DIY Roof Measurement

Pitch

• 1

  Climb up to the roof on a ladder.

• 2

  Place a level on the peak of the roof and position it until it is level. (One edge of the level will be balanced on the peak, with a space between the edge of the level and the rooftop.)

• 3

  Measure the distance between the bottom edge of the level and the roof immediately below it.

• 4

  Determine the pitch of the roof. Use the distance between the edge of the level and the roof and the length of the level. In our example, we'll say that the distance between the level and the roof is 24 inches, and the level is 36 inches long. Use 12 inches in the base run, so divide both numbers by three. The pitch is then reduced to 8 in 12, meaning that for every 12 inches of run, the roof rises 8 inches.

Area

• 5

  Sketch out a diagram of your home. Use a direct overhead angle.

• 6

  Measure the exterior walls of your home from corner to corner and record the measurements on the corresponding locations on the sketch. If your home is shaped like a rectangle or square, you need to measure only the length and width.

• 7

  Measure the width of the overhang on all sides and record them on the sketch. The overhang is the part of the roof that extends past the walls.

• 8

  Climb on the roof and take measurements on odd-shaped portions such as dormers, if necessary. Ignore objects such as vents and skylights.

• 9

  Multiply the length and width of the surface of the roof. If there are oddly shaped sections, break down the roof into smaller sections and multiply the measurements separately. Add the totals from each section together.

• 10

  Multiply the width of the overhangs by their lengths and add that to the total surface area of the roof.

• 11

  Multiply the sum of the roof surface by the roof pitch multiplier. You can find this information online, along with roof pitch calculators. This provides the size of the roof in square feet.