Roof Shingles Estimate – How To Evaluate Your Roofing Expenses

A roof shingles estimate will include the cost involved in roofing your building, including the expenses for material and labor. To make sure your estimate is accurate and reliable, you first will require the right measurements of your roof area. Once you have the right information to hand, you can make an informed choice between doing it yourself or hiring an outside contractor for the job.

To begin your roof shingles estimate, start off by measuring your roof area. Draw a diagram on paper of your roof. Different roofs have different shapes. You will need to break it down into components, each of which you can computer the area for easily. The best way is to view your roof in terms of squares, rectangles and triangles.

Use a tape measure to find out the length and breadth of each component. Jot it down on the sheet of paper. Using simple formulae, you can compute the area of each section. Then add up the totals to get the complete roof area that will need working. Roof shingles estimates are slightly more complex than merely recording roof area because the shingles will overlap, resulting in a little extra.

Typically a roof area of one hundred square feet will require 4 to 5 bundles of shingles to cover completely. You will also need a little extra for the first row, the ridge and valley overlaps, and for unusual projections if any. You’ll also need nails to fix them in place. Depending upon which shingles you plan to use, your roof shingles estimate will have to consider the number of nails per shingle.

Wherever flashing will be used, be sure to take linear measurements. These areas include (but are not limited to) chimneys, vents and skylights. You may also require removal of existing roofing elements, and this must be factored into your roof shingles estimate under labor costs. Some contractors will charge a flat rate for this, while others will charge you a price based on the number of sheets or shingles that must be removed.

Labor costs range widely from one place to another. Your roof shingles estimate must be based on local costs. You can find them online where many roofing websites offer calculators to let you compute this expense conveniently. Another hidden cost may be the expense involved in dumping the debris after your job is finished.

As you can see, roof shingles estimate calculations are not simple or intuitive. But with discipline and some guidance, you can get a reasonable estimate ready quickly and that will help you make a rational decision about how best to get the job done and have your roof shingled nicely and easily.