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May 10, 2020 · (30′ × 18′)/2 = 270 square feet. a Hip Roof split in half Fig. C. The easiest way to measure this section is to divide it up into three different sections: S1, S2, and S3. As you can see, S1 and S3 are the same size, but you still need to document all measurement points to verify your material calculation accuracy.
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- Taking Measurements from the Ground
- Diagramming Your Roof
- Estimating from the Ground
A simple guide to taking roof measurements and how to transfer them to a diagram
Measuring your roof is the first step in a successful re-roofing project. You can actually get an estimate of your roof's measurements from the ground if you'd rather not climb a ladder and get up on the roof yourself. Otherwise, you can climb up onto your roof to take more accurate measurements. Either way, we've got you covered! This article will walk you through each process step-by-step.
Measure the length, width, and pitch from the ground with a tape measure. Use a pitch multiplier and calculator to figure out square footage.
Get up on the roof to take and record precise measurements.
Find the length and width of the building’s exterior walls.
Stretch your tape measure along the walls from end to end in both directions. Record these measurements in your notebook. Along with the roof’s pitch, you’ll use these 2 dimensions to calculate the roof’s overall square footage.
Once you've measured the building’s walls, estimate the length of the overhangs on either side (if your roof has them). The easiest way to do this is to simply eyeball them and approximate how long each one is in feet. Add these figures to your recorded measurements to account for the additional area.
Estimating the area from ground level is less precise than measuring each side individually, but it can make a quick, easy, and safe alternative when redoing a square or rectangular roof. To measure an irregularly-shaped roof, you'll need to get on top.
Find a safe way onto the roof.
In order to be able to take precise measurements of your roof, you’ll need to actually be on it. If you have an interior window that provides roof access, use it to step out onto a secure section. Otherwise, it will be necessary to set up an extension ladder and climb onto the roof carefully.
Bring a tape measure, pen or pencil, and notebook or pad of paper with you. You’ll need these items to record your roof’s measurements.
Make sure your ladder is resting on a flat, stable patch of ground. If possible, have a helper hold it for you to stabilize it as you climb.
Measure each side of the main section of the roof.
Extend your tape measure along the outer edges of the roof to find its length and width in feet. For square or rectangular roofs, you’ll only need to record the length and width. For sloped sectional roofs, write down the dimensions of each individual plane.
Notebook or pad of paper
Roofing Contractor & Maintenance Professional
This article was co-authored by
David Bitan is a roofing professional, licensed contractor, and the owner and founder of Bumble Roofing based in Southern California. With over 12 years of construction industry experience, David specializes in restoring, repairing, and maintaining residential, commercial, and industrial roofs. With over 60 years of combined experience, Bumble Roofing provides easy, friendly services to structures including residential, commercial, industrial, multi-family, and government buildings along with hospitals, hotels, and churches. This article has been viewed 412,824 times.
Sep 9, 2024 · For example, a roof with 2,400 square feet is 24 roofing squares. That’s because 2,400 square feet divided by 100 square feet (the equivalent of one roof square) is 24. Keep in mind: a roof square isn’t exactly 100 square feet. It’s actually a measurement for the amount of roofing material for 100 square feet. It’s not necessarily the ...
Calculate Roof Squares. A roof square is a 10 x 10 area equal to 100 square feet of roof surface. To calculate: Multiply total roof square footage (Step 1) by the roof’s pitch factor (Step 2). Example: 2,134.0 ft² x 1.054 = 2,249.24 ft²; Divide total square footage by 100. Example: 2,249.24 ft² / 100 = 22.4924, or 22.5 roof squares
Jun 8, 2020 · In the sample below you will have 5 different calculations and that should match the number of sections you wrote down, when you started. Add all your measurements together to get your total square footage. Measure all your hips, valleys, ridges, eaves and rakes. Divide your square footage by 100 to get how many squares of roofing material you ...
Mar 23, 2021 · With these in hand, you can measure your roof in five simple steps. Determine the number of planes. Your roof is made up of planes. If you have a flat roof, it has one plane. If you have a simple gable roof, it has two planes. The more architectural details your roof has, the more planes you will have to measure. Measure each plane. Find the ...
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Jan 24, 2024 · The roof’s surface area is calculated in both square feet and square meters. You can get the dimensions of your roof sections by physically measuring the building, or you can get usefully accurate measurements from a satellite image like the picture above. For help with this, see our article on how to measure a roof with Google Earth. If you ...
