How To Figure Roofing Squares

The first step in a free roofing estimate is measuring the roof dimensions.

How to figure roofing squares.

The calculator cannot account for complex shapes based on a measurement of square footage alone. Because each 100 square feet of roof is one roofing square divide the total area from step 1 by 100. Keep in mind that the average size of a roof is 1 700 square feet so your total will likely be 10 higher or lower than this figure. Get the square footage of roof and divide it by 100 and it will give the number of squares you need and for every decimal number over 3 buy a bundle to achieve the amount of material.

A roof s pitch is determined by how much it rises vertically for every foot it runs horizontally. The answer is the number of roofing squares for the roof. This method is considered the most accurate but you will need to get onto your roof to complete it. Shingles and other roofing materials such as underlayment are typically measured in squares that are 10 feet long and 10 feet wide with each square measuring 100 square feet.

To calculate the number of squares or bundles you need you should consider using the measurement method. Thus a moderate 6 in 12 roof pitch means that the roof rises 6 inches vertically for every 12 horizontal inches it runs. 1square of roofing covers 100 square feet of roof a bundle is 1 3 of a square. Since it takes 3 bundles of shingles to cover a square plan to purchase 3 bundles for each square.

Then add 10 to the number to account for waste. In cases where a roof has a complex shape such as in the image to the right measuring the dimensions and areas of each part of the roof to calculate total area will result in a more accurate measurement of area. Convert the area to roofing squares. To estimate roofing materials start by finding the total square footage of the roof and divide the number by 100 to determine the number of squares in the roof.

Before you do any roofing work you must calculate the roof s square footage to determine how much material you need.