Squares
One roofing square equals 100 square feet of roof surface, the common unit for planning area.
Built around your home
Know the roof over your head
Most homeowners inherit a roof without a clear vocabulary for it. A few plain terms (squares, pitch, layers) make every later conversation shorter and more useful.
Pitch
Steeper roofs have more surface than the footprint below. Geometric pitch factors convert a horizontal building footprint into a roof-surface planning range. Living floor area is not a roof measurement. Try the safe, ground-only visual pitch helper on the Estimate page.
Layers
Underlayment, flashing, ventilation, and the shingle or covering itself all affect performance, and only an inspection confirms them.
Common questions
Can you reroof a home that has solar panels?
Yes. Reroofing homes with solar panels is Fullerton Roofing’s stated specialty. Fullerton coordinates the full project: assess the roof and array, plan removal and storage, reroof, then reinstall the panels. Panel removal and reinstallation are performed by a licensed electrician subcontracted by Fullerton.
Check your solar company’s warranty and service terms before authorizing work. Roofing, electrical and storage arrangements are confirmed before work; no solar-company partnership is implied. Read the solar reroofing process →
What is a roofing square?
A square is 100 square feet of roof surface. A 2,000 sq ft roof surface is about 20 squares before waste and detailing.
Why does pitch change the number?
A steeper plane covers more area than a flat rectangle of the same length and width. That is why footprint alone undercounts many roofs.
Can an online tool replace an inspection?
No. Access, layers, slope, condition, and decking are not inspected online. Use these tools to prepare, then confirm in person.
Will this site show prices?
Not on this preview. Materials, labor, tear-off, and site conditions vary too widely to invent a number here.
Recognize the shape
Roof styles around New England
Original simplified illustrations, not measured roof plans. A shape does not establish pitch or area.
Connecticut weather
A New England roof through the seasons
Winter
Ice dams form when heat from the house melts snow on the roof and the water refreezes at the colder eaves. Water can back up under shingles. Insulation and attic ventilation usually matter more than the shingles themselves.
Spring
Snowmelt and spring rain show where water gets in. Look for new ceiling stains, and clear gutters and downspouts of winter debris.
Summer
Thunderstorms bring wind gusts, hail and falling limbs. Check the yard for shingle pieces after a strong storm, from the ground.
Fall
Leaves clog gutters and valleys, and nor'easters bring wind-driven rain. Fall is a good time to clear gutters and look the roof over before winter.
Leaks
Where roof leaks usually start
Water often travels along rafters or the roof deck before it drips, so a stain can show up some distance from where the water got in. Common sources include:
- Flashing around chimneys, walls and dormers, where the flashing and sealant age and separate.
- Pipe boots around plumbing vents, whose rubber seals can crack over time.
- Valleys, where two roof slopes meet and carry a lot of water.
- Ice dams in winter, pushing meltwater under the shingles at the eaves.
- Attic condensation, which can look like a leak but comes from warm, moist indoor air meeting a cold roof deck.
Skylight leaks
A wet skylight does not always mean a new skylight or a new roof. Common causes are worn or poorly sealed flashing around the skylight, a failed seal or cracked glazing in the unit, debris or ice holding water above it, and condensation from indoor humidity that drips like a leak. A roofer evaluates which one it is: flashing can often be repaired, condensation points to humidity and ventilation, and a failed unit may need attention of its own. Ask us to take a look and explain what we find.
What you can safely check from the ground
- Use binoculars to look for missing, lifted or curled shingles and bent or loose flashing.
- Check gutters and downspout outlets for heavy piles of shingle granules.
- Look along the ridge and roof lines for sagging.
- From a safe, floored part of the attic, use a flashlight to look for stains, damp insulation or daylight.
Please do not climb onto your roof. If you see something worrying, take photos from the ground and tell us what you see, or start with the storm damage page after a storm.
Read the written terms
Manufacturer warranties
Compare the manufacturer’s coverage for representative architectural shingle lines. GAF and Atlas are Fullerton Roofing’s stated preferred brands, not a statement of manufacturer certification.