A successful metal roofing project starts before the first panel or shingle goes on the roof. It starts with a takeoff that is complete enough to prevent delays, prevent expensive re-orders, and prevent the most common leak points that show up when critical accessories are skipped.
Top Tier Metals is supply-only, which means your results depend on ordering a complete system the first time. If you want a second set of expert eyes on your takeoff before you place the order, use this:
Schedule a free metal roofing takeoff review and bill of materials check
This guide includes a copy-and-paste takeoff worksheet, plus a step-by-step method to build an accurate bill of materials for metal shingles, metal shake, metal tile, or metal panels.
If you still need to choose a system first, start here:
What a takeoff must include to prevent re-orders
A takeoff that only counts the main roof field material is incomplete. A complete takeoff accounts for:
- Field material (panels, shingles, shake, or tile)
- Underlayment and water protection layers
- Edge metal and starter components
- Ridge, hip, and valley detailing
- Wall transitions (sidewalls, headwalls, chimneys)
- Penetrations (pipes, vents, skylights)
- Closures, sealants, tapes, and fastening hardware
- Waste factor based on roof complexity
- Delivery and staging readiness
Before you begin, make sure you have a measurement method that supports an accurate order:
How to measure a roof for metal roofing and avoid ordering mistakes
Step 1: Gather inputs before you start the worksheet
Use plans, a roof report, drone measurements, or manual measurements. Your takeoff will be more accurate if you collect these inputs first:
- Total roof area or total squares
- Roof pitch for each plane (note changes in pitch)
- Ridge length, hip length, and valley length
- Eave length and rake length
- Sidewall length and headwall length where roof meets walls
- Penetration count and types (pipes, skylights, chimneys, vents)
- Roof complexity notes (dormers, cut-up areas, many facets)
- Climate risks (hail, snow, salt-air exposure)
If you are ordering based on performance needs, you can browse by profile category:
- Metal shingles: Shop premium metal shingle roofing systems
- Metal shake: Shop premium metal shake roofing systems
- Metal tile: Shop premium metal tile roofing systems
- Metal panels: Shop metal panel roofing systems
Step 2: Break the roof into planes and compute orderable area
Do not take off the roof as one big number. Break it into planes so you can plan waste and detailing correctly.
Recommended method
- Label each plane (Plane A, Plane B, and so on).
- Record the horizontal footprint dimensions for each plane.
- Apply the pitch factor to convert to true surface area where needed.
- Sum plane areas to get total roof area.
- Apply waste factor based on complexity.
If you already have total squares, you can still use the plane method for trim and flashing lengths, because that is where most omissions happen.
Step 3: Apply a realistic waste factor based on complexity
Waste is not just about extra field material. Cut-up roofs also increase accessory needs because there are more edges, more transitions, and more opportunities for missing line items.
Use these practical planning ranges:
- Simple gable roofs: lower waste planning
- Moderately complex roofs (some valleys and dormers): moderate waste planning
- Highly cut-up roofs (many facets, multiple dormers, lots of valleys): higher waste planning
If you want the safest path for a complete first order, do this before checkout:
Get a free consultation to confirm waste factor and complete bill of materials
Step 4: Build the bill of materials by category
The most reliable way to avoid missing items is to build your order in categories. Use this sequence.
A) Underlayment and water protection layers
- Synthetic underlayment (baseline)
- Ice and water shield for eaves, valleys, and high-risk zones
- High-temp underlayment where required by system or environment
Use this guide to select the right stack:
Metal roof underlayment options and how to choose the right system
B) Field material
- Panels, shingles, shake, or tile quantity (including waste)
- Color selection and matching accessory color plan
- System-specific starter pieces or clips if required
C) Eaves, rakes, ridges, and hips
- Drip edge for eaves
- Rake or gable trim
- Ridge cap or ridge system components
- Hip cap components for hip roofs
- Closures at eaves and ridges where required by the profile
D) Valleys and transitions
- Valley flashing (open valley or system-specific valley detailing)
- Transition flashing for changes in roof plane conditions
- Sealants and tapes required for valley assembly
E) Walls, chimneys, and vertical surfaces
- Sidewall flashing for roof-to-wall runs
- Headwall flashing where roof terminates into a vertical surface
- Chimney flashing approach and cricket planning where required
F) Penetrations (pipes, vents, skylights)
- Pipe boots sized to each penetration
- Skylight flashing plan (curb-mounted vs deck-mounted)
- Vent detailing plan that matches the selected profile
Use this guide before you cut the roof:
Metal roof penetrations guide for skylights, vents, and chimneys without leaks
G) Closures, sealants, tapes, and accessories
- Foam closures where required
- Butyl tape for laps and flashing edges
- Compatible sealants (do not mix incompatible product families)
- Any profile-specific accessory pieces needed for edges and transitions
If you want a practical overview of accessory and trim choices:
Metal roof accessories and trim options that improve performance and appearance
H) Fasteners and attachment hardware
- Gasketed screws for exposed-fastener applications
- System-approved fasteners for shingles, shake, and tile systems
- Clips and attachment hardware where required by profile
Incorrect fasteners and detailing can create warranty issues. Review this before installation:
Metal roof warranties explained and how to avoid common coverage mistakes
Copy and paste metal roofing takeoff worksheet
Copy this section into your notes and fill it out plane by plane. This format is intentionally built to prevent omissions of trim, closures, and flashing.
1) Roof planes worksheet
| Plane | Length | Width | Pitch | Area | Waste Factor | Order Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plane A | |||||||
| Plane B | |||||||
| Plane C |
2) Linear detailing worksheet
| Detail | Total Length | Material Type | Pieces Needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eaves | Drip Edge | |||
| Rakes | Rake Trim | |||
| Ridges | Ridge Cap | |||
| Hips | Hip Cap | |||
| Valleys | Valley Flashing | |||
| Sidewalls | Sidewall Flashing | |||
| Headwalls | Headwall Flashing |
3) Penetrations worksheet
| Penetration | Count | Size | Flashing Plan | Items Needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe Boots | |||||
| Skylights | |||||
| Chimneys |
4) Consumables and fastening worksheet
| Category | Item | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underlayment | Synthetic Underlayment | ||
| Water Protection | Ice and Water Shield | ||
| Closures | Foam Closures | ||
| Sealants | Compatible Sealant | ||
| Tapes | Butyl Tape | ||
| Fasteners | System Approved Fasteners |
Step 5: Final order validation and delivery readiness
Before you submit an order, validate these items:
- All linear trim and flashing lines are included (eaves, rakes, ridges, hips, valleys, sidewalls, headwalls)
- Closures, tapes, and sealants are included where required by your profile
- Penetrations are planned with the correct boots and flashing approach
- Underlayment is compatible with the system and environment
- Fasteners match the system requirements
- Delivery location is accessible and staging is ready
Review shipping expectations here:
Top Tier Metals shipping policy and delivery timelines
If you want quick answers on ordering and project logistics, start here:
Top Tier Metals FAQs for ordering, timelines, and common questions
