If you’re about to start the roof replacement process, you’re probably doing a lot of research. While researching, you’re probably seeing a lot of terms and roofing lingo that you’ve never heard of before.
We understand trying to learn all the roofing terms can be overwhelming. Especially when it comes to the key words that you need to understand when going over the estimate for your new roof.
One of these important terms is “roof square''. But what is it, and why do you need to know it?
We here at Bill Ragan Roofing want every homeowner to have all the knowledge needed to truly understand their roof investment. That’s why we’re going to break down a key term in the roofing industry, a roofing square.
By the end of this article, you’ll learn what a roofing square is and how to measure the square footage of your roof so you’re able to get an idea of how much you’ll have to pay for a new roof.
A lot of different factors determine the cost of your new roof. One of the biggest factors is the size of your roof that’s calculated by a measurement called a “roofing square”.
A roofing square is a 10x10 area that’s equal to 100 square feet of roof surface. The amount of roof squares determines how much roofing materials and labor it takes to replace your roof.
The more squares your roof has, the more your roof replacement costs. Usually, it takes about 3 bundles of roofing materials (asphalt shingles) to fill a roofing square.
But it ultimately depends on what type of roofing material you choose for your roof replacement. Some homeowners get confused by the term “roof square” and like to see the cost broken down by square footage.
If this sounds like you, all you have to do is take the cost per square and divide it by 100. For example, if the cost of your roof is $600 per square, that comes out to $6.00 per square foot.
If there’s any confusion about the terms you see on your roof estimate, don’t hesitate to ask the roofing contractor to explain them until you fully understand.
You just learned what a roofing square is. The number of roof squares has a huge impact on the cost factors, such as the amount of materials used, labor, and time.
Before investing in a new roof, wouldn’t it be great to know how much it’ll cost per square?
If you answered yes, we have a great way to roughly calculate your roof’s square footage to give you an idea of the cost of your new roof. 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.
If you use the square footage of your home, you’ll only get a vague idea of what the square footage of your roof is. That’s why you have to figure out your home’s footprint.
A person of average height will have a stride somewhere between 2 to 2.5 feet. To figure out your home’s footprint, you can step off (you can also use a measuring tape) the dimensions of your roof by counting the steps you take to get the length of your home. You will then step off the width of your home.
After stepping off the length and width of your home, you’ll multiply the two numbers to get your home’s footprint.
Length x width = your home's footprint
Your calculations are going to be off, but measuring this way can give you a basic idea of your home’s footprint. Keep in mind, square footage of a house does not equal the square footage of a roof.
You have to keep in mind the makeup of your roof when doing the calculation for the square footage. The steepness and complexity will change the number you multiply the footprint of your home by.
For example:
For an easy up-and-over, walkable gable roof, you’ll multiply the footprint of the roof by 1.3 to get the square footage of your roof.
For a hip roof with a low slope, you'll multiply the footprint of the roof by 1.4 to get the square footage of your roof.
For a steep and complex roof, you'll multiply the footprint of the roof by 1.6 to get the square footage of your roof.
After considering the slope and complexity of your roof, you’re ready to learn how to calculate the square footage of your roof.
To get a rough estimate for your roof’s square footage, you’ll use this equation:
(length of home) x (width of home) = (footprint of your home)
(footprint of your home) x (slope and complexity) = (square feet of roof area)
For example, if you have an easy up and over, walkable gable roof and a house that measures 56 feet lengthwise and 28 feet widthwise, your calculation will look like this:
56' (length) x 28' (width) = 1,568’ (footprint of your home)
1,568’ x 1.3 (for an easy up and over, walkable gable roof) = 2,038 (square feet of roof area)
Using this equation won’t be 100% accurate, but knowing your roof’s square footage is a great jumping-off point to learn how much you’ll have to invest in your replacement. After getting your roof’s rough square footage, put that number in our free Roofing Calculator to get an idea on the cost of your new roof.
Now you know how to roughly calculate your roof’s square footage. And don’t forget to plug that number into our roof calculator to get a rough estimate for your roof replacement.
Remember, the number of squares your roof has is one of the biggest cost factors for your replacement. But to truly understand what goes into the size of your investment, you need to know the other important factors that impact the cost of your new roof.
Because a roof replacement is such a sizable investment, we want every homeowner to understand what exactly factors into the final cost. That’s why we wrote another article breaking down the 9 factors that impact the cost of your new roof.
Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has proudly helped homeowners in Nashville and surrounding areas with all of their roofing needs. Giving you a positive and educational experience during a stressful time is our main goal. Even if you decide we’re not the right fit, at least you’ll have the knowledge needed to make the right decisions.
Check out this article on 9 Factors That Impact the Cost of Your New Roof to learn how a roofing contractor comes up with the final number for your replacement estimate.