The Metal for a Hip Roof calculator computes the metal roof materials for a pyramid hip roof based on the dimensions.
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:
- (S) Side-Span of Roof
- (P) Pitch (choose pitch from list)
- (oH) Overhang
- (PW) Panel Width (default 36"). This is the coverage width and not necessarily the measured width of the metal panels.
- (TO) Tolerance (default 3"). This is added to trim and panel lengths as a safety margin.
Metal for Pyramid Roof (m): The calculator returns:
- (TA) Area: Total surface area of hip roof.
- (j) Hip Ridge Length: Length of each individual hip ridge
- (tRC) Total Hip Ridge Trim: Covers the hip ridges
- Metal Panels: Number and max length of Metal Panels (36" wide coverage)
- (PL) Length of Panels
- (nP+) Number of Panels with no-reuse. This is conservatively high.
- (nP-) Number of Panels with reuse of cuts. This accounts for one panel used in multiple segments in the hips (see ECONOMY below)
- (α) Panel Angle: The angle of the hip cuts
- (mS) Metal Screws: number of screws needed to attach panels to roof.
- (aT) Angle Trim: Total length of Angle Trim (yellow)
However, these can be automatically converted to compatible units via the pull-down menu.
ECONOMY: This calculator provides two numbers of panels. The first (nP+) is a high number with no reduction in the number of panels based on reusing panel leftovers for additional sections (see graphic). When smaller sections are cut out of a panel of maximum length, it is possible in many cases to use the residual (leftover) for another section. This maximum number assumes that a full panel will be used for each section and therefore provides the maximum number of metal panels needed. The second (nP-) number of panels is lower, because it assumes that cuts making the hip ends will produce leftover pieces that can also be used (see diagram).
The Math / Science
Pyramid Hip Roof
A Pyramid Hip Roof is a special case of a hip roof where the hips come to a single point and do not form a ridge line. All four faces create triangular ends (faces) to the roof which are all exposed to rain and snow from above and require roofing material.
The specifications of a Pyramid Hip Roof can be defined by a span, pitch and overhang (see diagram). These calculators compute the area, hip ridge lengths and materials required for a pyramid hip roof.
Roofing Materials
The roofing materials to cover a pyramid roof include:
Pyramid Hip Roof Geometries
A pyramid hip roof is geometrically a square based pyramid. The surface area and four hip ridge lengths can be computed using simple trigonometry using the span, including overhang and the pitch.
The photograph shows two sheds located in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia that have pyramid hip roofs.
Pyramid Hip Roof Calculators
- Shingles for a Pyramid Roof: Number of shingles (normal and ridge), roofing nails and cost estimate.
- 4x8 Sheathing for a Pyramid Roof: Number of 4x8 sheathing needed to cover roof.
- Underlayment for a Pyramid Roof: Square feet of underlayment and estimated cost.
- Metal Panels for a Pyramid Roof: Metal panels, hip ridge trims, and angle.
- Purlins for a Pyramid Roof: Number of rows of purlins and the length of each row.
- Pyramid Roof Geometries: Surface area, volume, lengths of hips, face length, base area of a pyramid.
A hip roof is basically a rectangular trapezoid volume has regular trapezoids in the front and back and triangles on the sides. The bottom and top rectangles are centered, form parallel planes and separated by the height.
Safety Tolerances
An addition of the TO parameter (default of 3") s added to the following dimensions.
- (r) Ridge Cap
- (sG) Snow Guard
- (j) Hip Covers
- (PL) Panel Length
- (aT) Angle Trim
It's better to have too much and have to cut it, than not enough.
Roof Calculators
- Gabled Roof
- Hip Roof
- Shed Roof
- Dormers
Building Calculators
- Total Building Materials Calculator
- Pitch of a Roof - Computes angle of incline in the roof in both degrees and rise over 12" run (e.g. 26.6o : 6/12) based on the length of the rise and run.
- Number of Trusses Needed for a Roof - number of trusses needed based on the roof width and the truss spacing.
- 4x8s needed for a roof - Calculates the number of 4x8 sheets needed to cover a roof.
- Roofing nails needed for a roof - Calculates the number of roofing nails needed for a roof in normal and high wind conditions.
- Number and Length of Metal Roof Panels - Computes the length and number of metal panels and trim pieces for a metal roof.
- Screws for a Metal Roof - Computes the number of screws needed for a metal roof.
- Number and Length of Purlins for a Roof - Computes the number of purlins for a roof based on dimensions and spacing.
- Number and Length of Rafters - Computes the number and length of rafter boards based on roof dimensions and spacing.
- Number and Length of Rafter and Collar ties - Computes the number and length of rafter ties and collar ties based on roof dimensions and spacing.
- Number and Length of wall top and bottom wall plates
- Number of Studs for a Room
- Number of Studs in a Wall
- Room Interior Area (wall and ceiling)
- Cubic Feet in a Room (volume)
- Number of 4x8 or 4x12 Sheets for a Room
- Number and Length of Floor Joists
- Number of Joist Hangers
- Compute the Cost of Floor Joists
- Compute iJoists for larger floors
- Compute the Number of 4x8 Sheets to cover the Deck or Floor
- Compute the number of Decking Boards to cover the deck or floor
Roofing Geometry Calculators