Owning a home is a big part of the American Dream— not to mention a solid investment in yours and your family’s future— but becoming a homeowner isn’t just about saving for your down payment and paying your mortgage in a timely manner for the next 30 years. It’s also about safeguarding your investment— perhaps the biggest one you’ll ever make— through a regular home maintenance schedule— including replacing your roof when needed.
How Much is This Going To Cost Me?
While it’s certainly fair at this point to ask, “How much is a roof replacement going to cost me?” the answer has to be, “That depends.” Not all roofs are created equal, and not all roofers charge the same price depending on the home’s geographic location and the complexity of the job. Keep in mind that a roof replacement quote typically includes the removal and disposal of up to two layers of old shingles. Additional materials needed may also include a felt underlayment, ice-and-water shield, nails, ridge-vent, and roof flashing details such as valley, drip-edge, gable, and chimney flashing and caulk.
In some cases, the cost of materials may also include permitting, ordering trash removal or a dumpster, wood planks and boards, and the cost of plywood. Some contractors include their overhead in the cost of labor, while others calculate it separately.
Assuming a single-story house with a hip and/or gable combination roof measuring roughly 1700 square feet, the cost of materials for a basic 3-tab, 25-year shingles roof would be roughly $150 to $200 per square, all in.
Are Composite Shingles All the Same?
If you’re like the vast majority of U.S. residents, your home has an asphalt, or “composite” shingle, roof. Made from fiberglass mat, asphalt, minerals, and stone granules, composite shingles make up nearly three-quarters of residential roofing in the country. There are three primary types of asphalt or composite shingles:
- 3-tab shingles are lightweight, affordable, and can last a couple of decades under the right conditions. Although they lack some of the aesthetic qualities of architectural and luxury shingles, their exposed layer is notched (usually into three tabs) to give a more decorative appearance. “Blow off” can be a problem, but 3-tab shingles may be a good choice for homeowners on budget in certain, less vulnerable areas of the country.
- Architectural or dimensional shingles are strong, durable, and multi-dimensional in texture and appearance, lasting 30 years or more. You can expect to pay a bit more for 30-year architectural or dimensional shingles. The most popular asphalt shingle in use today, architectural shingles are a bit thicker and longer lasting than basic 3-tab shingles, offering a better value to homeowners under demanding conditions.
- Luxury Shingles are an excellent design alternative to slate and shake roofs with extra layers that provide protection against tears, impact, and blow-off in vulnerable regions. Depending on your contractor, your home’s location, and the accessibility and complexity of your roof, selecting luxury shingles— also known as “premium” or “50-year architectural shingles”— can represent a significant increase per square foot over other composite materials. (Keep in mind that no asphalt shingle roof will last for 50 years despite the label— 30 years of service from a roof is considered excellent from an asphalt roof.)
Depending on your home’s location, how easy it is to access your roof, the kind of asphalt shingle you choose, and the type and complexity of your roof (including the number of special features like skylights, chimneys, dormers), your cost of a composite shingles roof could range from as low as $3.00 to as high as $7.50 per square foot.
In the market for a new roof? Talk to PJ’s Roofing. We’re Frederick’s experts in composite asphalt shingles, and all other types of roofing material. We’ll help make what can feel like an overwhelming proposition more manageable by asking the right questions and working within your budget.
