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Calculating the Price of a Roof Replacement

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If you need to replace your roof, the cost is an important factor. According to HomeAdvisor, the national average for replacing or installing a roof is $7,529, with a typical range between $5,132-10,026. A low-end roof replacement could cost as little as $1,200, while a high-end roof replacement could run as much as $30,000.

However, stats from Modernize tell a different story, with $27,348 as the national average for roof replacement, based on thousands of projects completed by Modernize contractor partners. The price of a roof replacement depends on several factors, including the material used. Asphalt, clay, slate, wood, metal and other materials have different prices per material and per part of the country. For example, a 2,000-square-foot roof with new asphalt shingles costs between $8,000 and $17,500, while a roof with wood shingles ranges from $14,500 to $25,000 for the same size.

Another key factor is durability. Lifetime roofing (50 years) costs between $10,000 and $20,000 for asphalt shingles, as opposed to 30-year asphalt shingles that range between $8,500 and $16,000, according to Modernize. Here's how to estimate the price of a roof replacement.

Estimating Roof Area: Ground Area

If you know the pitch or slope of your roof and the ground area of the house, you can estimate the area of your roof to calculate a per square rate. Use a landscaping tape to measure the ground area of your building. Multiplying the length and width gives you the area in square feet. Divide that by 100 to get the ground area in squares. For example, 20 feet x 30 feet gives you 600 feet, which is 6 squares of ground area.

Estimating Roof Area: Pitch of Your Roof

This estimate is important because the price of a roof replacement is different for roofs with different pitches. For multiple pitches, measure each part separately and then add them up to find the total roof area.

The pitch of the roof can be estimated in several ways. One easy way is to use your hands and a yard-long flat object. Starting from the roof edge, for every three hands roof length, if your roof rises around one hand length — keep the flat object as parallel to the ground as possible to estimate the rise from the edge of the roof — it's a low pitch roof. If the roof rises two hands length, it's a medium pitch roof. Similarly, if the roof rises three hands length, it's a high pitch roof. When roofing a flat roof, the ground area and roof area are the same.

Estimating Roof Area

Now that you know the pitch of the roof and ground area of the house, you can estimate the area of the roof. For a low pitch roof, multiply the ground area by 1.06 to get the lower limit of the range and by 1.08 for the upper limit of the roof area range. Similarly, for a medium-pitch roof, multiply by 1.12 and 1.25 for the range, and for a high-pitch roof, by 1.3 and 1.42. Do the same for different regions of your home and add them to get the final roof area estimate.

Factors Affecting the Price of a Roof Replacement

Roof area, size, pitch, material used, brand, durability, layers, contractor fees, roofing equipment used, delivery fees, labor, chimneys, skylights, plumbing pipes, pre-installation repairs and underlayment costs are some of the key factors that affect the price of a roof replacement. Some popular roofing brands and service providers to consider include Stratco, Malarkey, Firestone, Apex Roofing, Elite Roofing, Lowes Roofing and Brothers Roofing. Many others are located throughout the U.S.

How Much Does Roof Replacement Cost Per Square Foot?

Rather than guessing the actual costs, talk to some local roofers and get a few quotes to get a more realistic range. Preferably, read through some reviews for roofing contractors before finalizing anything.

A roofing square is equal to 100 square feet. The labor cost of roof replacement is between $1.50 and $3.00 per square foot or $150-$300 per square. Stats from HomeAdvisor suggest that the price of the material alone can range between $100 to a $1,000 per square, and the typical roofing project cost is 40 percent material and 60 percent labor. The calculation of roof replacement prices is further simplified by certain online roofing calculators, such as RoofingCalc.

An average house in the U.S. needs 17 squares, and the national average for material cost per project is as follows, according to HomeAdvisor:

$2,500 for 3-tab asphalt shingles

$3,000 for galvanized steel

$20,000 for slate