Even if you do not want to hire a professional, you may want to know how many shingles you would need for your roof. That is not just for convenience but also to avoid overspending and save money altogether. There are a few ways to calculate how many roofing shingles they will need, and by using these methods, an individual can determine the number of shingles they might need without having to purchase anything at all. The information provided in this blog post will allow individuals to make a smarter decision when it is time to repair their roofs or purchase new ones.
The pitch of your roof
The roof’s pitch is also important when determining how many roofing shingles you need. The steeper your roof, the more shingles you will need. If your roof is between a six and 12-degree pitch, you will need 16 to 20 square feet per 100 feet. If you have a 10 to 30-degree pitch, that number goes up to 28 to 40 square feet per 100 feet of roof. A 0 to 6-degree pitch requires around 30 square feet per 100 feet of roof.
A standard roof with a slope of 11.25 degrees needs 44 square feet of shingle fabric (39 square feet of half-inch plywood) per 100 linear feet of roof, so at a 180-foot length, you would need 111 square yards (189.2 square meters) total material. If you want to cover the roof with a different shingle thickness, for example, 3/4 inch (19 mm) instead of 1-inch (25 mm), you need to multiply the square yards by 0.735.
Determine your shingle type
If you have hip and ridge caps, you will need to add the length and width of each ridge cap and the length and width of the hip; then add them together for a total number. If your roof has only hips and no ridges, use the hip measurement instead of adding the hip and ridge cap measurements.
If installing architectural shingles, count every four rows as one square foot. Because of overlapping shingles along rooflines, chimneys, or other roof protrusions, you may have slightly more shingles than your square footage calls for. Therefore, your choice of material should also be a factor in determining how many shingles you need to buy. If you are replacing your old roof with slate or composite shingles, then you may only have to buy around 100 squares of shingles. Asphalt roofing shingles, on the other hand, need more. You need around 120 squares of asphalt shingles if the new roof is 8 times; 10 feet and under; 180 squares for 8 times;12 feet roof, and 240 squares for 8 times; 16 feet roof. Remember to estimate for multiple layers of shingles! Apart from that, when you look at the Technonicol site, you will realize that there are other kinds of roofing shingles that you can consider and they vary in size.
Calculate the Number of Shingle Felt Rows
Shingles are laid out with felt between each row to prevent water from leaking. The number of rows is determined by using the length of your roof multiplied by either 6 or 8. For example, if you have a roof measuring 10 feet long, multiply that number by 5 or 8; you will have enough felt to lay out five rows on your roof. If you have a roof measuring 15 feet long, multiply that number by 6 or 8; enough felt will be required for 6 or 8 rows, respectively.
Determine the Size of Your First Row of Shingles
The first row of roofing shingles is usually ordered differently than the rest. That accounts for the fact that you will start the rows at an angle called a starter strip. A standard starter strip is 2 inches longer than your roof. However, if your roof has a hip or ridge, you should add 3 or 6 inches to your measurement (again). That is because an extra 3 or 6 inches will be added to the first row to make installation easier. For example, if your roof measures 16 feet long, you will need a starter strip that is 20 or 18 inches long. If your roof measures 26 feet long, a 30 or 24-inch starter strip will be needed.
To calculate how many roofing shingles are needed for the first row of shingles, you will need to determine the size of each shingle. If you are using asphalt shingles, this number is 5 inches; if you are using fiberglass, it is 5 1/2 inches. To cover the length of your roof plus the starter strip, you will need to multiply the size of each shingle times how that size covers many rows. So, if you are using an asphalt shingle and covering 12 rows, you will need 60 inches of length; if you use a fiberglass shingle and covering 14 rows, add 3 inches to your measurement.
Calculate the Number of Shingles Needed for Ridges
Ridges are covered with different shingles than the rest of your roof. That is because it is impossible to lay out so many shingles on a ridge without overlapping them due to their shape. The general rule is that 10% more shingles are needed for the ridge than for the rest of the roof. For example, if you have a gable roof that measures 16 feet long, you will need to buy 1.6 times as many shingles as if you were to cover the roof without a ridge. If a hip roof measures 18 feet long, then two times as many shingles will be necessary.
Calculate the Number of Shingles Needed for the Valleys
The valleys in your roof will also take up more shingles than those on the rest of your roof. For a standard roof, you will require 50% more shingles for the valleys. So, for a roof that measures 16 feet long, you will need 1.3 times as many shingles. If it is a 20-foot-long gable roof, then 1.6 times as many shingles will be needed; and if it is a 26-foot-long hip roof, then two times as many shingles are necessary.
Add Extra Shingles to Cover the Ice and Water Shield
If you plan to lay an ice and water shield down before installing your roofing shingles, add 1/4 inch for every row covered. For example, if you have 12-row roof measuring 16 feet long, you will need an extra 6 inches for the ice and water shield; if it is a 20-foot-long gable roof, then add 9 inches; and if it is a 26-foot hip roof then add 12 inches.
When remodeling your home and have realized that you need a new roof, then it is time to decide just how many shingles you need. When it is time to purchase shingles for your home, you will need to know how many shingles will fit on your roof. You do not want to make the costly mistake of overestimating and buying too many. And if you underestimate, you may have a leaky roof due to insufficient coverage from the shingles. You should also be careful in regards to calculating how many roofing shingles you need as this will solely determine the amount of weight on your house and how sturdy the new roof will be.
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