How Much Does a New Roof Cost?
Every Roof Is Different, But Let's Take A Look At Ballpark Figures On Different Types Of Roofs.
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Answering The Age Old Question, What Does It Cost?
While owning a home is a much-coveted milestone, it doesn’t come cheap. Aside from the upfront cost of purchasing a home, and at times, the credit facilities that accompany it, homeowners also have to carry out occasional home and roof maintenance.
One of the major home improvement projects you might have to undertake is roof replacement. Of course, for most homeowners, the first concern, when faced with a roof replacement, is how much it will cost to replace a roof. Naturally so.

Cost Of A New Roof
Instead, your contractor or roofer will need to come and survey your roof before coming up with an estimate. The simple reason for this process is that multiple factors must be considered before costs can be added up.
Let’s Talk Averages
Breakdown Of Costs
When you need a new roof, you will reach out to a residential and commercial roofing company, which will then carry out an assessment and send you a cost estimate. The figures provided on the estimate will be on a ‘’per square’’ basis.
Roofing Costs
Asphalt shingles are a popular choice for homeowners. They are extremely durable-going up to 50 years with good maintenance and are affordable to buy and install.
Here are the costs to expect for different materials:
3-tab asphalt shingles $2,500
Galvanized steel $3,000
Stainless steel $14,000
High-end stone/Slate $20,000
Copper $25,000+
Flat roofs $25,000+
Labor Costs
Extent Of Damage
The labor charges on a new roof, for example, are dependent on how much damage is on the supporting timber. When repairing or installing a new roof, the foundation needs to be in good condition. If, for example, the roof’s skeleton is rotting, the labor costs will be higher than if it’s in good condition.
If you have rotting timber underneath, expect to pay an additional $1.000 to $10,000 depending on the extent of the roof repairs or reinforcement the roof needs.
Environmental Conditions
Removal Of Old Material
Here is an overview of the costs of removing old roofing materials by type.
Removing Tile Shingles Or Slate
Removing Wood Shake
Removing Metal Roofs
If a metallic roof has been neglected, it will likely need a panel replacement before a new installation is done. Similarly, some older metal roofs lack the soundproofing features available in modern versions. This is another aspect to be considered when redoing metal roofing.
During installation, roofers cut metal strips into the desired shape. These are then laid on a framework that sits on top of the underlayment or ice and water shield. For a new installation, the contractor has to strip all this to inspect the roofing boards. While this is labor-intensive, the process tends to move much faster because contractors can handle large sections at a go.
Redoing A Roof With Different Materials
Asphalt Shingle Installations
Asphalt shingles are:
- Very common and easily available
- Light in weight
- Low cost
- Easy to install
- You can do the installation yourself (DIY) at an average cost of $2,000 to $4,000
- Asphalt shingles are more recyclable now than they have been in the past
Wood Shake
Wood Shake roofing is:
- Aesthetically pleasing
- All-natural
- Have an extensive maintenance regimen
- They are prone to fire
- They deteriorate quickly, so no longevity
- Requires regular treatments to repel insects and resist mold
- Replacing shingles is easy to DIY
Plastic wood or rubber shingles cost $ 10,000 to $ 18 000, while high-end synthetic ones will set you back over $ 20,000. Synthetic shakes, unlike wood, are not prone to fires and are much easier to maintain.
Metal Roofing
- Offers excellent options
- Are resistant to harsh climate conditions
- High-quality options will serve you well in the long-term
- At $25,000 +, copper metal roofing options will cost more than most other roofing materials
- Some metals will form a patina over time
Tile Roofing
Some of the features of tile roofing are:
- Long life expectancy
- Easy repair and replacement
- You can customize colors and shapes to suit the style of your home
Slate Roofing
- Is ideal for large homes
- Has a long life expectancy
- Gives a natural appearance
Flat Roofing
Flat roofing systems can come in multiple different types of roofing materials such as:
Sometimes flat roofs can get away with a roof coating that will seal up your roof and extend it’s life longer so you don’t have the full roof replacement cost to bear for a while.
Cost Of An Entirely New Roof
Examples of these include:
- Excess underlayment or shingle layers that have to be stripped
- A leaking skylight or chimney
- The pitch of the roof: a colonial pitch has multiple slopes but is not too hard. A ranch-style roof is simple and less expensive to redo, and a Tudor roof can be expensive as it has too many slopes and eaves.
- Decking or substrate damage
- Presence of mold
- Winter roof damage
- Complexities in removing the old roof due to how the installation was done
- Soffit and fascia damage
- Pooling water
- Gutter damage
Costs Of Replacing A Garage Roof
Commercial Roof Replacement
The costs of a commercial roof replacement are dependent on several factors. Below is a look at what these are:
Type Of Roof
There are two main types of commercial roofs:
- Flat roofs, also known as low sloped roofs
- Sloped roofs
In most cases, the best material for a flat roof replacement is either built-up bituminous roofing or a single-ply roof. When single-ply roofs were first made available, there was a concern that they were too light and would thus be prone to leaks.
However, they have proven to be quite sturdy over time and often come with a 25-30 year warranty. Aside from durability, they are easier to install than most other roofing materials and are affordable.
Roof Access
Some of the accessibility factors in a commercial roof replacement include:
- Material storage access for the roofing company
- Height
- Property access
- Occupancy
What Lies Underneath
Every finished roof has several components underneath the surface. These include the roof’s structure which may be a concrete, wood deck, or metal. Additionally, there is also insulation, substrate materials, and cover boards.
If there is any damage to these components and repairs or replacements are required, these costs will then push up the installation bill.
Wind Loads And Fasteners
New Roof vs. Roof Repair
Replace a roof if:
- It has reached its sell-by date: A properly installed new roof can serve you well for decades, but nothing lasts forever. When a roof’s life expectancy is up, replacing will often serve you better than repair
- It’s non-compliant: if your roof does not meet local building codes, then replacement is the best option; for example, if there is a two shingle layer regulation and you already have two layers after repairs, its best to replace the roof and remain compliant than add yet another layer of shingles.
- There is extensive damage: as a rule of thumb, only repair a roof whose damage only affects 30%, or lower, of the roof. If the damage is more than this, you are better off installing a new roof. Make sure to thoroughly inspect the roof though, especially if your roof leaks during heavy rain or has noticeable damage in multiple areas.
- The difference in cost is negligible; if the difference between the cost of a new roof and repairing the current one is $500 to $1,000, it’s prudent to go for a new roof.