Roofing Costs

Here are some ways to easily estimate your roofing costs.

Measuring the roof

The measurement of the roof is essential to determine the upcoming roofing costs. A contractor measures the

area of a slanted roof by multiplying the height by length. Well, it's not THAT easy, so here's an example.

Let's say you have a gabled roof. Create an imaginary line across the bottom of the gable (from gutter to gutter), and measure it and divide by 2. Then measure the height from that imaginary line to the peak (the height).

Now square each of those 2 measurements and add those together. Then find the square root of that number to find the surface "width" of the roof on one side of the gable. Multiply by 2 to include both sides.

And finally, after measuring the length of the roof, multiply that by the width of both sides to get the overall area that needs to receive the new roof. After that divide the square feet by 100 to calculate the number of roofing squares required for the construction of the roof.

Here is is with numbers: If height is 10 ft. and gutter-to-gutter = 30 ft.; then square 10 (to get 100) and 15 (to get 225); add them to get 325; the square root of 325 is about 18. If the roof is 40 ft. long, multiply 40 by 36 (2 x 18) to get a surface area of 1440 square feet. Divide by 100 and you know that you have 14.4 squares - so buy 15.

Calculating the labor costs

If you want to replace an old roof with a new one then the labor is usually expensive because the contractor will first have to remove the old roof and get rid of the debris. Then felt has to be applied for the new roof and then the asphalt shingles. Without the cost of material or removals, installing an asphalt roof should run

between $1.10 and $2.00 per square foot. However, if there is bad wood or the need for a total tear-off the cost goes up by several dollars a square foot.

In case of a wooden roof, if the decking or facia needs to be replaced, it would only add to your labor costs. Labor costs will vary according to location (among other things). Hourly wages will vary from company to

company, but they should all be pretty close to each other within a local community. The only good way to determine labor costs is to get competitive prices from 3 or more roofers.

Compare prices

A very easy way to estimate roofing costs is by comparing prices that various roofing companies charge for repairing or providing your new roof. When comparing, be sure that all the bidders give prices on the same

scope of work. This could include rubbish removal, comparable material (quality of the shingles), tar paper, flashing, and any repairs.

Get at least three estimates. A common practice is to NOT go with the lowest or highest bid, but go for the middle. It's also a good idea to check out the contractor with the Better Business Bureau and get references.

There are various types of roofs to choose from. The roof you select depends a lot on the climate you're in.

People residing in regions that receive a lot of snow or rain usually have slanting roofs, while people residing in hot climates have the option of flat-roofed houses. Of course, these are generalities and you can find various types of roofs in any climate.

David Groome, of Lansdowne, PA is a carpenter who worked in the roofing trade for over 14 years. He offers some advice regarding roof replacement costs.

Groome said that most cities and towns in the country allow up to three layers of roofing, generally asphalt or similar types of shingles. "Sometimes you have to take a layer off, or if there is damage to the underlying wood, you'd need to perform repairs," said Groome.

Architectural Asphalt Shingles

If you choose a heavier shingle, known as an architectural shingle, the cost will be up to twice as much as asphalt shingles. However, you can then choose a 40 year or 20-year shingle. Groome said that you can expect to pay an average of $4,500 to $5,500 for an average-sized roof with complete tear-off (if no repairs are needed) for this type of shingle.

Almost 90% of all residential roofs in the U.S. are made of some form of asphalt shingle. This is probably because these roofing costs are so much cheaper than any of the "designer" roofing materials (i.e. wood, slate, clay, etc.).

Metal Roofs

According to Scott Despres of Multi-State Roofing Inc, of Winchendon, MA, metal roofs can last up to 70 years and cost an average of $10,000 to $15,000 for a complete tear-off and replacement.

Rubber or tar (mostly used on flat roofs) go for about $2.50 per square foot and can last between 10 and 40 years. Although metal roofs are durable, and have a look that appeals to many people, they can be awfully noisy in a rain or hail storm.

A Final Word on Roofing Costs

If you have gutters, they will need to be replaced and added to the cost of the roof replacement.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions about roofing costs by clicking here.

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