How Much Does It Cost to Install a New Roof?

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How Much Does It Cost to Install a New Roof?

The roof is one of the most important structural features of a home. It protects the integrity of the rest of the home and, most importantly, the people who live inside. Ensuring your roof is in good working condition is essential, which requires ongoing maintenance and, from time to time, a complete roof replacement.

One of the most common questions people have when it comes time to replace their existing roof is: How much is it going to cost? A project as large as a roof replacement scares a lot of people for a lot of reasons, with price being a main driver of those concerns.

Estimating how much it will cost to complete a roof replacement project can be difficult, as there are a number of factors that must be taken into consideration. For example, the most popular type of roofing material used in Ocean County is asphalt shingles, which can cost anywhere from $3.50 to $6 per square foot. With the average roof in Ocean County measuring about 2,000 square feet, that would result in a cost between $7,000 and $12,000.

This estimate can vary greatly, however, depending on the style of home, the design of the roof and other factors. For example, a simple ranch house with one layer of shingles on might cost around $7,000 and can typically be completed in one day. A larger home with multiple layers and facets, on the other hand, may cost around $15,000 and take a few days to complete.

The best way to understand how much the roof replacement cost will be is to understand each factor separately.

The Size of the Job

The main driver of the cost of any roof replacement is the roof size. The larger the roof, the more expensive the project will be. This factor comes down to the cost of material. Since materials are priced on a per-square-foot basis, the more square footage you have, the more material you will need.

In addition, the more square footage there is, the longer it will take to install. This also increases the cost of labor associated with the project. This is a main reason why a 2,000-square-foot roof may cost close to half as much as a 4,000-square-foot roof.

The Number of Layers

Depending on the age of your home and what you and/or previous owners did to maintain your roof over the years, you may have multiple layers of shingles. While the removal of the existing shingles will already be factored into your cost estimate, this element of roof replacement may vary depending on the number of layers the roof currently has.

A single layer of shingles provides both the quickest and lightest removal, which therefore comes with the lowest cost. A roof with multiple layers of shingles will cost more to remove because it will require extra labor. Plus, it will result in an increase in the weight of the material that needs to be hauled away.

The Pitch of the Roof

One element you may not think about is the roof pitch. Steeper roofs take much longer to replace than flatter roofs for one simple reason – safety. Sometimes, steep roofs may require planning and setup that is not required with other roof pitches. Steep roofs can also sometimes be unwalkable without the use of equipment to keep the installers safe.

A very steep roof will require additional safety precautions than a lower pitched roof. As such, the labor cost associated with roof installation on a steep roof can be significantly higher than roofs with a less steep pitch.

The Complexity of the Roof

The next element that factors into how much it will cost to replace a roof is the complexity of the roof itself. Not surprisingly, the more complex the roof is, the higher the cost to replace it.

Each section of a roof is called a facet. A standard A-frame roof will have two facets – one section on each side of the home. Other homes, though, will have multiple facets. The more facets there are, the more difficult the job will be, which will be reflected in the labor cost of the project.

Homes with multiple facets are often some of the most architecturally beautiful designs available today. While they create a visually-pleasing design, they provide headaches and challenges when conducting a roof replacement project.

The Roofing Around the Flashing

Flashing is required on roofs at different points. Flashing is normally made of galvanized steel or aluminum and is installed in roof/wall intersections and in and around roof protrusions to help prevent water from seeping into the home and causing damage.

Flashing is needed whenever there are features of the roof that break up the contiguous nature of the material. Some examples of this are chimneys, skylights, vents and dormers.

Such sections are the areas most prone to leaks if it is not installed properly. It’s imperative on the installers to take the extra time to carefully cut and install the flashing and the roofing material at these points in the roof, which increases the time it takes for install, which increases the cost associated with it.

If your roof has multiple chimneys, vents, skylights, dormers and other features that require flashing, it will cost more to replace.

Valleys

Other areas of a roof that are prone to leaking are valleys. These occur at any point in the roof where two planes join together. In other words, valleys occur where two sections of a roof must connect with each other.

This most often occurs in sections of a roof that are at different levels, or that meet from different directions. Once again, the labor cost for installing roofing at valleys is higher because it takes extra time to properly install. Because of the amount of water that collects at valleys, and because there are often lower slopes along valleys, it requires extra care and attention to ensure the roof is properly sealed.

The Quality of the Labor Team

Like anything in life, you get what you pay for. There are less expensive and more expensive options for just about any product and service available, and what you choose could have a dramatic effect on the cost.

In roofing, there are less expensive companies that don’t have the same reputation as those that have been in the business for quite some time. While you can certainly opt for the cheapest roofing company, you may end up spending more in the long run because of the workmanship you get in return.

Less expensive companies may claim to be able to do the job well in a short amount of time, but they may not have the expertise, know-how and experience needed to get the job done right.

The Materials

Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing material used in Ocean County for a number of reasons. Even still, there are a variety of asphalt shingle types that will result in a range of prices. As mentioned earlier, the price of an installed asphalt shingle roof can range from $3.50 per square foot to as much as $6 per square foot in the region.

There are three main types of shingles available:

• Strip shingles (or three-tab shingles) that have a flat appearance
• Dimensional shingles (or architectural shingles) that give the roof a multi-dimensional appearance
• Designer shingles that are designed to look like slate or other non-asphalt types of shingles.

While strip shingles are affordable, there is the potential for issues with blow-off and they generally have a shorter lifespan. There are also fewer choices when it comes to the look of the roof.

Dimensional shingles can last up to 50 years and provide a nice multi-dimensional appearance. Luxury shingles provide the top-end look without the cost associated with slate or cedar roofing.

The higher you move up the ladder of asphalt shingles, the more expensive the roofing material will be.

The Location of Contractor

The final factor for the cost of replacing a roof is the location of your roofing contractor. The closer your contractor is to your home, the less expensive they will generally be when compared to similar companies. Local roofing contractors require less driving to and from the job site, which contributes to not only time, but gas and haul-away charges.

Select a Local Company with a Good Reputation

There are a number of factors that determine how much it will cost to replace an old roof. But what ultimately determines the value you will get in return from the project is the company you choose to do the work.

By choosing a local company that has a good reputation, you will be ensuring that your new roof will not only be installed properly and look great, but that it will last for years to come.

At Proven Contracting, we take a consultative approach to every one of our jobs. We provide free roof estimates so we can assess the health and status of your roof before making recommendations. After we get an up-close look at the entire structure of your roof, we provide you with a hassle-free quote for your roof replacement.

We can complete eight out of 10 jobs in just one day, although more complicated and larger roofs more than one day to complete. We not only make ensure your roof replacement project will be completed in the most detail-oriented way possible, we pay extra attention to the cleanup so the process is quick and seamless.

And by working with you directly during the planning process for your roof replacement, we can ensure that your new roof not only protects your home but looks good as well.

If you currently own a home in Ocean or Monmouth County, call Proven Contracting today to book your free estimate at (732) 800-4616.