How to measure the roof area? Total amount spent on roof shingles prices has gone up in the last few years as the price of crude has gone up.
To measure the roof area finds out the floor area of your home by measuring the outer edges of your home.
Now add the roof overhang to your floor area to get an approximate roof area.
If your roof has a slope then this will add to the roofing area.
Depending on the pitch of the roof or slope of the roof multiply it by a slope factor to get roof area.
For instance for some standard pitches like 4 / 12 the slope factor is 1.
06, for 6 / 12 the slope factor is 1.
12 and for 12 in 12 the factor is 1.
41.
How many bundles should I order for a certain roofing area? It takes approximately 3 bundles of standard 3-tab shingles (the cheapest) to cover 100 square feet of roofing area.
Heavier shingles are packed less to a bundle and hence you will need more bundles to cover the same area.
A bundle is packaged in such a way than any person can lift easily.
Wastage: You have to factor in extra roofing shingles for wastage.
Poor quality shingles break and damage easily hence you will need to factor extra for wastage.
Also, a less experienced contractor will waste more than an experienced roofer.
Complexities: The more number of complexities in your roof like valleys, hips, ridges, chimneys, skylights, dormers and other features the more shingles you need.
You need these extra shingles to place over ridges, valleys and around chimneys etc to seal them off properly.
Shingles will be cut to fit to size around these places.
Some of the bigger cut-off can be used but smaller shingles will go waste.
How many quotes should I get for my roofing job? When and how should I make the payments to the roofing contractor? Get as many quotes as possible but three is the absolute minimum.
Read the fine print to know what are included and what are not.
Get your roofing contract in writing and don't let any work to start before all the details are finalized and put in writing and signed off by both parties.
Here is a list of things that you should include in your contract - tear off - removing old shingles, clearing of the debris from the yard, metal roof edging, felt paper backing, flashing, roof shingles and labor costs for all installations should be included clearly in the contract.
Get samples of shingles that will be laid on your roof and inspect it carefully.
If you are particular about a color include it in your contract.
Before finalizing your contract get all the references you can get and go with the contractor with the best feedback and with whom you are most comfortable.
Small price differences are not worth the trouble of getting a bad quality job done by substandard contractors.
Remember bad installations can seriously reduce the life-span of your roof shingles.
Ask for the warranties on the shingles and the work done before making the final payment.
To measure the roof area finds out the floor area of your home by measuring the outer edges of your home.
Now add the roof overhang to your floor area to get an approximate roof area.
If your roof has a slope then this will add to the roofing area.
Depending on the pitch of the roof or slope of the roof multiply it by a slope factor to get roof area.
For instance for some standard pitches like 4 / 12 the slope factor is 1.
06, for 6 / 12 the slope factor is 1.
12 and for 12 in 12 the factor is 1.
41.
How many bundles should I order for a certain roofing area? It takes approximately 3 bundles of standard 3-tab shingles (the cheapest) to cover 100 square feet of roofing area.
Heavier shingles are packed less to a bundle and hence you will need more bundles to cover the same area.
A bundle is packaged in such a way than any person can lift easily.
Wastage: You have to factor in extra roofing shingles for wastage.
Poor quality shingles break and damage easily hence you will need to factor extra for wastage.
Also, a less experienced contractor will waste more than an experienced roofer.
Complexities: The more number of complexities in your roof like valleys, hips, ridges, chimneys, skylights, dormers and other features the more shingles you need.
You need these extra shingles to place over ridges, valleys and around chimneys etc to seal them off properly.
Shingles will be cut to fit to size around these places.
Some of the bigger cut-off can be used but smaller shingles will go waste.
How many quotes should I get for my roofing job? When and how should I make the payments to the roofing contractor? Get as many quotes as possible but three is the absolute minimum.
Read the fine print to know what are included and what are not.
Get your roofing contract in writing and don't let any work to start before all the details are finalized and put in writing and signed off by both parties.
Here is a list of things that you should include in your contract - tear off - removing old shingles, clearing of the debris from the yard, metal roof edging, felt paper backing, flashing, roof shingles and labor costs for all installations should be included clearly in the contract.
Get samples of shingles that will be laid on your roof and inspect it carefully.
If you are particular about a color include it in your contract.
Before finalizing your contract get all the references you can get and go with the contractor with the best feedback and with whom you are most comfortable.
Small price differences are not worth the trouble of getting a bad quality job done by substandard contractors.
Remember bad installations can seriously reduce the life-span of your roof shingles.
Ask for the warranties on the shingles and the work done before making the final payment.