Are you attempting to gain as much knowledge as you can about your impending investment? If so, you’re probably hearing the word “square” quite a bit. Despite being commonplace in the roof business, consumers rarely hear it until far later in the purchasing phase.
A roofing square: what is it?
A roofing square is one hundred square meters, or 10 by 10 square feet, of roof surface. For instance, 20 squares is equivalent to 2,000 feet of roof space. The price of replacing the roof, particularly the quantity of materials, disposal fees, and all associated labour costs, is greatly influenced by the quantity of roof squares. However, the amount required per square depends on the kind of roofing supplies you select.
For instance, three bundles of asphalt shingles—roughly 22 shingles each bundle, based on the manufacturer—are needed to fill up one roofing square. Keystone Roofing in Vancouver notes that certain premium shingles, on the other hand, may require four to six bundles per square, depending on the company and the kind of shingles.
How can you figure out how many squares your roof contains?
The simplest way to know the actual quantity of roof tiles is through a survey by an expert contractor. Nonetheless, there are four easy ways to estimate how many squares your roof has. Although the computation will not be perfect, you can use the figure to estimate the total expense of a fresh roof.
Measure the dimensions of your house.
The first step is to multiply the length and width of your house to find the area it occupies. To achieve this, count how many steps you take on every side whilst you walk across the length as well as the width of your house. Let’s take three feet as our starting point because an individual of typical height walks with a stride that is between two and three feet. The dimensions of your house can be calculated by multiplying the number of strides by three. Lastly, to determine the area of your house, multiply the length by the breadth. Keep in mind that while it provides you with an approximate evaluation, it won’t be entirely exact.
Include the difficulty ratio and pitch.
The pitch (inclination) and complexity of your roof must be taken into account to determine the appropriate multiplier for your home’s footprint. Each roof is unique in design, so you’ll need to use your best judgment or consult a professional.
To help simplify this, I’ve divided common roof types into broad categories with corresponding multipliers. These will help you estimate the total roofing area.
| Roof Type Description | Pitch/Complexity Level | Suggested Multiplier |
| Flat or low slope, simple layout | Low | 1.1 – 1.2 |
| Standard gable roof with mild pitch | Moderate | 1.3 – 1.4 |
| Hip roof or gable roof with moderate pitch and few facets | Moderate to High | 1.5 – 1.6 |
| Complex roof (multiple dormers, valleys, steep pitch) | High | 1.7 – 1.9+ |
Example Calculation
If your home’s footprint is 2,000 square feet and your roof is a moderately complex gable roof with a standard pitch, you’d likely apply a multiplier of 1.4.
- 2,000 sq. ft. × 1.4 = 2,800 sq. ft. of total roof area
Then divide by 100 to convert the square footage into roofing squares:
- 2,800 ÷ 100 = 28 roofing squares
Determine the Roof’s Area
Once you’ve applied the appropriate multiplier, you’ve estimated the total surface area of your roof. This two-step calculation gives you a solid approximation of your roof’s size in square feet.
Calculate the Number of Roofing Squares
To get the number of roofing squares, simply divide the total roof area by 100:
- Total roof area ÷ 100 = Number of roofing squares
You can now use this number to begin estimating the cost of replacing your roof.
Note: Always round up. For example, if your calculation gives you 22.23 squares, round up to 23. This ensures you have enough material to cover your entire roof and reduces the risk of running short.
Is it possible to calculate the amount of floor space of your roof using the square footage of your house?
You might believe it’s too much labour and a headache after figuring out how to estimate the number of roofing tiles. I understand how tempting it is to avoid calculating the area required by using the square footage of your house. But the square footage of your roof is not the same as the square footage of your house. An already imprecise assessment becomes significantly less trustworthy if the figures are not even near.
Roof Pitch
The inclination (angle) of your roof is known as roof pitch, or roof slope. The overall square footage is affected by the degree of a roof or roof facet, so multipliers need to be used to account for it. The overall area of an angle or the roof as a whole rises with the steepness of the inclination. Therefore, even if the square footage of the individual homes is equal, a roofing system with an elevated pitch has a lot more space than a roof that is flat.
Complexity of Roofs
The way your roof is divided up—including its many aspects, various pitches, hips, canyons, gables, dormers, plus the number of storeys above ground—is known as roof complexity. The square footage of a house does not consider these design components. The higher a roof’s level of complexity, the greater its surface space. For this reason, it is also factored into the multiplier, much like roof pitch.
Overhanging eaves
Eaves, also known as the gutter range, are the lowest borders of a roof. This results in an extension that extends past the outer walls of your house, increasing the square area of the roof. Your home’s internal area will not include the exterior overhanging.
Several stories
Only when the overall roof surface area grows does the overall amount of roofing squares rise. As everyone knows, if your house is a multilevel structure, a roof only protects the higher stories. Therefore, if the roof just covers the top floor, you cannot use the entire area of your house. The entire roof area of the surface would be the sum of the roofs on every floor, regardless of how your house is split.