Can anyone tell me how the term square came about in roofing?
Jason V asked:
I know that the term square is a 10 x 10 area used in construction usually roofing and siding, but how did it come about. Is it just to simplify the area?
The Mediterranean Diet
I know that the term square is a 10 x 10 area used in construction usually roofing and siding, but how did it come about. Is it just to simplify the area?
The Mediterranean Diet
It’s 100 square feet, just like a “yard’ is one cubic yard. It’s a kind of lingoistic shorthand. Makes it faster, so instead of saying ‘six hundred square feet’ you say ‘six square’. It also is a good way for roofing contractors to confuse customers, who are too embarrassed to ask what the hell they are talking about.
It’s just an easier way to determine roof area. It’s simpler to just say, for example, “3 squares” than it is to say “300 square feet”. It’s also a reference used to determine the number of bundles of shingles. Take the total square feet, divide by 100 to get squares, and divide that by 3 to get the number of bundles, because 1 sq. = 3 bundles, (which will cover an area 10′x10′)