You probably won’t be required to do the math for your next siding replacement project, but have you ever wondered how siding contractors are able to calculate the amount of materials needed? In today’s post, Roof Masters takes a look at how contractors calculate the siding needed for a project.
Siding contractors like us need to be able to determine the right amount of materials when we draw an estimate or quote. The materials should just be enough to avoid material shortage, which could delay the project, but not too much as to result in too many unused boards. This is one of the reasons why you should make sure you’re hiring an experienced siding contractor: so you won’t have to deal with delays or pay for excess materials.
As a homeowner, you may also find it helpful being able to estimate the amount of required siding for a project. It can help you make informed decisions, particularly if you’re comparison shopping between contractors. It can also give you opportunities to explore options — materials, color, profiles — and get more out of your budget. Knowing how to take an estimate can also be useful even before you start looking for contractors, as it can help you get a ballpark cost of the materials.
Contractors use a similar method as roofing to calculate the amount of material needed. A “square” is defined as 100 square feet, or 10 by 10 feet, of surface area. During the initial consultation, one of the first things a contractor will do is take measurements of the house’s exterior. Manufacturers package materials per “square,” so a siding replacement quote would reflect the number of squares needed; any partial square would be rounded off.
Calculating the exterior areas is easy when the building is box-shaped. However, this isn’t often the case. A typical home with a sloped roof would have at least a couple of gable walls, or the triangular areas under the roof’s peak. The triangular area — from the peak to the bottom of the roofline — can be calculated by using the formula A = 1/2 × b × h. That is, multiply the base of the triangle by the height, divide by two, and you get the area.
Ultimately, you should end up with the area for each wall and each gable. Add them up, subtract the window and door areas, and you should have the total square feet. Divide the total by 100, round up the result by the nearest hundred, and you have the total number of squares needed for your project.
Planning on getting new siding for your home? Contact our team at Roof Masters for a free consultation. You can reach us at (301) 230-7663, or fill out our contact form. We serve Montgomery County, MD, and the surrounding communities.