How Many Bundles of Starter Strip Do I Need? Roof Chart
Starter strip is the first course of shingles along the eaves and rakes. It seals the edge of the first full course, and it is sold by the linear feet a bundle covers. A roof with 320 ft of eaves and rakes needs 3 bundles at 120 linear ft per bundle with 5% for cuts, or 4 at 105 ft. The starter strip calculator does the division for any length and bundle size.
Bundles by edge length
With 5% extra. Add the eaves and rakes together before you look up the count:
| Eaves and rakes | 120 ft bundles | 105 ft bundles |
|---|---|---|
| 60 ft | 1 | 1 |
| 100 ft | 1 | 1 |
| 150 ft | 2 | 2 |
| 200 ft | 2 | 2 |
| 250 ft | 3 | 3 |
| 300 ft | 3 | 3 |
| 400 ft | 4 | 4 |
Bundles for common roofs
With 5% extra and a 6/12 pitch for the four gable rakes (two at each end). A hip roof has no rakes, so only its eaves count.
| Roof | Eaves | Rakes | 120 ft bundles | 105 ft bundles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 × 30 ft gable | 60 ft | 54 ft | 1 | 2 |
| 28 × 40 ft gable | 80 ft | 63 ft | 2 | 2 |
| 30 × 50 ft gable | 100 ft | 67 ft | 2 | 2 |
| 28 × 40 ft hip | 136 ft | 0 ft | 2 | 2 |
| 30 × 50 ft hip | 160 ft | 0 ft | 2 | 2 |
Eaves only, or eaves and rakes
Shingle makers differ on the rakes. Some ask for starter along them as well (GAF does for its high-wind warranty), and some installers lay the starter at the eaves only. The choice changes the count: 100 ft of eaves takes 1 bundle at 120 ft, and adding 100 ft of rakes makes it 2. Check the instructions for your shingle before you decide.
How much extra to buy
Starter strip is cut at corners and where the rakes meet the eaves, so 5% extra is usual. The count is in whole bundles, so there is often more than 5% spare: for 320 ft of edge, 3 bundles of 120 ft cover 360 ft and leave 40 ft. Spare starter is useful for repairs and for the first course of a porch or dormer roof.
Measuring and fitting
- Measure each eave along its length and each rake along the slope, then add them up.
- A rake on a 6/12 roof is about 12% longer than the run beside it, and more on a steeper roof.
- Set the starter and the overhang over the eave as the shingle maker's instructions say: the position of the sealant strip matters.
- Use the starter the shingle maker names: a warranty can depend on it.
- Ask the supplier whether the shingle count includes starter and ridge cap, so that you do not buy it twice.
Count the shingles with the roofing calculator, the edges with the drip edge calculator and the peaks with the ridge cap calculator. Coverage figures are typical: your product's wrapper rules.
Frequently asked questions
How many bundles of starter strip do I need?
Add the eaves and the rakes, add 5% for cuts, and divide by the feet a bundle covers. 100 ft of edge takes 1 bundle at 120 linear ft, and 320 ft takes 3.
How many linear feet is a bundle of starter strip?
It depends on the product. GAF Pro-Start covers about 120 linear feet a bundle and Owens Corning Starter Strip Plus covers 105. The wrapper has the figure for the one you buy.
Does starter strip go on the rakes?
Often it does. GAF, for example, asks for its starter products at the eaves and the rakes for its high-wind warranty. Read the instructions for your shingle.
Is starter strip counted in the shingle bundles?
Usually not. Ask the supplier whether the quote for shingles includes starter and ridge cap.
Can I make starter from full shingles?
Roofers do cut tabs off full shingles, but purpose-made starter has the sealant strip on the right edge and goes down faster. Follow the shingle maker's instructions.
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.
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