How to Estimate Roofing Cost
While it may seem daunting at times, finding the cost to replace the roof is not as hard as you may think. The average roof replacement cost ranges from $4,000 to $6,500. This estimate is made assuming you are replacing the roof with a standard asphalt shingle roof on a 1,800 square foot building. Asphalt shingles are praised as being the most cost-effective roofing option on the market, ranging from $1.50 to $6.00 per square foot. Some of the factors that affect cost are material, size of the home, the slope of the roof, and labor. Here we will break down the average cost of a roof on a 1,800 square foot home based on material:
Asphalt: $4,000 to $6,500
Wood: $8,500 to $12,500
Tile: $20,500 to $50,500
Architectural: $6,500 to $12,500
Metal: $32,500 to $48,500
Clay: $15,500 to $23,000
Concrete: $8,500 to $12,500
Copper: $27,500 to $41,500
Rubber: $11,000 to $15,500
Slate: $14,000 to $21,000
Solar Shingle: $60,000 to $76,000
Break down of cost to replace roof factors
As mentioned previously, there are several factors that go into pricing a new roof. Your roofer will most likely focus on the factors that have a direct impact on price, these factors include:
- The size of your home
- The slope and pitch of the roof
- Labor
- Fees and permits
- Removal of the old roof
- Roofing materials
Roofing materials usually make up around 40% of your cost, while the rest is the cost you pay to your contractor.
Hiring a contractor
It is always a good idea to get quotes from a few contractors before making your final decision. Each contractor should have quotes that are within $2,000 to $4,000 of one another. If a certain quote falls out of this range on the low end, make sure all costs are accounted for, and the contractor’s deal really is as good as they are letting on. If it is on the higher side, double-check their ratings and reviews to make sure they are not overcharging you. If they have that high of a price for a reason, it will show in their reviews.
Calculating Labor Cost to replace roof
Labor costs usually range from $1.50 to about $4.00 per square foot. If your roof is more difficult to install than asphalt roofing, expect these costs to increase. The material's difficulty of install, and weight when shipping will all factor into the difficulty of the project and thus the cost of labor. Make sure you are reviewing your cost estimates and understand what you are looking for.
Trusting your Contractor
When choosing a contractor, make sure you are choosing one with a good track record, and make sure their cost estimate is complete. Many lower-tier roofers will hand out incomplete cost estimates to create the illusion that they have a good deal, but at the end of the day, they charge you much more than you were expecting. The best way to choose a contractor is to stay local. Local contractors depend a lot more on reputation to stay successful and are very easy to check via other members of the community for legitimacy.
Red Flags to Avoid when finding cost to replace roof
If a contractor attempts any of the following, do not use their services:
- Requesting a large deposit or full payment upfront
- Pressuring you to sign a contract before work begins
- Giving quotes that are not similar to competitors or are incomplete.
When it comes to finding the cost to replace the roof, it can seem very overwhelming. Luckily, a trusted contractor can do a lot of that heavy lifting for you. Integrity Roofing has been serving Southern Illinois and Western Tennessee for decades. We are backed by a fantastic community that we are proud to serve. Contact us today with any questions you may have or to get a free estimate! You can also find us on Facebook.