How to Measure the Square Footage of a Roof

[@skarabrae2570]

Perfect! I want to thank you Sir for simplifying which in some cases can become a complex process. You have made it easy for me to calculate the square footage of my roof and converting that to the number of squares needed.

[@BenGromicko]

Glad it helped! Thank you for watching. Feel free to reach out to us for help any time at www.nachi.org/contact.

[@lizmiller9649]

Man thank you after watching you break down every formula I realized on certain roofs I was only doing it half right, thanks for being precise in your explanation of the diagrams. One thing that did confuse me is when you said measuring a hip is base x hight, x1 half and that's your answer. Actually it's base x hight then divide your answer in half. Again thank you for breaking down how to measure the different roofs. My name is Jim Adkins I'm on my wife's you tube page. I work for durst roofing in Youngstown Ohio

[@BenGromicko]

Thanks for the feedback. Glad it was helpful.

[@joebotto5527]

In regards to the trapezoid measurements: At time 3:06 you stated (B1 + B2) x H) / 2 to get the sqft. Then at time 6:06 you stated (B1 + B2) x H) x 1/2 to get the sqft?? Which one is correct??

[@BenGromicko]

Hm. I'll look again.

[@VagabondLifestyles]

Best roofing measure video I've seen, thanks for sharing

[@BenGromicko]

Thank you for the feedback. We appreciate it.

[@lyricsofpraise3369]

Hi Ben, excellent job with the videos. You are a true teacher!

[@BenGromicko]

Thank you for the feedback.

[@chinwenwaja6166]

Thank u so much,i just can't stop watching you.This help my knowledge

[@BenGromicko]

So nice of you

[@mytablet6115]

Excellent excellent presentation I sell renovations and roofing I'm still in the learning curve of how to measure roof properly this is very helpful thank you

[@BenGromicko]

Glad it was helpful!

[@callielou7]

Omgosh, thank you, thank you, thank you.. This is exactly what I was looking for. Now I can go backup and measure my own roof correctly and accurately. Well as soon as the snow is gone. This has been very valuable. Now if I can just figure out how to sketch it in Xactmate with all the different roof elevations!! One step at a time!!! Thanks again!!

[@BenGromicko]

You're welcome.

[@fredabban777]

You rock. Very simple. Very informative. Very educative

[@BenGromicko]

I appreciate that!

[@handymixpullup4971]

Wawww thank you sir I feel like you push my life forward after I take my time to understand

[@BenGromicko]

You're most welcome.

[@none7298]

Ben this video most definitely refresh my memory, I almost grab my pen and paper and started to make up my own measurements 😂😂. Thank you for making this video. Very easy. Very simple

[@BenGromicko]

Thank you. I'm glad to hear that you find it a valuable.

[@w96725]

Thank you for making this so simple even some one like myself can understand it.

[@BenGromicko]

Glad it was helpful!

[@danimalbigtree]

This video was just what I needed! Thank you!

[@BenGromicko]

Thank you. Glad to liked it. We have more on www.nachi.org/tv/

[@skiterbite]

very straightforward and professionally done. Bravo ! kiss

[@BenGromicko]

Hm. Yes.

[@pompasduris]

At 5:12, you mention that the front entry is a gable roof and the rear deck has a hip roof. They are both the same shape. Why aren't they both gable roof?

[@BenGromicko]

Good question. I'll take another look.

[@RooflogicCA]

A software package has been developed to make such measurements. But knowing how to do this manually is necessary. Knowing the basics first is necessary in any profession.

[@internachi]

Agreed.

[@supercatforever]

+RoofLogic what software is that

[@RooflogicCA]

Moises Perez www.roofcad.com

[@supercatforever]

RoofLogic thanks.

[@BenGromicko]

Agreed.

[@outdoorsadrenaline]

Thank you for this easy to understand instructional!

[@BenGromicko]

Glad it was helpful!

[@juanfuentes6780]

Great video

[@BenGromicko]

@@juanfuentes6780 thank you

[@juniomartinez]

Thank you for taking the time to show this sir!

[@BenGromicko]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching, Junio.

[@ryanwilliam129]

Simple and well done. Thank you

[@BenGromicko]

You are welcome!

[@hardgamer2958]

Nice video keep it up this video was crystal clear on how to learn to estimate a roof. Thank you

[@BenGromicko]

Thank you, HardGamer. We have a ton of roof training resources online at www.nachi.org/3c.htm

[@stevenevangelist5221]

Regarding trapezoid. Why can't you take the two triangle areas. Add them to the rectangle area.

[@BenGromicko]

Could, yes.

[@seandreezy1988]

This works in simple roofs like a shed roof home but when you have gables and eves and rakes it's tougher I use this sky measure software whe 're you pay 40 to get the aerial Square footage of a home only thing it's not always guaranteed if there's alot of trees covering the home that's the only disadvantage

[@BenGromicko]

You're correct, Sean. Can you please post the link to the software that you use (for others to check out and possibly use)? Thanks.

[@seandreezy1988]

@@BenGromickoSure thing !

[@shofiqali3582]

Good evening sir Thank you for demonstration & it will help me a lot you doing very your good job,keep up your demonstration & tutorial thank you,

[@BenGromicko]

Thank you, Shofiq Ali.

[@firdoaskhan6656]

Thank you sir this is what i need today in urgent.

[@majesticjams2932]

Great video! What if the rectangle has four different measurements??

[@BenGromicko]

Good question!

[@remnantcog7thday422]

This benefits me greatly. Thanks a million

[@BenGromicko]

You're very welcome!

[@tfcastiglia]

Ben, great information and refreshers. However, I need to be refreshed as to how to do measurements without the roof plans, using the elevation plans. Do you have a tutorial for this?

[@BenGromicko]

Great suggestion! We'll have to develop a video for that.

[@BadBoyzGrilling]

Nick, multiplying something by 1/2 or dividing by 2 equals the same number... Example : 100 divided by 2 = 50 or 100 x .5 (1/2) = 50... So, you can do it either way...

[@internachi]

Thanks, Matt.

[@BenGromicko]

Thank you.

[@f1flores]

Very help full. Thanks for sharing your power.

[@internachi]

You're welcome.

[@BenGromicko]

You're welcome. It's not often I share my power. :)

[@greatpharoh0303]

Thank you so much Ben! IT's so easy and to the point!

[@BenGromicko]

You're welcome.

[@jeffw7540]

Ben, when you show the East gable at 6:08 in the video you explain the base as 2 different lengths. Why do you show 10 foot and 16.3 and not just a 3rd line showing 26.3 length total. This looks confusing when looking at the roof design. So what your saying is that from the edge of the main roof to the end of the gable is 10ft and the triangular portion length is 16.3 feet? why would you double a length just to subtract the triangular portion. Couldn't you just measure the triangular parts of the roof and do it separately? Then subtract the triangular portion from the main portion of the house? it confuses me how you take two lengths add them together then do your base X height X 1/2. Please let me know why its done this way

[@BenGromicko]

The two bases are 16'3" and 10'. (Base1 + Base2) x height / 2

[@jeffw7540]

Ben Gromicko oh my goodness. I saw it as 2 bases of 10 and not 2 separate bases due to the triangle outlining on the roof example. I see where you are coming from now

[@Va757P-City]

Jeff W how do you measure one square? 16 squares have to be replaced on a roof how many feet is that

[@stevenevangelist5221]

@@Va757P-City 1600. Square is 10x10. 1600 divided by 100 equals 16

[@genayev7654]

When you do trapazoids that are equal in length you dont need to multiply by .5.....16.3+10*5 gives you the square feet for both. What happens is when you divide by .5 you are just getting one side and then you do the same for the other and then add them, seems redundant. None the less great video, I learned something new today

[@BenGromicko]

Nice.

[@devonkripaitis4490]

Thank you can't believe how many years have been doing this and I still forget this equation

[@BenGromicko]

Nice. Thanks for the feedback, Devon.

[@alejandrocoss1117]

Could you combine the overlap of A3 gable and main house as (60x10) and do the remaining gable as rectangular measurement (10x10) to avoid the subtracting step? Thank you for the very informative video.

[@BenGromicko]

Yes I can, Thanks for watching.

[@friarchris2]

Don't the roofing tiles need to overlap at least a little bit? How is this accounted for?

[@BenGromicko]

Yep.

[@TF2wardog]

So for the trapezoid is it times or divide cause I got two different formulas that’ll give me massively different answers

[@BenGromicko]

Hm. I'll take a closer look.

[@RabbitWriter]

You said multiply several times for the trapezoid measurement when it's actually dividing by 2.

[@internachi]

You can divide by 2 or multiply by 1/2. It's the same.

[@wisconsinoutdoorswithwalte277]

This is absolutely the worst explanation of how to measure a roof. You should remove this video immediately

[@BenGromicko]

You can divide by 2 or multiply by 1/2. It's the same.

[@nickjumpa2264]

Yes expanding on what Eric Brennan Said when talking about trapezoid in the beginning you said Base 1+Base 2 divided by 2 at the end you in the final summary of all the calculations it says Base 1 + Base 2 x 1/2 and at the end you say the same thing but it shows Base 1+Base 2 divided by 2. Which one is it? Can you please correct this or can someone comment or leave a video note?

[@internachi]

Hi, Nick. Dividing by 2 and multiplying by 1/2 is the same thing.

[@abidemiadeola1514]

Nick Jumpa (base1 +base2) ×height x 1/2 Note that whenever you multiply by 1/2 you are simply dividing by 2.

[@BenGromicko]

Thanks for watching.

[@seandreezy1988]

So the software that I'm using is Sky measure powered by core logic, so 80% of U.S. homes sold are included in property imagery, averaging 9 images per home so more than likely it could definitely save you time and money their fees vary I haven't paid but 40$ per home we've done, but it saves a ton of time in the long run they also have an app for easy login access

[@BenGromicko]

Thank you for the feedback, Sean.

[@donovanarchote1232]

So helpful!!

[@BenGromicko]

I'm so glad!

[@juancastellon4673]

Awesome.hey what's up buddy.i have a cuestion .how many bags of ridge are on 92 feet.

[@juancastellon4673]

Nice video . master.but is so much for me brain.ja

[@BenGromicko]

Thank you for the feedback, Juan.

[@drock4421]

Awesome video pal.

[@BenGromicko]

Thanks, pal.

[@robertadams1960]

@ 4:00 you said 10 times 8 times 2 = 40 squares. Was that an error or am I all wrong?

[@robertadams1960]

Never mind. I got it thanks. I’m thinking divided by 2 for half of the square

[@BenGromicko]

Great.

[@mena527]

Very informative, thank you so much.

[@BenGromicko]

You're welcome.

[@semsems218]

6:40 that's wrong, you have to get the slope and multiply by the sloped length, not the projection

[@BenGromicko]

At that point in the video, we were calculating the area of the planes. Not the slope.

[@semsems218]

@@BenGromicko this means you would get the wrong number of squares at 7:58 🙄

[@itsmeagain6168]

So the total roof area must always be divided by 100 does this goes for all the roof?

[@BenGromicko]

Hm. I'll have to double check what was covered in the video.

[@itsmeagain6168]

@@BenGromicko great

[@srizki]

Thank you Ben.

[@BenGromicko]

Welcome!

[@ArtManiacTV]

You mixed the trapezoid area up do we divide by half or multiply. You straight up did both for trapezoid. Fix this

[@BenGromicko]

Hm. Not sure about that mix up. I'll double check.

[@johnnyboy587]

Thank you sir for this video you shared

[@BenGromicko]

So nice of you

[@msjbrumfield]

THAT WAS HELLA INFORMATIONAL!!!! THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!

[@BenGromicko]

You're welcome, J B.

[@syedhussain3810]

Just one thing didn't mention adding wast percentage for different roofs different percentages

[@BenGromicko]

Hi, Syed. I don't understand. What wasn't mentioned?

[@syedhussain3810]

+Ben Gromicko if I measure a roof let say 1000 sq ft I add 10% waste for a gable roof and 15% waste for a hip roof otherwise I would be short on material

[@BenGromicko]

Right. This video has nothing to do with calculating the amount of roofing material needed for a roof job.

[@nonamedpp]

too advanced for youtube lol

[@domingo2977]

Why multiply 10 & 20 ft by 6 ft 3 in, because I thought it said 16 ft 3 in?

[@BenGromicko]

square

[@debarnfoods659]

well said very good

[@BenGromicko]

Thank you.

[@douglasguardado5534]

Nice and easy , thanks

[@BenGromicko]

Most welcome 😊. Thanks for watching. Interested in becoming a code inspector? Check out our free online course at forum.nachi.org/t/new-free-online-course-to-become-a-code-inspector/185930.

[@tammybain5312]

So how did you multiply that because I got 12.6 x 12.6 = 158.76 ??

[@BenGromicko]

Hm. I double check the numbers.

[@bubgibson8852]

Your supposed to add 10% for shingles right

[@BenGromicko]

Hm. Not sure about that. For like extra mistake coverage?

[@bubgibson8852]

@@BenGromicko no for some reason i was thinking you added 10% on shingles I am just asking

[@boashna]

nice video

[@BenGromicko]

Thanks

[@danniestrable8916]

Why couldnt you measure the A1 and measure A3 as LxW and not subtract two triangles per gable?

[@Dave-ug1bw]

You could and save several steps and it comes out the same. I believe he showed it his way for those that new.

[@BenGromicko]

Yes.

[@alfredranger9141]

I never knew how many bundles to buy

[@BenGromicko]

Cool. Thanks for watching. Hope it was valuable.

[@mickmac3360]

The calculation is not A1, A2 and A3 is not as complex as described. It is simply 60x10x2, 20x10x2 and 5x10x2 or 2100 total. No need to add and subtract the common triangles.

[@BenGromicko]

+Mick Mac Thanks, Mick Mac.

[@fathertime5680]

Go away, go run your calculations by someone who gives a rats ass. He explained it just fine, your just being petty at this point

[@fathertime5680]

That's for you Mick Mac

[@mickmac3360]

There is no need for this complexity in calculating the area - it is simply 60x10x2 = 1200 20x10x2 = 400 10x5x2 = 100 6x5x0.5x8 = 120 Total 1820 It is hard to believe that home inspectors would need training on such a basic estimation.

[@BenGromicko]

It's far beyond the scope of a home inspection to measure the squares or area of a roof covering. The scope of a home inspection is primarily based upon identifying indications of defects, not estimating or measuring areas of roof covering materials. That job is for the roofing contractor that would be recommended by the home inspector in their inspection report. But we do our best in training our home inspectors on just about everything a contractor would need to know.

[@AllenWBrockton]

You also don't mention starter shingles and roof caps so whoever uses this as a home owner to attempt to do his roof will be short.

[@BenGromicko]

Good point, Allen. This video was produced as part of a series of training videos for home inspectors to quickly estimate how big a roof is.

[@f1flores]

You make it very easy :)

[@internachi]

Thanks, Flores.

[@BenGromicko]

That's our goal. Thank you, Flores x 2.

[@samithabandara2972]

Don we consider the roof angle when measuring roof.. 45 deg, 30 deg.. like that.

[@BenGromicko]

Home inspectors may report degree of slope in their inspection reports, but it's not required by the Standards of Practice for Performing a Home Inspection. I submit that most home inspectors would use a ratio to express slope instead of a degree, such as 2:12 or 4:12.

[@robinvallier8512]

@@BenGromicko Solar people would be interested in knowing this...

[@mattmaranara6194]

Well done.

[@BenGromicko]

Thanks, RJ.

[@Discovery_and_Change]

I've got a roof with a bunch of different combinations of shapes...

[@BenGromicko]

That's a challenge to measure all those shapes on a complicated roof.

[@Discovery_and_Change]

@@BenGromicko Yes. I did a best estimate by simplifying the shapes.

[@mastakilla2]

MY HEAD HURTS

[@BenGromicko]

Heh. Yep. We tried to make it simple.

[@DLTD]

get back down to go pick up the trash ya bum! lol bet you can hardly lay them shings

[@GeminiGuy94]

Lol the lazy stupid modern American worker Vs the old Disappointed jerk Old School worker who complains about the new generation Or the Hispanic workers. That’s what construction is today

[@magdalenaavelar3809]

Di you Givin Roofing Classes?

[@BenGromicko]

We have Certified Master Inspector® Instructors who provide online and live classes about roofing. You may be interested in the roof training resources at www.nachi.org/3c.htm

[@magdalenaavelar3809]

Yes I did already the exam bout I'do not pass,I'm very apse

[@BenGromicko]

Okay, Magdalena. I'm not sure what you are trying to say. But if you want to take the online exam again, you may. Our online inspector exam can be taken again and again, as many times as you want. Members have unlimited access to all of InterNACHI's free, online training and Continuing Education, our recommended list of home inspector courses, our free certification programs, the members-only forum, amazing membership benefits, the Online Inspector Exam, our free Inspector Training App.

[@magdalenaavelar3809]

Can you provide for my the good answers abaut the test,Illinois is the Estate where I living,I wonts the Roofing license

[@magdalenaavelar3809]

Ok can you please tell my abaut the website I apreciate tha

[@shofiqali3582]

Same to you sir

[@BenGromicko]

You're welcome.

[@christophercox5788]

I was just asking Google how many squares is in 1,000 cuz I want to get back to working for myselfp

[@BenGromicko]

Okay. What was the answer?

[@jondueman3596]

So going by this equation for hip roof I only need 1.5 square for one trap, b1 42ft b2 15ft H 15ft, b1 plus b2 x H ÷ 2 for one trap. I need 5 sheets of plywood for bottom course, that 1.5 sq of shingles, total thumbs down

[@BenGromicko]

Gotcha.

[@rodolfomelchor3370]

thankyou!!!!!

[@BenGromicko]

You're welcome.

[@shanuganji5634]

Hi sir

[@BenGromicko]

Hello, sir.

[@powerfullyhappy5226]

A-fucking-maxing. Thank you

[@BenGromicko]

Okay. Thanks. I think.

[@emmanuelvelez1343]

Wtf do u mean by half

[@BenGromicko]

Not sure, Emmanuel. At what point in the video are you referring to?

[@jaydon7882]

@@BenGromicko what do you mean by 1½ with the triangle 📐 formula please explain

[@FlareSoul69]

Well... I guess I won't be applying for a roofer position anytime soon... I might accidentally overcharge customers with calculation

[@BenGromicko]

It's a critical part of running a successful business: calculating profitable fees.

[@olivasreuben69]

you lot me at trapezoid.

[@BenGromicko]

Ha!

[@JeremyGeorge-cr1ch]

Ok

[@BenGromicko]

Ok. Thanks for watching.

[@shanuganji5634]

I'm shingles work

[@BenGromicko]

Good.

[@michaelbridges2583]

18 yr old roofer

[@BenGromicko]

Hi, Michael. If you new to the roof inspection business, you may be interested in the online roof training courses we have made available for free to our members at www.nachi.org/3c.htm

[@GeminiGuy94]

Best to learn here first so you don’t look so stupid learning on the job

[@BenGromicko]

Cool. Thanks for watching.

[@coachvolpato]

Isn’t this 5th grade math?

[@BenGromicko]

6th.

[@XxPackerManxX]

I've measured alot of Roofs, in my day. I personally think; you made this sound, more complicated, then it really is. Your graphics, for the trapezoid, were useless. I stopped watching there.

[@BenGromicko]

Sorry about that, Marsh.