How to Measure for Roof Shingles

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Draw an overhead view of your roof with lines where the different planes come together.

   Include all sides of the roof and all shingled sides of any dormers your roof may have. , This may be easier if you stow these items in a shoulder or hip pack while climbing and so that you have a place to put them down so that they will not slide off the roof., This may be easier if you have another person to help you, but most measuring tapes have a hook at the end that will catch on the edge of the roof shingles and allow you to stretch the tape across the rest of the plane.,,,,, This will help you visualize whether you have accounted for all of the planes of the roof.,, Shingles come in pre-cut sizes called "squares" and you can estimate how many you will need in this way by combining your knowledge of your roof's area and the area of the shingle "squares."
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   Step 2: Climb a ladder carrying a notepad

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   Step 3: a pencil and a measuring tape.

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   Step 4: Stretch the measuring tape across the length and width of each of the planes of the roof that you delineated in your drawing.

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   Step 5: Write down on the notepad the measurements that correspond with the different planes of the roof from your drawing.

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   Step 6: Climb back down to the ground when you have completed all of the measurements from all of the different planes of the roof.

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   Step 7: Write the measurements into the corresponding spaces on your drawing to make sure that you obtained all of the information that you need to begin calculations.

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   Step 8: Multiply the length times the width of each plane to find the area of each individual plane.

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   Step 9: Write the area of each plane in the middle of the corresponding plane in your drawing.

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    Step 10: Add together all the areas for the individual planes of the roof to find the cumulative area of the entire roof.

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    Step 11: Divide the cumulative area by 100 square feet (9.3 sq m) in order to find the number of "squares" of shingles that will be required to cover your roof.

Detailed Guide

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