Questions To Ask When Getting a Roof Estimate

Questions To Ask When Getting a Roof Estimate

Planning out your roof? Looking for the right design that can go well with the architecture and style of your home? Having a methodical approach in installing your roof is the best way of planning it out. The first thing most contractors and homeowners do in planning their roof is to first get the measurements of their roof. 

Knowing is half the battle, and even though roof installation and replacements might be one of the most stressful processes that homeowners have to endure, it is still a necessity. Measuring and planning your roof can help create a comprehensive plan in making your roof 

But before we get into what are some of the questions that have we have to ask ourselves when measuring our roof, we have to first weigh-in on several factors that can affect our roof estimations.

Factors to Consider

The measurements of your roof shouldn’t be limited to just the length, width, and height of the roof. Sure, these measurements might be important in determining the dimensions of your roof and are important in the planning process, but there are still several factors that have to be taken into account. 

Climate

Although most people might claim that climate does not play much of a role in the measurement of the roof, but it has a clear influence on the roofing material of your roof. If you’re going to be using roofing materials that are sensitive to heat, your roof might expand and the area will also expand with it. 

Temperature

Roofing materials, including support structures and underlays, might be sensitive to the changes in temperature. This can cause tress and damages to flashings. As such, the temperature and climate need to be taken into account so that extra measurements have to be taken to avoid damages. 

Pitch

Measuring the slope and steepness of a roof is paramount in measuring a roof. If a roof has a pitch of 3/12 and below, then this is considered a low-sloped roof. Usually, only certain materials are allowed for certain pitches as gravity might cause damage to the mounting materials. 

Material Used

Naturally, when you’re planning out and installing a new roof, the material that’s being used should be taken into account when measuring a roof. It’s best to ask yourself if you’re going to be using shingles or other roofing materials since this can affect the overall measurement and planning of your roof. 

Weight

Although most homeowners think that weight shouldn’t be a factor when installing a roof, it plays a huge role in keeping roofs in place in face of imminent threats like high winds. The area of the roof can also determine the overall weight of the roof. Certain roofing materials are also heavier than others and might place stress and pressure on your supporting structures. If ever you’re planning on making roof estimates, it’s also advised to install the appropriate supporting beams. 

Questions to Ask

A roof is measured in squares.  In order to calculate the area of a roof, simple geometry is required. This is, however, easier said than done since a mistake in calculation can easily cost thousands of dollars in repairs and replacements. So before making any necessary measurements and inspections, the following questions have to be asked:

What’s the design of my roof?

Each roof design will have different measurements. If you’re not sure how to make the appropriate measurements, you can always ask your local roofing contractor to help you out. Having a professional roofer measure your roof can mitigate any room for error. 

What’s your slope?

You’ll need to know the slope of your desk. The best way to determine this is by measuring the pitch of your roof. A roof with a pitch of 4/12 means that for every 12 inches that’s being traversed horizontally, there is a 4-inch total rise. This is essential in choosing the right material for the job since some roofing materials excel in certain pitches. 

What if I have a steep roof?

Contrary to what most people know, measuring the steepness of your roof needs an alternate method. To measure the roof’s length, you’ll need to measure the exterior walls and the overhang of your roof for the length of the roof that’s parallel to the ridge. Then, you have to use a rope over the ridge to mark each eave since this will give the dimension used in figuring the area. 

Ultimately, the way that a roof is measured depends on the design that’s used. The most common roof designs are gabled roofs on residential areas. But there are also roof designs like mansard, hip roof, and lean-to roof. These roofing Houston TX all use a different way of calculating the area.