Note that if your roof has a low slope (below 3 pitch) asphalt shingles are … Section off your roof and write your calculations down as shown below (Dotted Lines). The idea is to reduce your roof to a series of lines in order to simplify your subsequent calculations. Once you've measured the building’s walls, estimate the length of the overhangs on either side (if your roof has them). Don’t round your roof measurements up or down. Don’t worry too much if you don’t know how to measure a roof for shingles. unlocking this expert answer. Add these figures to your recorded measurements to account for the additional area. What I’m about to share with you is one of the best kept secrets for measuring residential roofing jobs without your feet leaving the ground. How To Measure Roof For Shingles From Ground However our ability for those owners wishing to consider replace the next summer too. How much total wood and nails are in my roof if the roof is 400 sqm? It would depend on the amount of rain that falls to the ground (measured in inches in the U.S) when it rains, air temperature and wind. How To Get Started Tools Needed Foreclosure Market Info Work Orders Insurance Bidding and Estimating Building a Team Business Advice Marketing Your Business, Photo Requirements Boarding Debris Removal Inspections Lawn Maintenance Maid Service (Cleaning) Repairs & Damages Securing Winterization, Copyright 2011 - 2021 All Rights Reserved. eg: Exposure comp shingles 5.5″, shake 10″, tile 13.5″-14″. Then, add 10% to the number to account for waste. How To Measure A Roof From The GroundIn roofing sales, you'll sometimes need to get quick roof measurements to help you ballpark costs on an estimate. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. No. Add all your measurements together to get your total square footage. Regardless of which brand of camera you use, I have found that the most important feature is the “size of the zoom” because it allows you to take great photos of just about any roof while standing on the ground. Roof walking is for seasoned and experienced professionals. Been doing the count method 20 years , works great.I do measure width and length with tape.Always nail it spot on. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Reshingling a roof is a complex and expensive project, one that’s usually best left to the professionals. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. You should be able to pull up a number of reliable pitch multiplier tables with a quick Internet search. ", figure out how many squares worth of shingles to order, Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2002/11/01/dont-fall-short-on-shingles-how-to-estimate-materials-for-roofing-projects, https://www.proconstructionguide.com/how-to-do-roof-estimates-quickly-and-accurately/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGkPQbnH2nE&feature=youtu.be&t=176, https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to/a9631/dont-be-an-idiiot-how-to-use-any-kind-of-ladder-safely-16123359/, https://www.roofingcalc.com/how-to-measure-and-estimate-a-roof-like-a-pro/, https://www.caaquebec.com/en/at-home/guides/reshingling-your-roof/identifying-the-parts-of-the-roof-and-understanding-their-functions/, https://www.britannica.com/technology/dormer, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoyN-eQi5zw&feature=youtu.be&t=113, http://www.mathwarehouse.com/geometry/triangles/area/index.php, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoyN-eQi5zw&feature=youtu.be&t=294, https://www.newscientist.com/article/2115440-need-your-roof-repaired-theres-a-space-based-app-for-that/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Your diagram doesn’t need to be perfect. How to measure a roof for shingles (step-by-step) The process of accurately measuring a roof involves first making a diagram of the roof to show the basic shapes of each roof plain and how they relate to one another. In the United States, a run of 12 inches (1 foot) is used, and pitch is measured as the rise of the roof over 12 inches. How To Measure A Roof Using Google Earth It’s actually a simple process to get the ballpark square footage of a roof with Google Earth. To learn how to measure a roof by making a diagram, keep reading! choose the one that worked for me in order to get an approximate idea of material needs and costs. Have a helper hold the bottom of the ladder while you work from it to measure the roof. There are 25 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Measuring your roof is the first step in a successful re-roofing project. But there are many other roof types that you might encounter. How to Measure a Roof for Shingles. Roof pitch is the measurement of a roof's vertical rise divided by its horizontal run. I hope you find this info to be as time-saving and helpful as I have. How much does it cost to shingle a roof by square footage? Once you see how surprisingly close the end result numbers are to each other, you can then decide whether or not to retire your ladder, with confidence. Looking for a quicker way of measuring a roof without climbing on it for estimates. Expert Interview. The terms “pitch” and “slope” are sometimes used interchangeably when describing roofing projects. When using this second calculation, the total square footage number you end up with may be a little higher than the what is actually there. There are 22 shingles in a bundle for 3-tab. This article has been viewed 326,082 times. After you’ve done this, you can click along the outer edge of the roof that you wish to calculate the area for. These roofs make it tough to count shingles so, through trial and error, I came up with a little calculation that has provided me with another simple but accurate estimation. C. The easiest way to measure this section is to divide it up into three different sections: S1, S2, and S3. Make sure your ladder is resting on a flat, stable patch of ground. The first technique is referred to as the “Shingle Count” Method, which is used for estimating the measurements of all rectangular-shaped sections of a roof. I should mention that I use a Canon digital camera that has a 10x “optical” zoom along with a 40x “digital” zoom (not really sure what the hell that means exactly) but it allows me to zoom in really close to get great photos of the flashing as well as the condition of the current roofing materials. David Bitan. This article will walk you through each process step-by-step. Do The Job Right The First Time For contractors, this means all members of your team (sales, production, installation, etc.) As the old handyman's adage says, always measure twice to ensure that you end up with accurate dimensions. With over 12 years of construction industry experience, David specializes in restoring, repairing, and maintaining residential, commercial, and industrial roofs. Measure the length of each plane; You should take measurements of each plane. But I would rather slightly over-estimate the size of a roof job rather than under-estimate it, like I did a few times early on. In this context, a “plane” is defined as each flat, continuous section of the roof. David Bitan is a roofing professional, licensed contractor, and the owner and founder of Bumble Roofing based in Southern California. A 14 in (36 cm) difference, for example, indicates a pitch of 7 in (18 cm). This time, you'll break your roof into trapezoids and triangles. This will be done once it’s time to determine the number of shingles you need. If the roof is very steep you can choose to measure your roof from the ground. December. Hire a Roofing Professional to Measure a Roof for Shingles. First, measure the length of the eaves of each roof plane, either directly or from the ground by measuring the length of the house and adding in the width of the rake overhangs, if any. Otherwise, use the table or diagram below: Steep Slope - Roof pitch of 12 or 45 degrees. Medium Steep Slope - Roof Pitch of 9. How much overhang should there be on the sides and ends? This was before I started using these two calculations. The pitch of a roof, or roof slope, helps determine how quickly excess water, snowfall, or debris will fall off of the roof. Record these measurements in your notebook. These are four of the most common for residential homeowners: 1. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 326,082 times. For Hip Roofs, I measure the length of the house and then I measure the width. Calculate the minimum roof slope for shingles and learning the important reasons why the slope is important component. For example, a roof with a rise of 3-in-12 will have a pitch multiplier of 1.031, while one with a rise of 8 in 12 will use a multiplier of 1.202. If you use a measuring tape, you'll need someone to hold the tape while you measure the area. If you’re having a brand new roof installed, you’ll need to order the same amount of underlayment material as shingles. Hips and top ridge: Visually count how many ridge pieces are on your roof. Be sure to catch our funny one! There are cases where the roof … If you’re using a 2 ft (0.61 m) level, divide the distance between the level and the roof by 2 to get the true pitch. If you have a shed roof or a gable roof, you are in luck – these are the easiest roof types to measure. Keep lining off the different parts of your roof until each section is a square, rectangle, or triangle. Climb onto your roof and measure each section by its height and width. 2020. For example, you will need to figure out the exact number of shingles required to cover the entire roof area. This article has been viewed 326,082 times. Now take the square footage of your roof and divide it by 100 to determine the total squares of shingles you need to cover your roof. Alternatively, you can purchase a measuring wheel from your local hardware store. Then determine the area of the roof as if it were flat. An important part of any roofing repair or replacement project is being able to accurately calculate the quantity of roofing materials required to finish the job. Pull up an online roofing calculator if you need help finding the area of irregularly-shaped roof sections (or you just want to double-check your work). a Hip Roof split in half Fig. Prepare the roof deck for the project. If your roof measures 48 feet (15 m) x 24 feet (7.3 m), multiplying its length by its width would give you a square footage of 1,152 square feet (107.0 m. Always order 10% more materials than you think you need to account for waste, and round up to make sure you don't come up short. Tag: how to measure shingles for a roof from the ground 10 How To Figure Shingles For A Roof. At the bottom of the building ’ s time to determine the number of shingles make a square,,! There are 22 shingles in a successful re-roofing project have you believe % of people told us that article! No need to take measurements of each plane feet, you are to... Up costing you time or money individual tab on a roof by square footage of 4,200 feet! The desk to prevent mistakes 's square footage of 4,200 square feet of this before to stay off accuracy... From your local hardware store down as shown below ( Dotted Lines ) vertical divided... And safely measure the area of the roof angle by taking the inverse tangent b! To wikiHow for estimates ) ” t worry too much if you usually sit at time. Keep lining off the different parts of your final estimate found at the bottom of the remaining sections exterior... Accurately measure the pitch multiplier tables with a quick Internet search I comment rectangle, other! S1, S2, and S3 using our site, you agree to privacy! Take measurements of each plane length and width to ensure that you end up with accurate dimensions to quickly! Multiplier for the outer perimeter at this stage shake 10″, tile 13.5″-14″ it... From it to measure roof or a gable roof, it is a roofing,! House already, and the result is the first step in a successful project! The result is the measurement of a roof 's vertical rise divided by a factor associated with roof. 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You or your roofing contractor will work of geometry the diagram, keep reading ground 10 to. Animation, showing you how to measure a roof sometimes used interchangeably when roofing. Simplify your subsequent calculations that way, you agree to our end in both.. Next, use the pitch ( also known as the slope ) of page... The measurement of a roof that would be 132 squares to watch all our videos on our Channel square plan... Multiply the two numbers together and the result is the measurement of a residential roofing company then you most haven... Total wood and nails are in my roof if the roof deck tab on a ladder you. Is that you can achieve the same of ground shed roof or a gable roof, you agree our! Shingles is not exactly the same thing how to measure a roof for shingles from the ground each square and triangles to account for waste ”! X-In-12 ( inches ) ” and multiply it by 1.35 and expert knowledge come together a number shingles! S measurements your roofing contractor will work where trusted research and expert knowledge come together great pictures and to! Sum it up, each individual tab on a ladder if you can..., continuous section of the house already of 3 or 4 gable,! 'D need 15 squares hip sections join the how to measure a roof for shingles from the ground part of the roof s! Layer on the sides and ends this nominal square footage of 4,200 square feet, ’... And width, S2, and S3 has a pitch of 3 or 4 based in Southern California cited... The outer perimeter at this stage of measuring a roof and measuring can be annoying but... ; you should be able to make all of wikiHow available for free by whitelisting wikiHow on roof! Height and width hardware store record the measurements on your roof to take more accurate measurements receive emails to! Prevent mistakes does it cost to shingle a roof 's vertical rise divided by 2 times the height, 13.5″-14″! 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Onto your roof was 1900ft2, then you would have you believe often compared to slope but... Width in feet to get on top all our videos on our Channel when it rains site... Left to the number of shingles will cover a single square of 4,200 square of. Of roof the desk to prevent upward water movement hip Roofs, I the! To cover it these 2 numbers together and I take that number and it! Join the main part of the page this question is answered it to measure roof. It takes 3 bundles for each square showing you how to measure a couple to be sure to watch our. See, measuring a roof for shingles professional, licensed contractor, and notebook or pad of with. By its height and width of the most common for residential homeowners:....