Roofs are very important in your house. They are essential for protecting you against weather calamities like hurricanes and tornadoes. They also complete a good look for your home. Sometimes you can decide to tear off your house roof and replace it for beauty. Some other times their deplorable state will force you. The roof replacement process isn’t as easy as it may seem. You need to be prepared because a new roof can cost up to $8,000. The price can also go higher to almost $40,000 depending on certain factors. This cost varies across the country.
Whatever your reasons are for tearing down the roof, you need professional advice. An expert will help you determine the materials you need and the best roof to replace with. All that matters in this is the determination of the total cost of the whole process. If you are planning to do a roof replacement, this article is meant for you. It contains the necessary information about the process and cost estimates.
How Do I Estimate The Cost Of A New Roof?
The total cost of your roof replacement is determined by several parameters. So, to estimate the money you need, you have to evaluate the cost of all these parameters then add them together.
There are also online calculators that can help you to calculate the cost of replacing an old roof. Though, the calculators won’t give you the exact figure. So, at the end of the day, all you’ll end up with is a budget estimate of your roof. To have the best estimates, consider the following roof parameters;
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Cost of the materials
The cost of the roofing material changes with time. Before estimating the material cost you should check the current prices in the market. The dealers who sell the materials update the prices in case there are changes. Seasonal rate spikes, market conditions should also help you in making your cost estimate. Get the real-time costs of materials to help you determine the roofing cost.
Installation complexity
Several factors come into play in relation to the complexity of the roof. The first is the roof design. What plans do you intend to use; simple or the cut-up?
Other factors include the accessibility, the roof pitch, and the size of the roof. Additionally, the number of stories of the house is a key component here. The number of penetrations and valleys also determines the complexity of your roof. The more complicated your roof is, the more expensive it gets. So, to get near accurate figures, conduct a physical inspection of the entire roof.
Labour charges
There are several people offering roof installation services at a cheap price. The cost of a professional roof installation is varied on different factors. Economic conditions and the competition amongst the roofers play a key role in charges. If there are several entities offering the same services, the prices will be low. Labour is a key component when conducting cost evaluation for a new roof. Since everything is an estimate, the roofer should always have an error margin.
Location
Your location determines the cost of the roof. Roofing costs vary significantly in different States across the country. Some parts paying more than the others. Those who live in areas like WA, OR, or AK may have to pay 18% more than the National Average. In other states like TX and LA, you may pay 16% less than National Average. So, when estimating the roofing cost, take cognizant of your location.
Cost of the waste disposal
When replacing a roof, there must be waste that you’ll need to dispose of in the right way. This includes the damaged materials and the construction debris. You need money to must include the cost of wastes disposal.
How Do Other Factors Affect Roof Replacement Costs?
First, you need to identify what action to take on your roof. After that, examine all the major and minor factors that will influence the cost. Some of these factors are the roof size, the materials used among others. The factors below play a big role in determining your total cost for your roof replacement.
Roof size: Many may ignore this but the square footage of a roof highly impacts the cost of roof replacement. If your house has a big roof, you are likely to use a lot of money. Some aspects like the number of materials used also affect the time need to complete the task. When the number of materials increases, it increases the labor. Definitely, if the roofer will take more time, you will pay more.
Many do not consider the complexity of their roofs before doing estimations. The number of facets, hips, valleys, and pitch determines the material size needed. Additionally, if you have a tall roof, know that it will cost you more. This is because the installers will not risk falling by working fast. Thus the process is slow.
Roofing materials: The material you choose determines a lot when it comes to the cost of your new roof. The type of materials in the market has different durability levels. And the pricing of the materials is different. For example, asphalt shingles are inexpensive compared to metals.
Certain materials cannot be used in some areas. So, when determining the roofing materials, you need to consider the geographical location. The local building codes or HOA rules impact the cost of acquiring the materials. For instance, traditional three-tab shingles do not cost the same as architectural shingles. That is the architectural shingles that meet COOL roof requirements.
When doing the replacement, you may also need to install the following;
- Underlayment
- Vents
- Decking
- Flashing around chimneys, skylights, or roof to wall transition.
These add-ons will make the pricing of the replacement go higher than you thought. The materials in the mentioned categories vary in cost due to different factors. These include materials, performance, warrants, design, or look. The higher the quality the more expensive the material is.
Besides, note that the different types of materials have different handling methods. It may require the contractor to follow special instructions. And since you want to meet the warranty requirements, you have to comply. Examples of materials that have special instructions include Berkshire, Woodmoor, and Woodcrest. This will call for immediate action and may cost you more because of the extra labor. The handling of these materials is much different compared to others.
Should you proceed with roof replacement?
It might not be cheap to do roof replacement but necessary. You may not have an option especially when the roof is fully damaged. A roof is a critical component of your house, reroofing is critical too. You need to be extra careful when planning your roof replacement. Otherwise, you may end up with a budget you cannot service.
If the cost scares you, contact your insurance company and check whether they can cover the expenses. So, before dipping your hand into the pocket, try the insurance companies. They may lift the baggage off your shoulders.
But is it always a must to carry out roof replacement? The urgency and the need should depend on the state of your roof. There are several signs to observe that will help you know whether it’s a must or not process. The signs include;
- Shagging
- The missing of the granules.
- The cracking or curling of the shingles.
- Attic having leaks or openings.
- The efficiency of the energy with the roof is poor.
If you see these signs, it is high time you replaced your roof. To start with, call a professional roofer to inspect your roof. In most cases, this is free or may pay a minimal fee. After the inspection analysis, they will tell you what to repair. Also, they will tell you if you need to do a replacement or an entire overhaul. The inspection reports also include the cost estimates for the whole process. This is so useful because it gives an overview of the expenses you expect to incur.
What is the cheapest way to replace a roof?
As mentioned above, it is not cheap to do a roof replacement. However, it is vital if your roof has issues. We’ve captured some tale-tell signs you should look out for so that you know when to repair your roof. However, you can identify such weaknesses and fail to do anything because of the expenses involved.
There are two options to lower your roof replacement expenses. The first option is using your insurance company. It is not easy to work with an insurance company. However, if they come through, they can help you a great deal. There are several companies that can help you to replace your roof in case you get stuck with the process.
If you want to use a certain insurance company, contact them and make your request known to them. They will contact an assessment of your home and tell you whether you qualify for a cover. The assessment is carried out by a professional. Therefore, all the recommendations given are accurate even though not 100%.
If the insurance decides to take over the work, they will also help in the paperwork analysis. After they estimate all the expenses, they will proceed to replace your roof. Note the experts from the company will assist to work out the best possible way out.
The other method is doing the replacement by yourself. But, DIY is not recommended unless you are an expert in the roofing field. Doing the repairs by yourself helps you cut all the expenses you could use in paying for the labor.
Note that this option if you do not have a good experience can mess you up. Many may decide to watch the process on YouTube but you need to be extra careful. Some slight mistakes may cost you more than you could have paid for a professional. You can also injure yourself in the process if you do not have experience.
Conclusion
The cost of tearing off and replacing a roof can be costly. Sometimes you can afford the roof but then additional expenses make the price shoot. The thing is, sometimes replacing your roof isn’t an option but mandatory. Besides, a house without a roof is not a house. To get the best deals and results, you should involve a professional roofer.
They will help in determining the overall cost of the entire process. Additionally, expert advice is necessary as they help to identify leeway to cut the cost. You cannot decide to reduce certain material based on your own opinion and expect all to be well.
If you look forward to replacing your roof, consider everything here to estimate the cost. However, it’s imperative to include an error margin in your calculations. Remember everything you project is a mere estimate. So, the values you use can increase or decrease. To be on the safe side, have an error margin that will cater to those variations.