Many homeowners overlook the costs of debris removal when replacing their roofs. If you’re reading this, you’re probably in one of two situations: first, you’re trying to figure out how big a dumpster you’ll need to fit all the shingles from your old roof. If this describes you, it is essential to be aware of both the weight of the shingle bundles that are being removed and any additional debris that will be placed in the dumpster.
To avoid paying a surcharge from the dumpster rental company or renting the wrong size dumpster altogether, it is essential to accurately calculate the total removal weight. In the following paragraph, we will discuss how to use the most accurate estimation of the quantity of debris that will be produced by your roof project to select the appropriate dumpster size.
Some homeowners want to know how much a bundle of shingles weighs for another reason in addition to using the weight of the bundle to predict the size of the dumpster that is required. The reason could be that they are transporting the shingles in their car or truck and don’t want them to be too heavy, that they will need to carry the shingles up a ladder and want to plan accordingly, or that they just want to know the answer.
We have included some straightforward weight calculations at the bottom of this page based on common roof sizes and roofing shingle brands to satisfy all these scenarios.
If you don’t have time to read and just need a quick calculation for the weight of a shingle bundle, here it is:
Most shingle bundles weigh between 60 and 80 pounds. Because most homeowners these days replace their roofs with architectural shingles, you can use these figures to determine a weight range for your new shingles.
Three-tab shingles typically weigh between 45 and 60 pounds per bundle, which is less than architectural shingles. Because many of the shingles being removed are of the 3-tab variety, knowing how much a bundle of 3tab shingles weighs will likely be of greater assistance to you when attempting to calculate the debris from the removal.
The ranges of numbers above are just enough to get you started; however, they should not be considered the “end all, be all” answer to the question of how much the roofing material from your house will weigh. Because you first need to know how big your roof is and then consider a few other things that will affect the total weight of the removal, it will be hard to guess the final number.
What is a shingle square?
The amount of roofing material required to cover 100 square feet of roofing area is referred to as a “roof square,” or one square of roof shingles. Contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers in the roofing industry use the term “roofing square” to estimate the quantity of materials required for a given project.
A roof measuring 1,500 square feet is about 15 square feet, while a roof measuring 2,000 square feet is “20 square. “To account for waste, roofers frequently round to the nearest hundred. A 17-square-foot roof, for instance, would cover 1,650 square feet. Naturally, an exact 18-square-foot roof covers 1,800 square feet.
How many shingles bundles are in a square?
One square of roofing can typically be replaced with three bundles of shingles. The weight of a roofing square and the cost of your roof replacement project are heavily influenced by the number of shingle bundles required to cover one roofing square.
How many bundles of shingles are there?
There are somewhere in the range of 21 and 26 shingles in a pack, contingent upon the brand. Most adults can easily lift the bundle itself because each shingle is quite small.
What is the weight of a square of shingles?
Architectural shingles typically weigh between 180 and 240 pounds per square, whereas traditional 3-tab shingles typically weigh between 135 and 180 pounds per square.
The math you can use to calculate the above shingle square weight is as follows:
• It takes three bundles of architectural shingles to cover one square of roofing; • one bundle of architectural shingles weighs between 60 and 80 pounds.
• For roofing square weight, 60 pounds divided by three bundles per square equals 180 pounds; for roofing square weight, 80 pounds divided by three bundles per square equals 240 pounds.
Note: A bundle of three-tab shingles weighs between 45 and 60 pounds. Simply change the numbers if you want to use that shingle type in your calculations.
What is the cost of a bundle of shingles?
A bundle of shingles typically costs between $35 and $42, but prices vary depending on the brand and project location. Since you’ll require three groups for each square, the typical shingle cost for one rooftop square is $105 to $126.
As a result of inflation, shingle bundle prices are anticipated to rise over the next year.
What is the weight of a pallet of shingles?
42 bundles of shingles can fit on a shipping pallet, which is quite heavy. A full pallet of shingles weighs between 2,520 and 3,360 pounds, with each bundle weighing 60 to 80 pounds.
One shingle bed is sufficient to cover a 14 square rooftop. Two pallets of shingles will be required if your roof is larger than 14 square feet. This could significantly increase the cost of replacing your roof, depending on freight shipping.
How much debris will my new roof produce?
If you’re doing the roof replacement on your own and need to rent a dumpster, you’ll need to know as much as you can about the roofing debris to ensure a smooth cleanup. Please note the three common factors that influence individual shingle bundle weight fluctuations as well as the three non-shingle factors that determine which dumpster size to order in order to accomplish this.
Factors That Affect Each Shingle Bundle’s Weight Not all shingles are created equal.
The kind of shingle you order or the kind of shingle you remove from your roof can affect the quantity of debris that is produced.
Which type of shingle is the heaviest? Asphalt vs. slate vs. cedar shake shingle the weight of architectural asphalt shingles and three-tab asphalt shingles was previously discussed. But what if you want to remove a roof that isn’t asphalt? In this instance, the weight of slate or wood shingles, also known as “cedar shakes,” might be something you want to know.
Weight of slate shingles Given that slate shingles are, in essence, rocks, it comes as no surprise that they are the heaviest shingles available. Slate is a natural material that is very different in weight depending on the slate sheets that are used to make the materials, just like cedar shingles.
The slate shingles that will be removed from your roof are frequently more than 100 years old! They are very heavy, frequently weighing more than 1,000 pounds per square. You can use this as a “best guess” for weight calculations because slate roofs are all unique.
When ordering a dumpster for slate roof removal, we always recommend going with the larger dumpster if you can’t decide between two sizes. Ensure that the slate removal contractor is licensed and insured.
Weight of wood shingles (cedar shake roofing) The weight of wood shingles varies just like the weight of slate. The shingle material is not uniform, unlike asphalt. This is especially true for older roofs that were initially constructed 75, 100, or even more than 150 years ago. We recommend erring on the side of caution and estimating heavier rather than lighter because it is impossible to know the exact weight.
Today, bundles of wood shingles can weigh as little as 200 pounds or as much as 700 pounds. The total weight per square can vary significantly because each square of roofing may require more than three bundles of wood shingles: ranging from 600 to 2,100 pounds per square.
Be careful when determining how many layers of shingles are up there on the roof when calculating the weight required to remove wood shingles. Many homes have at least two layers of wood shingles installed, even though they may appear to be just one from the ground. Later, more on this!
Quality and weight of the shingles (architectural shingles versus three-tab shingles) The majority of roofing contractors favor architectural shingles. They are heavier, stronger, and more long-lasting than their three-tab counterparts, but they also look better. The average bundle of architectural shingles weighs about 20 pounds more than a bundle of three tabs of the same size, as previously mentioned.
Yes, shingles of “higher quality” typically weigh more than those of lower quality.
Differences between leading brands the manufacturer you select can have a small impact on the weight of a bundle.
3 Things to Think About When Ordering a Dumpster
Although the type of shingle used determines the total weight of the debris, it isn’t the only thing to think about when selecting a dumpster size. The three factors listed below are just as important, if not more so, than the type of shingle.
1.How many layers of shingles make up the roof?
Viewing your roof from the side is the quickest way to estimate how many layers of shingles it has. The shingles will appear to be flush with the wood beneath them if there is only one layer.
The shingles will appear much thicker if there are multiple layers. If this is the case, the number of layers that are stacked on top of each other can frequently be counted. Additionally, climb a ladder for a better view if you require a more in-depth examination. You will be able to slightly pull back each layer when you are up there to see if there is another layer beneath it.
Different layers of shingles will practically twofold your dumpster need
At the point when you get a gauge from material organizations, they frequently incorporate 1-2 layers of shingle evacuation at no extra expense. However, the costs really start to add up when there are more than two layers! Why? because the amount of debris produced by each additional layer nearly doubles. There are twice as many shingles on a roof with two layers as there are with one layer.
Make sure you know exactly how many layers of shingles you’ll be removing if you plan to do the re-roofing and removal yourself to avoid a big surprise and a big extra cost in the middle of the project.
2.Planning for Damaged or Rotted Plywood Decking
After removing all your roof’s shingles, you might find some rotted plywood beneath. Most of the time, there won’t be much rotting. Most times there’s under 100 square feet of wood that should be supplanted.
Our recommendation is to anticipate having at least 100 square feet more wood in your dumpster. Yet, to be protected, attempt to give yourself a loft assessment before the dumpster contract is concluded. You can anticipate additional damaged wood for your dumpster if you discover extensive patches of damaged plywood in the attic.
3.Take into consideration the weight restrictions and surcharges charged by your dumpster company.
Just because a dumpster can technically hold a certain amount of debris or shingles does not mean that your dumpster company will let you fill it to the top.
After your dumpster is removed, you could be charged additional fees if you go over these limits. Get a list of any potential surcharges from the company you are renting from to protect yourself. When purchasing a new roof, reducing costs extends beyond the price of shingles, labor, and other materials. Prices for shingle bundles and dumpsters are big factors. Fortunately, there are a lot of different ways to pay for a new roof, including financing options for roofing that let you buy a roof without spending any money upfront. Regardless of how you pay for the project, make sure you get a good deal from a company that will still be around in ten years.