Roofing guides

Straight answers with real numbers, tables and worked examples. Every guide links to the roof square footage calculator so you can run your own roof.

Roof Pitch

6/12 Roof Pitch: Angle, Multiplier and a Real Roof Example A 6/12 roof pitch is 26.57°, a 50% slope with a 1.118 area multiplier. See a full 40×30 house example with squares, bundles and rafter length. Read guide → How to Measure Roof Pitch: 3 Ways, No Climbing Needed Measure roof pitch from a ladder, the attic or your phone. Step-by-step methods, a conversion table and the mistakes that throw your roof area off. Read guide → Roof Pitch in Degrees: Full Angle Chart (1/12 to 24/12) Convert any roof pitch to degrees with one chart: 1/12 to 24/12 with angle, percent slope and rise per foot, plus the formula and walkability notes. Read guide → Standard Roof Pitch for Houses and Sheds (With Minimums) Most US homes have a 4/12 to 9/12 roof pitch. See minimum pitch by roofing material, typical shed pitches and how to calculate the pitch of a shed roof. Read guide →

Roof Types

Hip Roof vs Gable Roof: Cost, Area and Wind Performance Hip vs gable roof compared on the same house: roof area, waste, ridge cap, cost drivers, wind resistance and attic space, with real numbers for a 40×30 home. Read guide → How to Calculate Hip Roof Area (Step-by-Step Example) Calculate hip roof area two ways: the fast footprint × multiplier method and the triangle + trapezoid method, with a full worked example and hip length. Read guide → What Is a Gable Roof? Types (Open, Box, Cross, Dutch) and Area A gable roof has two slopes meeting at a ridge, with triangle walls at each end. See every gable roof type, pros and cons, and the formula to measure one. Read guide → What Is a Hip Roof? Types, Pros, Cons and How to Measure It A hip roof slopes down on all four sides with no vertical gable ends. Learn hip roof types, framing parts, pros and cons and how to measure one for shingles. Read guide →

Shingles & Underlayment

Does a Metal Roof Need Underlayment? (Yes, Here Is Which Kind) Yes, metal roofs need underlayment. Learn why, which type works best under metal panels, when to use high-temp or peel-and-stick, and how many rolls to buy. Read guide → How Many Bundles of Shingles in a Square (and on a Pallet) Most shingles come 3 bundles per square, about 33.3 sq ft per bundle. See bundles by shingle type, pallet counts and how many you need for 1,000 sq ft. Read guide → Roofing Underlayment Types: Felt vs Synthetic vs Peel-and-Stick Compare roofing underlayment types: #15 and #30 felt, synthetic and peel-and-stick. Coverage per roll, exposure time, cost level and how many rolls you need. Read guide →

Sheathing & Decking

OSB vs Plywood for Roof Sheathing: Which Is Better? OSB vs plywood for roof sheathing compared: cost, moisture, strength, weight and nail holding, with a sheet count and cost example for a 2,000 sq ft roof. Read guide → Roof Sheathing Nails: Size, Spacing and How Many You Need Use 8d nails for roof sheathing, 6 inches apart on panel edges and 12 inches in the field, tighter in high-wind areas. Includes a nailing diagram and nail count. Read guide → Roof Sheathing Thickness: Span Ratings, H-Clips and Code Basics How thick should roof sheathing be? See span ratings by rafter spacing, when 7/16 OSB is fine, when to use 1/2 or 5/8 inch and when H-clips are required. Read guide → What Size Plywood for a Roof? Thickness by Rafter Spacing Roof plywood is usually 4×8 sheets, 7/16 to 5/8 inch thick depending on rafter spacing. See a thickness table, span ratings and how many sheets your roof needs. Read guide →

Overhangs & Edges

How Much Should a Metal Roof Overhang? Eaves, Gutters and Rakes Metal roof panels usually overhang the eave by about 1 to 2 inches past the drip edge, more without gutters. See typical overhangs by panel type and edge. Read guide → Roof Overhang: Standard Sizes, Names and How Much Area It Adds Standard roof overhang is 12 to 24 inches. Learn what the overhang and its parts are called, and how much a 12, 16 or 24 inch overhang adds to roof area. Read guide →

Roofing Costs

Roof Replacement Cost: How to Estimate It by Size and Material Estimate roof replacement cost the way roofers do: squares × price per square, plus tear-off, decking and extras. Cost tables by roof size and a worked example. Read guide → Flat Roof Replacement Cost per Square Foot (TPO, EPDM, Mod-Bit) How to estimate flat roof replacement cost per square foot: compare TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen and roll roofing, with a garage roof example and cost table. Read guide → Metal Roof Replacement Cost vs Shingles: The Real Math Estimate metal roof replacement cost by roof size and panel type, and compare it with asphalt shingles on the same house by cost per year of service life. Read guide →