How is roofing measured?
If you want to accurately estimate roofing materials or bid on a contract, precise roof measurements will be crucial. To measure every square foot on a roof is time-consuming.
You can instead reduce the measurement process to just a few steps with an easy to follow chart. Begin by recording all dimensions, including those of any dormers.
Pitch
The roof pitch is a proportion of the vertical height to the horizontal length. The slope of a roof will dictate the construction materials that are used. Different roofing materials demand different levels of slope.
To measure the pitch on a roof, you can use a measuring tape and a straight edge. Then, place the level on an rafter that is near the roof of the building. Place the tape measuring device on the roof. Read the number of inches vertical for every 12 horizontal inches. Roofs that have a 6-in-12 slope will rise six inches for every twelve inches of run.
To calculate the square footage, multiplying the horizontal area of the roof by a correction factor is a good way to start. First, find the roof's slope by multiplying the horizontal surface area by the corrective factor. (This is provided in the following table.) Then, add this figure with the height and the width you took from the roof itself in order to determine the total size roof needed for your job.
Length
No matter if you are purchasing shingles to cover a new house or re-roofing the existing one, it is important that you take accurate measurements. Google Earth allows users to view the house from above and estimate the area of the roofing. The only problem is that this method is based purely on geometry, which is not as accurate as on-the roof measurements. Moreover, roof surfaces are usually measured by "squares," not square feet. This depends on which type of shingles the buyer is buying.
Start by measuring the length, width, and height of each plane. Multiplying the numbers will give you a total square footage per plane. Add together the square footages for each plane to calculate the total square footage. Take the measurement as accurately as possible and write it down on a sheet of paper.
Width
Unless your roofing is flat and has no protrusions, you need to consider multiple dimensions when measuring. This is crucial for estimating cost, material needs, and time of installation.
To accurately measure the roof, you need a reliable and accurate measuring tape, or a computerized measurement device. You can use this to measure each plane of your roof including any dormers. Once these figures are known, you multiply them together in order to calculate the square footage.
A rough sketch of your roof is a good way to start any measurements. It does not need to be drawn at scale, but the diagram should be enough to identify each plane when taking measurements. It is important to record every measurement as you can get your calculations wrong if you round them up or lower before adding and multiplying.
Height
If you're able to mount the roof safely, use an industrial tape that has a longer length for a reading of the highest point. Next, measure along the eave from the top of the roof to get the width measurement for calculating area.
The simple formula you can use to measure flat roofs from the floor will also work. You can calculate the area of a roof by multiplying the length and the width. You can use the same formula to estimate the square footage of triangular sections.
It is a good idea, if you can't install the roof, to create an overhead sketch that frames your home to be measured. You'll save time and have accurate measurements for the supplier of your new roofing. You can also compare the prices of different materials. The shingles will be sold in bundles. Therefore, you need to determine the number "squares", which you will require for your roof.
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If you want to accurately estimate roofing materials or bid on a contract, precise roof measurements will be crucial. To measure every square foot on a roof is time-consuming. You can instead reduce the measurement process to just a few steps with an easy to follow chart. Begin by recording all dimensions, including those of…