What to Consider When Choosing a New Roof – Part 3

By Evelyn Witterholt. 

Your guide to the different costs associated with getting a new roof for your home or building. 

The cost of a new roof is arguably the biggest concern for home and building owners. There are many factors to consider when calculating the cost of a new roof and it can feel very overwhelming. But with our three-part series on new roof considerations, you’ll get a better picture of what kind of new roof is best for you. In Part 1, we went over the different materials to choose from and in Part 2 we covered the different effects regional climate has on roofing materials. In this final installment, we’ll be discussing the many different costs of getting a new roof, from average overall cost to specific costs you might not be aware of. 

Overall cost 

Online calculators that give you a price point in a few seconds are handy, but not often accurate. Because there are so many variables at play with each building structure being unique, no two roofs will be priced the same. What can be helpful though are average costs, which can give you an idea of how much money you could be spending overall. 

According to Angi, most new roofs cost homeowners anywhere between $8,700 - $22,000 and the average national cost for a new roof is $14,360. While this is a nationwide average, your cost could still vary depending on your state’s regulations for roof replacements. Our best advice? Find a contractor in your area that will give you an honest and accurate estimate for how much it will cost to replace your roof. They’ll always be more accurate than an online calculator. 

Roof size 

The bigger your roof, the more it’ll cost you to replace it and the smaller your roof, the less it’ll cost you. Angi states that roof replacements can range from anywhere between $4.35 and $11 per square foot. So, a roof that’s only 1,000 square feet will be priced much less than a roof that’s over 3,000 square feet. But of course, pricing a roof based on size alone is not that simple, as the material you want your new roof to be made of also has a major impact on the price point of your new roof. 

Material 

We cover the price and quality of different roofing materials in Part 1 of this series. Another thing to consider when choosing a material is which one will hold up best a decade later, or longer. A less expensive material like asphalt may cost you less initially, but it could need more expensive repairs in the future, whereas a strong material like metal will have a high upfront cost but will likely not need as many repairs. 

Other cost considerations 

While a singular price point can simplify your decision-making process for choosing a new roof, it’s worth it to consider what makes up that overall cost number. It’s important to understand that the majority, or approximately 60%, of the cost goes towards labor and the rest goes to materials. Owens Corning also says that to be aware of material disposal fees that could be added to the overall cost. 

Again, with so many variables of the total cost of a new roof, the most accurate price you’re going to get is from a roofing contractor. A reliable roofing contractor is always willing to give you an estimated cost of a roof replacement and will answer any questions that you may have about cost! 

Have a question? AskARoofer.   

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About Evelyn 

Evelyn works as a writer for RoofersCoffeeShop and AskARoofer. When she isn’t writing about roofing, she’s either at the gym lifting weights or curled up on the couch watching a movie.