A standard gable roof is simple—measure the length, measure the width, factor in the pitch, and you are done. But a complex hip roof with intersecting dormers, multiple valleys, and varying pitches? That is a recipe for a massive headache.

One wrong calculation on a hip roof can leave you short on underlayment or with ten extra bundles of ridge caps sitting in your warehouse.

Here is a quick breakdown of how to handle hip roof takeoffs accurately:

• Isolate the Triangles and Trapezoids: A hip roof breaks down into two types of shapes—triangles on the ends and trapezoids on the sides. You have to calculate the area for each facet individually.
• Calculate the Hip and Ridge Lengths: Unlike gables, hip roofs require extra material for hip caps. You must measure every sloping hip ridge and add them to your main horizontal ridge totals.
• Account for High Waste: Because you are cutting shingles at steep angles along every single hip and valley, your waste factor on hip roofs needs to be set between 12% and 15% minimum.

The Easy Way: Instead of breaking out the old high school geometry textbook, let ReMeRoof handle it. Just pin the property, and the platform's advanced algorithms will instantly calculate every triangle, trapezoid, pitch, and hip length for you.