Here is how to measure a roof for shingles in four steps. Find your building’s exterior length and width. Add your eave overhang. Apply a pitch correction for slope. Convert the total into roofing squares. You can do this from the ground with a tape measure and a level. You can also do it from…
A low pitch roof has a shallow slope. It generally sits between flat and a standard 4:12 pitch. It needs different materials, ventilation, and waterproofing than a steep roof. Most sources place the low slope cutoff between 2:12 and 4:12. OSHA sets its own regulatory line at 4:12 for fall protection purposes. Asphalt shingles work…
The most common types of roof trusses are Fink, Howe, Scissor, Attic, Mono, Queen Post, King Post, and Hip trusses. The right one for your project depends on a few things. These include your roof span. They also include your ceiling style. And they include whether you need extra storage or living space above. Fink…
Most homes can hold about 20 pounds of snow per square foot before the roof feels stressed. That works out to roughly 4 feet of fresh, fluffy snow. Or about 2 feet of old, packed snow. That number is not fixed for every roof. It shifts based on your roof’s age, pitch, and material. It…
The six main types of gutter guards are micro-mesh, mesh, screen, foam, brush, and reverse-curve and the right one for your home depends mainly on the size of debris you get and your climate. Micro-mesh guards block the finest debris and perform best in heavy tree cover and snow mesh and screen guards handle typical…
A gambrel roof design is the right choice when you want the most usable upper floor space for your money, which is why it dominates barns, storage sheds, and Dutch Colonial homes across the US. Builders commonly estimate that a gambrel delivers roughly 40 to 50 percent more usable upper level space than a gable…
In the clay vs concrete roof tiles decision, clay is the better choice for most homeowners who plan to stay in their home long term and live in a climate with hard winters, because clay lasts 50 to 100 years, holds its color permanently, and absorbs far less water than concrete. Concrete roof tiles are…
Metal Roof vs Asphalt Shingles is one of the most important comparisons for homeowners planning a roof replacement in 2026. Asphalt shingles cost less upfront and remain the practical choice for most homeowners on a standard budget or planning to sell within 10 years. Metal roofing costs two to five times more to install but…