Georgia Roof Guide

How is roof cost figured by the square?

Short answer. Roofers measure in squares, where one square equals 100 square feet of roof surface, and build the price from the number of squares plus waste, pitch and line items like flashing and vents. A per square figure on its own hides too much, so compare whole, itemized bids built on the same square count.

From measurement to squares

The roof is measured plane by plane, including overhangs, then totaled and divided by 100. A roof of 2,400 square feet is 24 squares. That is the measured area; the order quantity adds waste.

Waste factor

Shingles get cut at every hip, valley and rake. Simple gable roofs usually need around 10 percent extra, and hip roofs with valleys around 15 percent or more. Two bids that disagree on waste will disagree on price.

Charges that ride on top of the squares

Items not priced by the square

Drip edge, valleys, ridge vent and ridge cap are linear foot items. Pipe boots, vents and chimney flashing are counted each. Decking is priced per sheet. A bid that rolls all of this into one per square number makes it impossible to tell what you are getting.

How to compare bids

Line up the measured squares first. If they differ by more than a square or two, ask why. Then compare line items. To see the measuring side, read how roofers measure a roof, and for how insurance builds the same math, see Xactimate roof estimates explained.

In depth

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