What is the Easiest Way to Measure a Roof? [Calculating the Square Footage]

If you’re in the market for a roof replacement, then you may have been searching for estimates and trying to calculate how much this will potentially cost. There are a lot of factors that impact the price of a new roof, from accessibility to the roofing materials that you choose to have installed. The size of the roof itself must also be considered when planning your budget for this investment. 

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Figuring out the size of your roof is one of the first things you will need to do in order to determine pricing and the cost of your new roof. And a question we get asked a lot at Elite Exteriors is, What is the Easiest Way to Measure a Roof? In this article, discover how to calculate your roof’s square footage, and three more things that will contribute to the cost of your new roof. 

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Table of Contents

- What is the Easiest Way to Measure a Roof? 

    - Calculate Home’s Footprint

    - Account for Complexities

    - Calculate the Square Footage

- Factors that Affect the Cost of Your New Roof

    - Roof Type

    - Time and Labor

    - Roofing Contractor

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What is the Easiest Way to Measure a Roof? 

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When it comes to the cost of your new roof, its size and square footage plays a huge role. Your roof’s dimensions will directly affect the amount of time and labor that’s required, as well as the amount of materials that need to be ordered to complete the project. This leaves many homeowners asking, “what is the easiest way to measure a roof?”

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Knowing this information will help you on your journey for knowledge when it comes to your new roof investment, as well as getting estimates and calculating overall cost. With that being said, the only way to measure your roof with 100% accuracy is by hiring an experienced roofing contractor to come out for a roof inspection, professionally measure your roof, and give you a quote. However, there are ways to get a rough estimate when it comes to square footage in order to help you with planning and budgeting.

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Calculate Home’s Footprint

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The square footage of a house is not the same as the square footage of a roof. Unfortunately, using the square footage of your home will only give you a vague idea as to the square footage of your roof. And since climbing on your roof for measurements is dangerous, many homeowners are left wondering what is the easiest way to measure a roof? 

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Well, the first step to safely and simply measure a roof is to figure out your home’s footprint. You can do this by measuring the length and width of your home with a tape measure. You multiply those two numbers together in order to get your home’s footprint. 

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So, if your one-story house is 60 feet wide and 40 feet long, then your property is about 2,400 square feet. It’s important here to reiterate that your home’s square footage doesn’t equate to your roof’s square footage. And even though the calculations aren’t exact, this can give you a rough estimate of your home’s footprint and the size of your roof. 

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Account for Complexities

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What is the easiest way to measure a roof? Well, the second step after calculating your home’s footprint is to consider the complexity of your roof. The steepness of your roof and how complex it is will directly affect your calculations. It will also change the number you multiply your home’s footprint by to calculate your roof’s square footage. 

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For example, if you have a simple, walkable roof, you will multiply the footprint you previously calculated by 1.3 to get the square footage of your roof. For a roof with a low slope, you’ll multiply the footprint by 1.4. If your roof is steep and complex, you will multiply the footprint by 1.6.

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Calculate the Square Footage

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So, now that you’ve figured out your home’s footprint, and have accounted for the steepness and complexity of your roof, you’re ready to calculate your roof’s square footage. Using the following equation, you will be able to get a rough estimate of your roof’s square footage. 

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Length of Home x Width of Home = Your Home’s Footprint

Footprint of Your Home x Slope and Complexity = Square Feet of Roof Area

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Again, this won’t give you a 100% accurate estimate, but it will give you a place to start. This can be extremely helpful when trying to discern how much your new roof will cost. With that being said, here’s an example.

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Let’s say that your home is 60 feet long and 40 feet wide, and that you have a roof that’s walkable and mostly flat. Calculating your roof’s square footage is as follows:

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60’ (Length) x 40’ (Width) = 2,400’ (Home’s Footprint)

2,400’ (Home’s Footprint) x 1.3 (Slope and Complexity) = 3,120’ (Roof’s Square Footage)

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Factors that Affect the Cost of Your New Roof

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Now that we know what is the easiest way to measure a roof, and how to calculate your roof’s square footage, it’s important to discuss what else affects cost. There are multiple factors that can have an impact on the cost of your roof replacement, including the following. 

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Roof Type

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Aside from measuring your roof and calculating its size, another thing you will want to consider is the type of roof you want to have installed. From installing a DaVinci composite roof, to choosing a natural cedar shake, there are a lot of different roofing styles to choose from. The type of roof you choose will depend on things like your budget and the look you’re going for. 

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For those looking for the most affordable roofing option, you may want to consider an asphalt shingle roof or a standing seam metal roof. These are two of the most common roof types, but premium options are also available for those who want to upgrade their home’s look. 

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With that being said, premium roofing materials do come at a more premium price, but are durable, long-lasting, and can give your roof a unique look and add curb appeal to your home. Premium roofs include materials like cedar shake, composite roofing, slate, and tile. These options, however, are not as cost-efficient, and could cost triple the amount of a standard asphalt shingle roof.

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Time and Labor

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What is the easiest way to measure a roof and calculate total cost? Consider labor and time. Labor and time are two of the main factors any roofing contractor will consider when providing you with an estimate. Whatever takes time and labor will be reflected in your total roof replacement cost. 

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The pricing for time and labor will vary from contractor to contractor. The labor cost of each roofer will depend on their experience, skill level, and how much work they can get done in a day. In addition, the more time a contractor has to spend on your roof will also affect the price. 

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To further elaborate, if your roof is complex and not very accessible, it will take longer to complete and more labor to do the job. The labor itself, the safety equipment that needs to be installed to do the job safely and properly, and the time it takes to do the job will impact the cost of your roof. This plays a role in the entire process, from removing the old roof, to cleaning up your property once the job is done.

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Roofing Contractor

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When it comes to answering what is the easiest way to measure a roof and calculate roof cost, one must consider their roofing contractor’s operational costs. Every roofing company has operating expenses that are needed to keep their business running. These will always impact the price of any needed roofing work. Below are some common operating costs to give an example: 

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• Taxes (Federal and Local When Applicable)
• Payroll and Payroll Taxes
• Training
• Bonds and Licenses
• Insurance (Workers Compensation and General Liability)
• Vehicles (Insurance and Fuel)
• Promotions and Advertising 
• Building Cost and Utilities

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And that’s just to name a few! In order for any business to run properly, there will be some fixed operating costs. Whether it’s a simple roof repair or a total new roof installation, these are just some of the costs that must be paid every day to keep the business running. No matter what work is needed or completed, these operating expenses will be factored into the final cost.

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What is the easiest way to measure a roof? By using the calculations above. This is the best and safest way to measure a roof in order to get a rough estimate of your roof’s square footage. However, the only way to get a measurement that’s 100% accurate is to hire a reputable roofing contractor to come out and measure your roof.

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Elite Exteriors is the Southeast’s premier residential and commercial resource for unparalleled service, superior craftsmanship and incomparable quality; and it’s all backed by an unprecedented lifetime labor and materials warranty. We would be honored to help you with your roofing needs, and to answer any questions you may have when it comes to your roof. Elite Exteriors also offers FREE initial consultations and inspections, and for more information, give us a call today at 470-350-3024, or fill out our online form.

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