“What is a roofing square?” and “How do you calculate a roofing square?” are two of the most common questions we get. This isn’t surprising. It is a term you will most likely come across as a homeowner during your interactions with your roofing contractor or supplier.
So, what exactly is a roofing square, and how do you calculate the number of squares your roof has? In this article, we will give detailed answers to these questions. You will also learn why getting accurate measurements is crucial.
What is a Roofing Square?
Would you believe us if we told you that a roofing square is not square feet or yards? Well, that’s the fact. A roofing square is a unit people use to represent 100 square feet. It makes the ordering and grouping of roofing materials seamless. So, when you hear your roofing supplier or contractor use it in a conversation, remember that it is just a term people use for calculating materials for roofing projects.
Some manufacturers have made free calculators available online. Hence, you can easily calculate the sum of roofing squares your roof has online. An alternative approach is to get a free quote from a reliable roofing company after they have assessed your roof. Or you could just do it yourself.
Measuring Roofing Squares
To estimate the number of roofing squares your roof has, you have to calculate the total square footage of your roof. With the measurement, you can determine your roof’s number of roofing squares in the four simple, practical steps we will highlight below:
Step 1: Make preparations
The first thing to do is ensure everything you need for the measurements and calculations is in order. Your list should include a measuring tape, notepad, pen or pencil, and a strong ladder. You may also need a partner to help keep your ladder steady and watch you while you carry out your mission on the roof. You also need to be very cautious while you are up on the roof to avoid slipping or damaging your roof.
Step 2: Take measurements
After preparations, the next step is to take measurements of the width and length of each roof plane. This includes the valleys, dormers, and every design detail that the roofing materials cover. Multiply the measurements of each plane (width x length) to get the area.
Step 3: Calculate total square footage
Add up the area of each plane, and the result is your roof’s overall square footage.
Step 4: Convert to roofing squares
Before you can get the value for the number of your roof’s roofing squares, you must first convert your answer from step 3 by dividing it by 100. For illustration, let’s assume you got 2,100 square feet as your answer in step three. This means that your roof has 21 roofing squares.
Remember that you need more information than the number of roofing squares when determining the amount of materials you need for a complete roof installation or replacement. Your roofing pitch is also significant as it influences the overall cost and amount of materials your roofing project needs. An increase in the pitch of your roof’s dimension indicates an increase in the amount of materials your roofer will need for an efficient job.
In addition, the presence of complex details like valleys and dormers on your roof will demand more technical materials to ensure such areas, which are sensitive, are protected from damage or leaks.
Using Your Home’s Square Footage to Determine Your Roof’s Square Footage
After learning the steps, do you think calculating the number of roofing squares your roof has is a lot of stress? You are probably thinking you can cheat your way out of it by using your home’s square footage to get the value for your roof’s square footage.
We hate to break it to you, but that may not be the best thing to do. You know why? Your home’s square footage is not equivalent to your roof’s square footage. The actual value may be very far from the number you get. We know the question that follows is, “Why can’t I use my home’s square footage to get my roof’s roofing square?” The following content below will answer your question.
Roof Pitch
The degree of your roof’s steepness is the roof pitch. Another term for it is roof slope. A roof’s angle influences the overall square footage. Hence, you have to factor it in with multipliers.
An increase in a roof’s steepness increases the total surface area of the complete roof or part of it. This suggests that a roof that has a steep pitch has square footage greater than that of a flat roof.
Roof Complexity
A roof’s complexity is about how your roof is designed. This includes the numerous parts, valleys, pitches, hips, dormers, gables, and the number of levels above the ground. All of these things are not featured in a home’s square footage. The more complex a roof is, the more the surface area increases. Hence, just like a roof’s pitch, it is factored in with multipliers.
The Overhang at the Eaves
The lower fringes of a roof are known as the roof eaves. People also refer to them as the gutter line. The eaves form an overhang that extends past the exterior walls of your building, increasing your roof’s square footage. When determining the interior square footage of your home, the overhang won’t be factored in. This means that this feature has minimal influence on the surface area of your roof.
Attics, Garages, and Other Undone Areas
Attics can influence a roof’s angle and height by increasing them. This, in turn, increases the roof’s total surface area. When determining your home’s square footage, your garage, attic, and other undone spaces are not considered. Notwithstanding, you still need to roof them if they have no story above them.
Multiple Tiers
The sum of roofing square numbers increases only with an increase in the roof’s total surface area. It is common knowledge that the roof only surrounds the upper story if you have a home with several stories. As a result, using the total square footage of your home when only the top story is covered is not an option. Suppose your home has a partitioned level; the roofs on individual levels will combine to make up the total roof surface area.
Conclusion
How does it feel getting to the end of this article? We bet you now understand what a roofing square is, why you can’t determine it with your home square footage, and how to calculate the total roofing squares your roof has. So, when going through details on pricing, you can easily get a rough estimate of how many roofing squares you need for your project.
However, although the amount of roofing squares you need greatly affects the roofing cost, you should pay attention to other factors. They are just as relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my roof square footage affect the cost of roofing?
Yes, it does. Your roof’s square footage influences the cost of your roofing project because it dictates the amount of labor, materials, and time required to wrap up the project successfully.
What is the formula for calculating a roof’s area?
To compute the area of your roof, all you have to do is multiply the height of your roof’s slope by your roof’s length. Next, multiply your answer by two, and you will get your roof’s total area. However, this does not include your chimney or other parts of your roof that tiles do not cover.
What does a square mean in roofing?
A roofing square or one square of roofing shingles refers to the quantity of material you need to cover 100 square feet of roof area. It is a term that is commonly used by manufacturers, suppliers, and roofing contractors to represent a roof’s size. For illustration, a roof of 1,500 square feet has 15 squares.
