What Is The Cost To Replace Shingles On My Roof?
Many factors affect the cost of replacing shingles, and costs can range between $5,000 to $12,000 per job. The price fluctuates depending on your location, the type of shingles you want, and the size of your home.
This guide to the cost of replacing shingles will specifically discuss how the size of your roof and the type of shingles can vastly affect roofing costs.
How Does Size Affect Roof Cost?
Roof size affects roofing pricing in two significant ways: Labor and materials.
Labor
Labor is probably around 60% of the entire cost of a new roof, and it’s no wonder why. Roofing is demanding physical work.
Roofers need the physical requirements and training to do roofing. Re-shingling a roof is much harder than most people think (keep reading to our DIY section).
The amount of labor needed will depend on the size of your roof. More extensive roofs require more time and effort.
Part of labor costs also involves the steepness of your roof. If you have a flat roof, then labor won’t cost as much because of the ease of maneuverability. If your roof pitch is steep, labor costs may increase because of the dangers and extra equipment needed to do the roofing safely.
Materials
Materials are the other essential part of the roofing cost. The bigger the roof, the more materials will be required. The price of roofing materials is usually expressed in square feet.
Does Shingle Type Affect the Cost?
The material you choose to cover your roof with will also affect the total price of the roofing. As mentioned before, the cost of shingles is by square feet, and different types of shingles have different prices per square foot.
Different Types of Shingles
Here are the most common types of shingles, their pros and cons, and their average prices.
Asphalt Shingle
Asphalt is the most common shingle type used for roofing homes because it’s the most inexpensive ($3.50 to $5 per square foot) with a lifespan of 10 to 30 years, depending on the style. You can choose from a wide range of colors and thicknesses for each shingle.
Most of the time, asphalt shingles come as a three-tab product, a larger shingle that, when installed, looks like three individual shingle tabs. The three-tab shingle makes the whole process easier and faster for roofers.
Asphalt shingles are best for homes in the Northwest and Northeast because of their waterproof nature.
The biggest detractors for this type of shingle are that they’re vulnerable to temperature fluctuations and have the shortest lifespan of all roofing materials.
Composite Shingle
This is an interesting shingle option because it’s composed of different materials like rubber and plastic but made to look like wood or slate. This is a relatively new type of shingle, so some roofers may not be familiar with it.
Composite shingles are suitable for houses all over the country but run expensive ($4 or more per square foot). The lifespan of composite shingles is around 20 to 50 years.
Wood Shingle
Wood shingles are made from softwoods like pine, cedar, or spruce. This type of shingle is popular for aesthetics but requires much upkeep to maintain its appearance.
Wood shingles are vulnerable to the elements and termites. Although you can powerwash your roof, wood shingles tend to get moldy in wet environments.
Cost-wise, wood shingles are expensive ($4.50 to $9 per square foot), and the lifespan depends on the type of wood used.
Clay Shingle
You’ll find clay shingles more in the South and Southwest because they perform well against heat while promoting airflow. This means it’s easier to keep houses cooler in the heat.
Clay shingles are durable and fireproof but can run high in price ($7 to $10 per square foot). These shingles usually come with a 50-year warranty.
Metal Shingle
Metal is quickly becoming a favorite shingle material because it’s durable and has a lifespan of around 50 years. Metal roofs are most commonly made of steel; they reflect light and heat and are resistant to rain, rot, fire, and hail.
Be aware that it’s louder when things hit a metal roof than it is with other materials. The cost for metal roof shingles is about $3 per square foot.
Slate Shingle
Slate is a higher-end material for shingles and is priced as such ($16 or more per square foot). These shingles are durable and can withstand high winds and extreme temperatures. Slate also has the longest lifespan out of all the shingle materials listed here, with an average of 100 years.
Can You Shingle Your Own Roof?
Technically yes, but there are many things you must consider.
Safety
Let’s talk about safety. You’ll be up on your roof, which can be very high. Most professionals know the right way to walk around on a roof pitch. If you aren’t familiar with walking on roofs and make one wrong move, serious injuries can happen.
Physical Needs
As mentioned before, roofing is a very physically demanding job. Are you prepared for that? You’ll need to bend over for long periods, carry heavy materials, and perform repetitive motions for hours.
Tools
You need specific tools to properly roof your home. These include:
- Air compressor and air hose
- Roofing nailer
- Circular saw
- Caulk gun
- Stapler
- Utility knife and blades
- Tin snips
- Straightedge
- Safety harness and fall arrest system
- Work gloves
You may need a building permit if you’re considering doing your roof yourself. Be sure to check into financing your project before you start, too.
Another thing to consider is that your home insurance may not cover your roof if not done by professionals.
Save Your Roof with a Roof Maxx Rejuvenation
With all that in mind, it would be nice to not need to replace your shingles, right? Applying RoofMaxx to your shingles will significantly extend and improve the life of your roof.
Contact us today and save yourself money and time by choosing to rejuvenate your roof rather than dealing with the cost of replacing shingles completely.
