DIY Tips: How Many Roofing Shingles to Buy

If you’re embarking on a do-it-yourself roofing project, then your first step is going to be gathering all the materials that you need. One of the biggest questions people have for a roofing project is determining how many shingles they should buy. You don’t want to buy too few, but, at the same time, you don’t to waste money by buying too many. Fortunately, there are some really simple ways to determine the exact amount of shingles you should buy to successfully get through your roofing project.

Keep reading to learn how many shingles you should buy for a DIY roofing project that will help keep your budget low and get your project done correctly.

Determining the Square Footage of Your Roof

Roofing shingles are measured in terms of square footage. Generally speaking, a single shingle will be 100 square feet. One of the simplest ways to figuring out how many shingles you’ll need for your roofing project is to measure the square footage of your roof. If your roof is easily accessible, measure each plane of your roof and then multiply the length by the width, which will give you your roof’s square footage.

Now all you have to do is to purchase the amount of roof shingles that correspond with your roof’s square footage. However, if your roof isn’t easily accessible, or has a number of overhangs, this method may be too difficult for you.

Count the Shingles Currently on Your Roof

When most people are re-shingling their roof, it’s because their roof has suffered some damage and they’ve lost some shingles. However, if your roof has all of its shingles intact, then you can easily figure out how many shingles you’ll need for your project.

All you have to do is count the amount of shingles currently on your roof and then buy that same amount prior to your project. Many people prefer this method as it allows them to buy exactly what they need and save money, but it can end up failing if you have miscounted your shingles somehow. Only use the counting method if you are confident in your ability to keep track of your shingles.

Plan for Waste by Ordering More than You Need

Nothing is more frustrating than getting rolling on your roofing project only to find you’ve run out of shingles. While people never expect this to happen to them, it’s actually quite common. Running out of shingles can either be a matter of not buying enough at the outset or having shingles break during the course of your project, reducing your stockpile.

Whatever amount of shingles you think you’ll need to finish your roofing project, it’s a good idea to get a little more. This will protect you from the possibility of running out at the worst possible time.

Add Roofing Shingles to Your Home

When you’re facing a do-it-yourself shingling project, the prospect may seem a little daunting. However, as we have seen, with the right amount of preparation, installing roof shingles can actually be quite easy. Install roof shingles in your home to both improve your home’s appearance and to help ensure that your roof lasts for years and decades to come.

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