Estimating roofs is a complicated task. But if you are careful and know your way around a roof and do the required research on all the different kinds of roofing requirements there are, you can nail the job in the best way possible. Knowing how to estimate roofing materials and eliminating waste space is important. Let’s look at the steps:

Measuring the roof:

The first thing to do is to measure the roof. Roofing is measured in squares. Measuring the length and breadth of each portion of the roof and accounting for each square footage will help you determine the overall area that is required to be estimated. The key is to be accurate otherwise you could fall short or could overestimate which could result in thousands of dollars of over-expenditure. The best way to measure the roof is to measure the width and breadth of each panel and then add it all together to determine the total square footage.

Finding the number of squares:

Once you are able to estimate the entire square footage of the roof, it is important to find the number of squares present on the roof. A quick solution to this problem is to calculate the total square footage and divide it by 100. That would give you the total number of squares present on the roof.

Determining the shingle requirement:

Roofs are composed of shingles and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as the material used. Since the total number of squares on the roof has been calculated already, the shingle requirement can also be determined. A typical square can be covered with three bundles of shingles. 3-tab shingles are the most common ones used for such a project.

Determining waste:

Since a lot of roofs are slanted instead of being flat, there is always accounting for waste and in order to save costs, you can add at least 10 percent to the shingle estimate. If the roof you are inspecting happens to have hips and valleys, you can increase this percentage according to the customization you observe while estimating.

Estimating other materials:

Apart from the surface of the roof, you also need to estimate for roof overhangs as well as the drip edge that goes beneath the underlayment and prevents the edges of the roof from rotting. Since the process of roofing requires a construction worker to assemble and attach various parts of the roof together, estimating roofing requirements will also need to incorporate nails, bolts, and other materials used in the project. Enquiring the cost of these materials at a hardware store would help in estimating the overall amount accurately.

Estimating miscellaneous cost:

Depending on the type of roof you are estimating, several miscellaneous costs might come into play. Most properties have a venting system present on the roof and its cost will also be included in the estimation. Additionally, if there are ice/water shields to prevent leakages and water from seeping in, they must be taken into account as well. The total estimation would also include delivery charges of all the materials that are required for the roofing project.

Taking all these points into consideration, you can easily estimate roofing requirements and prove to do a great job while accurately estimating the amount that would be required.