Archive for the ‘Roofing Shingles’ Category

When purchasing roofing shingles, it is important that you are not only able to choose the best type but also get the proper measurements to make sure that you would be able to get enough materials for your roofing project. Shingles are generally sold in squares which equate to 100 square feet. To help you out in how to get the proper measurements of your roofing shingles, here is a guide on roofing shingles: how to measure them and determine the amount you need for any project.

1. Once you are on your roof, using a tape measure, get the length and the width of the space where you would be installing roof shingles.

2. You can then draw the outline of your roof and then highlight the area where you would be installing new shingles. You can calculate the square footage by multiplying the length and width of the area. If the area is not rectangular, try to divide it into sections which would allow you to measure its square footage easily. For triangular sections, you can measure their area by multiplying the two lengths which meet at the right angle and then dividing it by two. Estimate the number of shingles you would need for ridges and hips and then add all of your totals together. Although you would not be able to get the exact area where you need to install shingles, you would have a good estimate of how many roof shingle squares you need to order.

3. Make sure that you would be taking into account the additional shingles that you would need for obstacles on your roof such as walls or chimneys. Also give an allowance for cutting errors. A good rule of thumb to use to make sure that you would be covered in the event of any cutting errors and damages that may occur during installation would be to order another one percent if you would be using simple roof shingles and up to five percent if you would be using more elaborate roof shingles

Through following these steps, you should be able to make rough but fairly good estimates that would make sure you would be ordering enough roofing shingles for your project. If, at any point, you are unsure on how to go about it, keep in mind it would be advisable to ask for the help of a contractor or a roofing expert.