Photo by David Cashbaugh

Originally Posted On: 8 Factors That Affect the Cost of a New Roof (bestroofingestimates.com)

 

Getting a new roof can be a costly endeavor. And, if you’re looking at replacing yours you should know about these 8 factors that affect the cost of a new roof.

Picture this: You’re sitting at home, enjoying a nice, warm tea while it pours down rain outside. You think you may want to settle down with a nice book when you hear it. Drip. Drip. Drip.

At first, you think it’s the sink. You check every faucet and find no signs of a leak. You look in the kitchen and notice that there seems to be a puddle on the floor, growing with each drop from the ceiling. Your roof is leaking, and you don’t even want to think about the cost of a new roof. (Especially if your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it.)

Still, if you’ve been plagued with leaks that don’t seem to go away no matter what you do, it might be time to consider getting a new roof. Here are eight factors that might affect the cost of such a project.

1. The Type of Shingles Used

One of the first major factors in the cost of a new roof is the type of shingles used. You can get roofs made from asphalt, metal, concrete tile, and wood shake. Below, we’ll go into more detail about the costs you may incur using each of these shingle materials.

How Much Does a New Asphalt Roof Cost?

Asphalt shingles are among the most common roofing materials due to their long lifespan. A well-crafted asphalt roof can last a homeowner around twenty years. Asphalt is also one of the most affordable options available to you. Depending on the specific type of asphalt tile used, you can expect to pay between one hundred and fifty to seven hundred dollars per square.

There are a host of asphalt shingle options available to you. Among the cheapest are three-tab and dimensional asphalt shingles. Dimensional shingles will cost you more, but add an extra ten years to the roof’s lifespan. Premium and synthetic asphalt shingles, as the highest-end options, require special installation and will cost the most. (Some synthetic shingles may even cost up to a thousand dollars per square foot, including labor costs)

How Much Does a New Metal Roof Cost?

The new roof cost for a metal roof varies widely depending on the form factor and the material chosen. Your costs may range between seventy-five and a thousand dollars per square. Common materials for metal roofs may include tin (in older houses), steel, aluminum, zinc, and copper.

Your metal roof may also come in shingles, sheets, or standing seams. Sheet roofing is the cheapest of the options, with shingles being the most expensive and best-looking.

How Much Does a New Concrete Tile Roof Cost?

Concrete tile roofs are among the most expensive to replace as they are available with the widest variety of shingle shapes. On average, you can expect to pay between sixteen thousand and thirty-five thousand dollars.

How Much Does a New Wood Shake Roof Cost?

Wood-shake roofs have become more popular in recent years due to their eco-friendly nature. They’re also a fairly inexpensive option, running between six and ten dollars per square foot. To make matters better, rot-resistant wood like cedar will give your roof a thirty-year lifespan!

2. The Size and Pitch of the Roof

When it comes to renovation costs, square footage is everything. The square footage of your roof plays an enormous role in your final roofing expenses. To make matters more complicated, you also have to consider the pitch (or height) of the roof. Roofing uses its own measurement, calculating costs in terms of “squares”, or segments of ten feet by ten feet.

3. The Style of the Roof

Another major factor in the average cost of a new roof is the style or shape of the roof itself. There are many different types of roofs, the most common being gable and hipped. For hipped roofs, you can expect to pay anywhere between twenty and fifty thousand. Gables are by far less expensive.

4. Labor Costs

How much does a new roof cost? The factor that will cause your costs to vary the most is labor expenses. In addition to working around the state’s labor laws, different contractors charge different rates for their labor depending on the level of experience and difficulty of the job. Your location may also play a role in both your labor expenses and the overall cost of the new roof.

For example, if you’re more likely to run into inclement weather on the job, you can expect roofing contractors to charge more for the job due to the risk. You might also deal with local inspection laws and other bureaucratic processes that cost money and take more time, adding to your labor expenses.

5. Removal of the Old Roof

If you’re replacing your roof, chances are, you’re replacing the whole thing in one go. That being the case, you should also expect any removal costs for getting rid of the old roof to be tacked onto your bill. Even if you’re only conducting a partial replacement, you may still need to pay for waste disposal and repairs to the less damaged part of the roof.

6. Extra Features

It should go without saying, but if your planned roof has features like a chimney, dormer, or skylight, you can expect your costs to skyrocket. A small chimney can add around twelve hundred dollars to your new roof, while something more complex like a dormer can run anywhere from four thousand to over twenty-thousand, depending on the type. The more extra features you add, the more you can expect your costs to increase.

7. Installation Method

Your new roof can get installed in a variety of ways, depending on the materials you chose for it. The more complex the installation method, the more you can expect to pay. Hand-nailed shingle roofs will almost certainly cost more to install than air-nailed. Each of these methods will cost far more than clip-fastening metal roofs.

8. Waste and Disposal Fees

While this plays into the cost of removing an old roof, you shouldn’t discount the expense of hauling away the trash and debris left in the wake of a major renovation like a roof replacement. The last thing you want is for your home to be surrounded by the detritus of your old roof and spare materials from the new one.

Many contractors will include waste and disposal fees in their pricing. If you don’t see this information, make sure to press them for more details.

What’s the Average Cost of a New Roof?

With these eight cost-affecting factors in mind, let’s get down to brass tacks: what is the average cost of a new roof for your home? While there’s no better way to calculate your personal expenses than to get quotes from contractors, let’s break down some averages based on first the size of the roof, then the material that it’s made from.

Average Cost of a New Roof By Size

Size, as mentioned above, is a major factor in your average roof replacement cost. From smallest to largest, the average cost of a new roof will range as follows:

• A new 800 sq. ft. roof will cost between $3400 and $5100 on average
• A new 1000 sq. ft. roof will cost between $4300 and $5700
• The average 1500 sq. ft. roof will cost between $5100 and $8900
• A 2000 sq. ft. roof will cost you between $5500 and $9000

For any roof that’s above two thousand square feet, you can expect to pay at least ten thousand dollars at a minimum.

Average Cost of a New Roof by Material

Next, let’s break down how much you’ll usually pay for a new roof by material. Based on the four most common roofing and shingle materials, here’s what you can expect.

• For the average asphalt shingle roof, your costs will range between $150 and $1000 per square, depending on the subtype.
• An average metal roof can cost you anywhere from $75 to $1000 per square depending on the type of metal and style of roof.
• A new concrete roof, as mentioned above, will cost you anywhere between $16500 and $34800 total
• If you opt for a new wood shake roof, your average cost will be between $7030 and $14900 total

If these numbers sound frightening, don’t panic. Many contractors have payment plans available to help you absorb the costs of your new roof.

Is Replacing Your Roof Worth It?

Lastly, let’s make sure you consider one critical factor before you decide to invest in a brand new roof. Getting a new roof is an expensive prospect, so you would not want to do so unnecessarily. Is it worth it to replace your roof? Here’s what the experts have to say on the matter:

If Your Damage Is Moderate or Minor: Opt for Repair Over Replacement

If you aren’t experiencing major leaks or the wind blew a few shingles off of your roof, there’s no need to invest in an entire roof replacement. If that’s what you want, that’s your prerogative. However, both a roof repair and a partial roof replacement will cost far less than a complete overhaul.

If Your Damage Is More Significant: Opt for a New Roof

If an inspector finds the roof structurally unsound or you find that your damage is more extensive, you should opt for a new roof. It is far cheaper to replace the whole thing than try to patch up gaping holes through roof repairs.

Other Factors to Consider

Aside from the two general rules above, there are some other factors you need to consider when deciding whether it’s worth it to repair your current roof or replace it with a new one. These factors may include:

The Age of the Roof

Look, we understand the attachment to an existing roof structure. However, if your roof has weathered over three or four decades of abuse, it might be time to stop patching holes and opt for a new structure instead. There’s only so long you can patch over structural issues before something becomes compromised.

If There Are Any Existing Leaks

Leaks have a nasty habit of spreading. While it might be tempting to patch the leak you’ve spotted and be done with it, chances are, there’s more to that leak than meets the eye. If you patch the hole allowing the leak without addressing other factors that let the roof leak, you’ll have to replace the whole roof anyway.

The Extent of the Damage

Once again, this is where the difference between structural and cosmetic damage comes into play. You shouldn’t bother paying the cost of a new roof if the damage is cosmetic, like a few missing shingles or a discolored patch. However, if the damage in question is structural, you risk letting the roof cave in on your head if you don’t address it right away.

Your Geographical Area

You would think that if a house is built in a location, it will be built to withstand the weather and other risks that area has. However, not all contractors and builders are so honest. If you live in an area plagued with heavy rainstorms, hail, high winds, and other extreme weather risk factors, you should make sure your roof was built to withstand them. If it wasn’t, then it’s time for a new roof.

We’re Here to Help You With Your Roof Replacement Needs

If you’ve found your current roof looking or performing a bit worse for wear, but aren’t sure what you can expect to pay for a new roof, don’t panic. We here at Best Roofing Estimates are glad to help you calculate the cost of a new roof, no matter what materials or size. We partner with roofers and contractors all over the United States to make sure you get the best possible price.

Don’t hesitate. If you need to replace your roof, contact us today and get the quotes you need!