Replacing your roof can be one of the most costly upgrades a homeowner needs to do. It may be a necessary evil, though, if your house is older or you have any type of damage to your roof. Replacing a roof ensures safety, increases efficiency, and is worth the cost of the replacement in the end.
When replacing your roof, roofing contractors will look at different variables in order to determine the cost of replacing a roof, including its size, pitch, and materials. Because all of these things are different, the cost of replacing a roof can vary dramatically.
According to Angie’s List, they say the cost of a roof can be as low at $5,000 or up to $25,000 for a higher-end, large roof. The average price they say is $12,000. While prices vary depending on where you live, Angie’s List members said that they paid an average of $11,095 to completely tear off and replace a roof last year.
Roof size
The roof’s size is the largest cost factor when replacing a roof, according to Angie’s List. Roofers measure in ‘squares’ or 10-by-10 foot areas (100 square feet). So, if your roof is 3,000 square feet, it’s broken down into 30 different squares.
Pitch of the roof
Pitch is another factor that effects the cost of a new roof. Most roofs are average and can be walked on and worked on pretty easily, but some roofs are very steep or very high, which may require the use of a harness. Past a certain point of steepness, most roofing contractors will charge more based on the fact that steeper roofs are harder to work on and require more time.
Roofing Material
The last important variable to keep in mind is the material that you will be using to replace your roof. The average cost per square foot for a shingle roof, according to Angie’s list, is between $5.43 and $7.05. That means that for two squares (or 200 square feet), a new roof would be around $1,086 to $1,409.
Other Factors to Consider when Replacing your roof
Unfortunately, those are not the only factors that play into replacing your roof. If your roof has water damage, repairing that can also add to the final costs of a roofing project. It’s hard to predict whether your roof even has water damage until the roofer removes your existing roof.
Another factor that might come up is chimneys and skylights. Having either of these can effect the cost of the roof, because roofers must work around them. Repairing the roof around either of these can really add up if the damage is bad enough.
Finally, your decision to completely redo your roof or just layer another roof on top of your existing roof, will have a major impact on cost. If you choose to start over, called a “tear-off” job, your roof will probably cost more. This is because you’ll be paying for the labor of essentially two projects: one to take off the old roof, and two to put on a new one.
If you decide to overlay, you’ll save a lot of money, but your roof will be heavier, which can cause damage to your home. Additionally, it will be more difficult for your roofer to determine if there are any structural issues before they put the new roof on because they can’t see what’s under your existing roof. This part of your re-roofing project can be difficult to decide, so make sure you talk to your trusted roofing expert before you choose.
Once you factor in all of those variables, plus labor and other factors such as chimneys or skylights, you’re looking at a huge investment. Replacing your roof is an important investment to make, though, and a necessary one to ensure that you and your home are protected.
Here at Werner Roofing, we’re the experts at all things roofing. If you are thinking about replacing your roof and have questions, give us a call at (616) 844-5382. We will answer all of your questions, assist you in the process of deciding on a new roof, and even give you a free quote!
