles you will need to cover the roof. A roofer might refer to this as a roofing square, a square of shingles, or simply a square. Here, we explain the basics of roofing squares, why they are used, and how to calculate a square.
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