Calculating your roof area is an important task when you’re planning a new roofing project or assessing the amount of materials you’ll need for repairs.
Not sure how to go about it?
You’ve come to the right place!
At Good Build Superstore, we’ll show you how to calculate your roof area quickly and confidently.
Read on.
Table of contents:
How to calculate the area of a roof
Calculating your roof area is a straightforward enough project which is easily within the grasp of even a novice DIYer.
Follow these steps to find out how to crunch the numbers with ease!
Step 1: Determine the type of roof
Roofs come in various shapes and styles, such as gable, hip, flat or shed. The calculations for each roof type will differ slightly. So, it’s important to know the specific type of roof you are working with.
Step 2: Measure the length and width of the roof
Use a measuring tape to determine the length and width of the roof.
Here’s how you to do it depending on the type:
For a gable roof, measure the length and width of each triangular section separately. For a hip roof, measure the length and width of each rectangular section separately. For a flat or shed roof, measure the length and width of the entire roof.
Step 3: Convert your measurements to the same units
Make sure the measurements are in the same units, such as feet or meters. If needed, use a conversion calculator to convert between different units.
Step 4: Calculate the area of each section
To calculate the area of each section of the roof, multiply the length and width measurements for that section.
For a gable roof, multiply the length and width of each triangular section and divide by 2 to get the area of each section. If you’re dealing with a hip roof, multiply the length and width of each rectangular section.
Finally, for a flat or shed roof, multiply the length and width of the entire roof.
Step 5: Add up the areas of each section
Once you’ve calculated the area of each section, add them up to get the total area of the roof.
But wait! You’re not quite finished yet:
Step 6: Consider your roof features
If your roof has any features that take up space, such as skylights or chimneys, you’ll need to subtract their area from the total area of the roof.
Step 7: Round up the figure to the nearest whole number
To get a practical estimate, round up the total area of the roof to the nearest whole number. For instance, if you’re effective roof area is 60.86 m², use 61 m².
Final thoughts
If you’re planning on doing a lot of roofing projects, you’ll need to know exactly how big your roof is.
The good news is:
You don’t need a roofing area calculator to find out!
Now that you know how to calculate your roof area, you’re well prepared to take on various roofing maintenance and improvement tasks.