When your roof begins to wear, it’s time to consider whether you should make repairs or replace the structure. It can be challenging to estimate the costs for a roof particularly as a new homeowner.
When deciding whether to repair or replace a roof, repairs can be substantially less expensive compared to a full replacement ranging from a few hundred dollar for minor repairs to several thousand dollars for extensive damages.
For a roof nearing the end of its life cycle or with more damage than not, repairs may offer only a temporary solution whereas a replacement could be a more cost-efficient approach in the long run.
Localized damage can benefit from repairs, as can a new roof or if the costs are substantially lower than the price of a replacement. Repairs make sense for a minor leak or a few missing tiles.
What Is the Cost for a New Roof
The range is extensive but on average the cost for a new roof is between $5000 and $12000 with the national average cost roughly $8000. The broad range comes down to factors including house size and materials.
You could be fortunate to find budget-friendly roofing materials for as little as $3000. Materials such as copper or slate can be $30 per square foot with installation at approx. $50000.
Asphalt is inexpensive by comparison at between $2.40-$350 per square foot. When considering the price of a new roof, you want to factor in the material life span.
Asphalt might have a better price point but it’s also short-lived compared to clay tile, metal, slate. Investing in higher quality will give you an extended longevity reducing the frequency of repairs and the likelihood for a replacement sooner rather than later. Consider these factors that affect roof replacement costs.
Labor
Roughly half of roof replacement costs involve labor especially when specialized materials are involved such as solar shingles. These require technical knowledge for accurate installation and advanced equipment making them much more expensive.
Labor rates can also be affected by things like accessibility, height, and geographic location making this one of the primary variables with roof costs. With most projects this estimate ranges between $2 and $4 per square foot.
Slopes and pitch
Houses usually have one or more sloped surfaces impacting installation costs unless the roof is flat. The pitch steepness and the slope increase the roof total square footage which affects the price because of the high risk and difficulty in working with them.
Homeowners need to calculate to learn the exact roof square footage. That means knowing the foot pitch and slope. To find the pitch, measure how many inches each slope rises for every foot it extends, referred to as “rise over run.” You can input these details into a roofing calculator to find the roof dimensions.
Old roof disposal
An often-overlooked factor is disposing of the debris associated with removing the current roof. Most roofers lump this charge into their free estimate. It’s wise to ask about the additional disposal charges before committing to a contract to ensure the final quote is all inclusive.
Professional roofing companies like Paramount Builders remove and dispose of the existing roof. Some can charge between $3 and $5 per square foot to dispose of old shingles with an average of between $6000 and $10000 total. Other types of roofing materials can be more expensive with some having extra dump charges if they’re challenging to dispose of.
Inspections and permits
Contractors must inspect the existing roof and obtain the necessary permits before beginning a new project. Most roofers perform free initial inspections as part of the consultation process but may need a more thorough inspection of the roof is extensively damaged or reaching the end of its life.
Independent roof inspections typically range between $100 and $400 based on the house size. Permit requirements and costs range considerably depending on the state and sometimes the city.
It can be a hassle to get a permit which is why contractors handle this on behalf of homeowners. The fees can range from $150 to $500 but a large project can be higher.
Inspections are helpful in maintaining a secure structure as roofers can find defects including leaks. Go here for roof replacement budgeting guide.
Final Thought
Roofing issues are an inevitable part of homeownership. As the roof progresses in age, it will wear and no longer protect the home as it should. It can develop gaps, broken seas, cracks that result in pest infestations, water damage, and other issues that require repairs or a replacement to prevent the problems.
It’s important to become familiar with your homeowner’s insurance policy and roof warranty to try to save as much as possible when comparing roof quotes. Also, schedule frequent roof inspections so roofers can detect defects and address them early preventing severe damage and extending the roof’s life.
