Calculate how many packs of shingles you need for a new roof. Estimating costs by the price of materials can be done with a shingle roof calculator.

How to Determine the Dimensions of a Roof

If you need to replace a roof, the first thing you should think about is the size of the old roof so that you can make an exact estimate of the materials needed for the job.

Roofing contractors often base their project estimates on the square footage of the roof being worked on. Roofs are measured in squares to determine their size. Consequently, the first step is to determine the size of the roof in terms of both squares and square footage.

Find the Area of the Footprint of the Roof

In order to establish the dimensions of a roof, you must first measure the roof as if it were level, then take into consideration the pitch of the roof, calculate the roof's square footage, and then figure the number of squares of material that are necessary for the roof.

All of this can be handled by a shingle roof calculator; you only need to input the length, breadth, and pitch, and it will figure out how many squares are required for the roof.

To begin, measure the length and breadth of the roof in feet while standing on the ground. Keep in mind that the length and breadth measurements are for the roof, not the home; thus, you must consider that the roof extends beyond the boundaries of the structure.

The next step is to calculate the area of the roof using the assumption that it is level. To calculate the roof area, multiply the length in feet by the width in feet.

>>Related post: How To Determine Your Home’s Roof Pitch

Finding the Total Roof Area

After determining the size of the roof's footprint, the next step is to consider the roof's pitch to arrive at the total roof area. After that, get the total area of the roof by multiplying the footprint of the roof by the multiplier that corresponds to the pitch of the roof.

How to Estimate Roofing Materials

Roofing projects are often calculated and sold by the square; however, roofing material is typically not supplied in increments of 1 square.

How Many Bundles of Shingles Will You Need

It takes three bundles of shingles to cover one square foot since one bundle of shingles covers 33.3 feet squared on average. The price of asphalt shingles may vary from around $25 per bundle for a regular type with three tabs to about $50–$75 or more for an improved architectural style.

You may anticipate different pricing in different locations due to transportation's significant role in overall costs. The average bundle of shingles weighs around 75 pounds, but certain luxury items might weigh more than 100 pounds each; therefore, transportation of materials should be considered.