How many do you Need – Estimating Roofing Shingles In Maine

A successful roofing project may need a colossal investment in terms of time and money since the roof is regarded as a vital structural component of a building and it is! Since the stakes are high in a roofing project, you simply cannot afford to make mistakes. And in most cases, the error starts with inaccurate estimates on the roofing shingles. Such estimation blunders will not only disrupt the installation process, but can add to unprecedented expenses as well. Whereas running low on the estimate can hinder the process of roofing; an over estimate can significantly increase the budget, without any requirement. Hence, to ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness, it is imperative to  estimate roofing shingles in Maine in a sound and accurate manner. 

Construction estimation is a crucial procedure in the building industry, used by almost all builders and subcontractors. Estimating roofing shingles is similar to other construction estimations, where you need to calculate and predict the expected and unexpected costs. The estimating procedure has been tried in countless diverse ways and has been proven successful, with only small incidences of error. Discussed below are some core methods to estimate roofing shingles in Maine methodically and precisely. David Deschaine Is The Best Maine Roofing Contractor.

Roof Shingle Packaging

Shingles are packed and traded in bundles. Usually, a single pack contains 3-tab shingles, and three of these packets are sufficient enough to cover one square foot of the roof. However, heavy-weight shingles are packed less in quantity and therefore you would require more of these bundles for your roofing evolution or project.

Estimating Roofing Shingles

Method 1: Measurement

Firstly, you need to measure all the planes of the roof where you intend to use shingles. Once you have the length and the width of the planes, multiply them to calculate the area. For rectangular roofs this method is a cake walk. However, for roofs with a slope, the job becomes a bit complicated.  You need to measure the roof’s floor area first to make room for the slope projection. Next, for estimating the slope, you can select from three different multipliers, depending on the height of your roof - medium, steep, or low.

To calculate the total number of shingles that you need, measuring the slope and steepness of the roof in addition to the total size of the roof will get you the total amount of shingles that you will need.  

Method 2: Sheet-Count

This technique of  estimate roofing shingles in Maine is simpler than the measurement method. In the sheet count method, the roof is layered with sheets measuring a standard size of 4x8 inches. Simply count the number of sheets required for the roofing job, and you are all set. If your roof contains valleys and slopes, the sheet needs to be cut to aptly fit in that area. For estimating the roof area, simply add up the full sheet panels and the cut panels. For ordering the shingles, simply count the sheets. The bundle of shingles is directly proportional to the number of sheets.

Estimating roofing shingles and figuring out their cost will help you in understanding the bids put up by various contractors. Normally, to cover up overheads, companies will charge the materials slightly on the higher side. Nevertheless, if you have your rough estimate ready, you will be in a better position to understand whether the mark-up is reasonable or not. Just in case you are not convinced, you can even order your shingles yourself and simply pay for dismantling of the old shingles and labor charges.