If you’re planning a roofing project or just curious about the cost of roofing materials, understanding how many square feet a square of shingles covers is essential. A “square” in roofing lingo is a standard unit of measurement, but what does it mean in terms of square footage and cost? In this blog post, we’ll break it down for you in simple terms.
Understanding a Square of Shingles
First things first, let’s clarify what a “square” means in the world of roofing. In roofing lingo, a square refers to an area of 100 square feet. It’s a standardized way to measure and order roofing materials like shingles. So, when you buy a square of shingles, you’re essentially purchasing enough material to cover 100 square feet of your roof.
Calculating Coverage
To determine how many square feet a square of shingles covers, you need to consider the size and type of shingles you plan to use. Asphalt shingles, one of the most common roofing materials, typically come in bundles. Each bundle typically covers about 33.3 square feet (1/3 of a square).
Here’s a straightforward way to calculate coverage:
- Number of Bundles: First, find out how many bundles of shingles you have. This information is usually provided on the shingle packaging or by the manufacturer.
- Coverage per Bundle: Next, determine the coverage per bundle. As mentioned earlier, a bundle of asphalt shingles usually covers approximately 33.3 square feet.
- Total Coverage: Multiply the number of bundles by the coverage per bundle to find the total square footage covered by your shingles.
For example, if you have 10 bundles of asphalt shingles:
10 bundles x 33.3 square feet per bundle = 333 square feet
So, 10 bundles of shingles would cover 333 square feet of your roof.
Cost Calculation
Now that you know how many square feet a square of shingles covers, you can calculate the cost. To do this, you’ll need to know the price per square. The price per square varies depending on the type and quality of the shingles you choose.
Here’s the formula to calculate the cost:
- Total Square Footage: Determine the total square footage of your roof that needs shingle coverage.
- Price per Square: Find out the price per square from your supplier or roofing manufacturer.
- Cost Calculation: Multiply the total square footage by the price per square to get the total cost of shingles.
For instance, if your roof requires 1,000 square feet of shingle coverage and the price per square is $100:
1,000 square feet / 100 square feet (per square) = 10 squares
10 squares x $100 per square = $1,000
So, the cost of shingles for your 1,000-square-foot roof would be $1,000.
Verdict
In summary, a square of shingles covers 100 square feet of your roof. To calculate the cost of shingles for your roofing project, determine the total square footage needed and multiply it by the price per square. This straightforward calculation allows you to estimate the cost of your roofing materials accurately.
