If you’ve recently received an insurance quote or estimate for roof replacement, you may have heard the term “roofing square.” This is a common measurement that roofers and insurance companies use to calculate roof replacement costs. In this guide, we’ll explain what a roofing square is to help you better understand your roof estimate.
Definition of a Roofing Square
A roofing square is a unit of measurement that is 10 feet long by 10 feet tall. It is used to measure approximately how many square feet of space a roof covers. The square footage of your roof is different than the livable square footage of your home. Contractors need to know how many squares cover your roof in order to ensure that they order enough materials to complete the job.
What Are Roofing Squares Used for?
Roofing squares are used in a number of applications. Insurance adjusters often use squares to determine if storm damage is extensive enough to warrant a claim. In the case of a hailstorm, most insurance companies require 7-10 hits per square to justify a roof replacement. There are other factors involved in that determination, but the roofing square plays a big part in claim processing. If you see chalk marks on your roof after an insurance assessment, the adjuster was likely marking out squares.
Home inspectors use a similar approach when they inspect roofs. They may label the squares to highlight which areas of the roof are most damaged or prone to damage in the future.
Roof installers use roofing squares to estimate material costs for a project. They will typically estimate for a little more than the actual number of squares to account for material defects, installation errors, and tricky angles that cannot fit into a square. This process is similar to what you may experience when you get a quote for new paint or flooring. It’s just happening on a larger scale outside your home.
How Many Squares Are on an Average Roof?
The average roof is approximately 30 squares or 3,000 square feet, but that varies by home style, size, pitch, etc. There are also variations in the number of shingles it takes to cover a square. Some brands include more shingles than others in their bundles, but in most cases, it takes about three bundles to cover one roofing square.
If you’d like a quote for new roof installation or roof replacement, contact McLean Roofing and Siding at (248) 524-1111.