We’re Answering Many of Your Big Questions About Sizing Up Your Roof
One of the challenges for homeowners in planning a roof replacement is knowing the size of their roof. After all, if you know the size of your roof offhand, it can make budgeting that much easier and more accurate. But for those outside of the roofing industry, this question may seem more difficult to answer than it should be. As roofers, we’re often asked questions like “What is a roof square, and why is it used for roof measurement?” and “Can I calculate the size of my roof myself?”
Our team at Dolan Roofing & Construction understands your frustrations and we’re here to help! Getting an accurate measure of your roof can be trickier than it seems, and we’re explaining why in today’s post. Let’s get started.
What Is a Roof Square Measurement? 
First off, let’s explain some terminology. When dealing with roof sizes, getting an estimate, or just speaking with a roofer, you may hear the measurement of the size of your roof given in terms of “squares.” But what is a roof square, and why is it used for roof measurement?
A roof square is actually a pretty straightforward unit of measurement that is equal to one 10-foot by 10-foot section of your roof. In other words, a “square” is 100 square feet of surface area.
Roof squares are used within the industry as a standardized unit, primarily to help roofers calculate the amount of materials needed for a roofing project. In addition, insurance companies will often use squares when determining how much hail damage is required before a replacement will be approved—typically, it’s a certain threshold of hail impacts per square.
Why Is My Roof So Much Bigger Than My House?
Sometimes, customers will come to us for an estimate or quote and give their roof size as the square footage of their home. Then, after completing an inspection and getting a full estimate, there may be confusion as to why their 1,600-foot home is quoted back as a roof size of 2,600 square feet.
While the square footage of your home can be used to get a rough estimate of the size of your roof (sometimes—more on that in a second!), your roof will always be larger than the area of your home due to a few factors.
The biggest reason is the pitch. While the square footage of your home is measured as a flat plane describing your home’s footprint, your roof must have a pitch to ensure water runs off. This means the roof of a home of any given size will always have more surface area overall.
Another small factor is that your roof will overhang your home’s footprint by a little bit. And then lastly, some roofs are simply more complex than others. For some homes, sections of the roof will have different pitches and may even overhang each other, which adds to the final total.
Can I Calculate the Area of My Roof from the Square Footage?
Yes and no. While you can use the square footage of your home along with a few other details to get a rough roof square measurement, the figure you come up with should only be used for very rough budgeting purposes.
For example, there are calculator tools and rough formulas available online that will help you get an estimate. However, simplifications must be made at multiple steps which can greatly impact the final calculations. After all, it can be difficult to measure the exact pitch of your roof, and if there are any nuances to its design, measuring the size of your roof becomes that much harder.
So while you can use the square footage of your home and an estimate of the overall pitch to get a rough number, you should expect any roofer’s estimate or quote to be much more accurate when it comes to telling you the size of your roof.
Call to Get an Estimate from Dolan Roofing & Construction
If you’re planning a roof replacement, it can be difficult to make an accurate budget without speaking to a roofer first. As leading roofing contractors in San Antonio, our team at Dolan Roofing & Construction is standing by to complete an inspection and provide an accurate quote for your roof. We believe in communication and transparency, and we’d be happy to explain any part of our estimate—yes, including the size of your roof!
Reach out today to schedule your inspection.
