How Much Should A Flat Roof Cost

Out Of Date Roofing Systems

Every technology used in the construction industry advances over time as new materials, techniques, and eco-friendly solutions become available.

The flat-roofing world is no different, with older rubber-style solutions being replaced by more durable, flexible and eco-friendly solutions that are most cost-effective and last longer.

Why Will Flat Roofs Leak

Sometimes improving drainage systems to get water off the roof faster, will solve the problem. Standing water on top of a roof is a major problem. The longer water is on your roof, the more likely it is to find somewhere to leak into your property.

What are the most common repairs for a flat roof. How much does the average repair to a flat roof cost?

Advantages Of Flat Roof Cost Vs Pitched Roof Cost

The traditional pitched roof is preferred by many homeowners for a wide variety of reasons. For one, many people love the aesthetic look of this type of roof. They give off a traditional feel to a home. On the more practical side, pitched roofs are more efficient in water evacuation. Flat roofs have the tendency to retain water on the top of the home or building and stagnant water can damage not only the exterior of the structure but also the furniture and carpet inside once it finds a way to go down.

In geographical locations that are much affected by rains, where water evacuation is a top priority, pitched roofs are the ideal option. It is important to note, however, that pitched roof requires water to be correctly directed so that there will not be a concentration of water in some areas of the roof. Water should be directed away from the house or building so it will not stagnate onto your home.

Flat roofs estimate, on the other hand, are more suitable for complex buildings or structures with various levels. This is because if you install a pitched roof on this kind of building, it would require a more complicated rafter system. Flat roofs are also more ideal for large spans since building rafters to support large spans are not only complex but also expensive and impractical.

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Roofing Cost Per Square Foot

When calculating roofing costs per square, asphalt shingles run from $350 and $500 per square, metal or tin roofs costs $600 to $1,200 per square, and concrete or clay costs between $1,200 and $1,800 per square. If you are replacing your current roof, add $125 to $500 per roofing square for old roof removal.

When looking at roofing materials prices, the term per square is used to describe a 10×10 area . The term Per Square in a bid is used as an all-inclusive phrase that covers all materials and labor.

Flat Roof Pros And Cons

A flat roof is cost-effective to build and maintain. It also offers flexibility compared to a pitched roof. For instance, you could easily install an AC unit on your flat roof.

A flat roof installation can also decrease your utility bill. For instance, there are significant breakthroughs in flat roof technology. A cool roof will help to cut down on your cooling needs in the summer.

Its also easier to access and install a flat roof. As a result, a professional roofing company can install the feature faster compared to a sloped roof.

Still, a flat roof is easier to install on smaller buildings. A large commercial space, for instance, would most likely require additional internal support for a flat roof installation.

In addition, water drainage for a flat roof is more complex compared to a sloped roof. This point highlights the importance of hiring a professional thats experienced in installing flat roofs. A less-than-perfect installation can result in serious problems down the line.

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The Different Types Of Flat Roofing

There are four types of used in the Boston area.

Perhaps the most well known type of flat top roofing is called the built-up roof. This type of roofing consist primarily of several layers of materials that are laid down on top of each other. The material used can be quite varied, including everything from hot tar, gravel, fiberglass and even roofing felt. One of the significant advantages of this type of roofing is that it is fire-resistant, but because of the smelly nature of the hot tar used, using it on buildings that are regularly occupied isnt always the best option. This choice can be a very economical one, with the cost per square foot of installation being somewhere between $3.50 and $7.00.

Keep in mind though, EPDM membrane roofs arent the only choice available if youre considering a membrane style roofing system. Another choice is a PVC membrane roof. Although it is a bit more expensive at $7.00 to $11.00 per square foot due to the increased amount of labor, it does have some significant advantages. One of the most notable is the sheer overall durability of the roofing system. Another is the fact that it is one of the most environmentally friendly options on the market today. Its also resistant to many chemicals, moisture, wind, fire and even some chemicals. As you can imagine, a roof made from this material has a significant chance of surviving here in Massachusetts.

Weather And Wildlife Can Easily Ruin Your Flat Roof

Weather plays a key role in damaging/destroying all roofing systems including cedar and asphalt shingles. When specifically discussing flat roofs. Hail can easily puncture through the membrane and strong winds will pull up the layers. Completely leaving your home or commercial building exposed. Bigger storms will also blow debris around and displace equipment, causing different things to get thrown around in ways that will harm your flat roof system. Animals like squirrels, raccoons, birds, and even in some cases cats love to explore roof tops. Unfortunately, their sharp claws or nails will easily scratch and puncture the membrane. Causing you to find and call a roofer to repair your flat roof.

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Take Care Of Your Roof

Now you know a bit more about flat roof replacement costs. You also know how important it is to hire an expert installer. With an expert installation, your flat roof will provide you with years of excellent service.

Homeowners have a lot to consider when it comes to properties. Check out our home design section for more great ideas.

Flat Roof Repair Cost

Rather than give you an arbitrary figure for an average flat roof repair cost , we feel it would be better to give you a checklist you can follow to prepare yourself for contacting a roofing company.

A flat roof will need to be repaired if you experience water leaks, internal damage, wooden timbers rotting, water pools, etc.

In general, if a flat roof is left too long with one of the above problems it will lead to the repair cost being substantially higher. For example, if you left a flat roof water leak for 1 year it can impact the structural soundness of a building due to water rotting the wooden timbers beneath.

Heres a DIY flat roof inspection checklist for you to follow to determine whether you need flat roof repair or replacement:

If you can see you have any of these problems then it might be time to call a qualified flat roofer to inspect further. Depending on the scale of the problem the flat roof repair cost can range from £150 all the way up to several £1000.

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Why People Opt For Flat Roof And Pitched Roof

A pitched roof has at least two slopes that rise to meet at a peak. Known for their long lifespan, their construction is designed to enable usable space in your buildings loft area, maximizing space and affording the type of flexibility that a flat roof simply cant match. Your property will benefit from added insulation and rooms will not be afflicted by extremes of temperature that can come with a flat roof installation.

Unfortunately, pitched roofs also come with a reasonable price tag their complex design and significant labor and material costs mean that pitched roofs are far more expensive than a roofing service near me.

A residential flat roof is basically a horizontal base fixed to the buildings ceiling joists and then covered with a waterproof membrane. To enable rainwater to drain from the roof, a flat roof is slightly pitched by just a couple of degrees.

Flat roofing is both economical and efficient, which saves the owner energy and money. Its construction involves considerably less labor and materials than its pitched roof counterpart and full replacement can often take just a day

Roofing Costs By Type

Asphalt shingles are the most popular choice for most homeowners today. Theyre affordable and durable, lasting up to 50 years in some cases. But if youre looking at replacing your roof, youve got lots of different options, as long as your budget is relatively large. Heres a roof replacement cost comparison of different roofing materials:

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Labour Costs And Timescales

As alluded to earlier, the cost to fit a new flat roof is shared between the necessary materials and labour. Therefore, if you are hiring professionals to handle the job, youll need to get hold of a good roofer with adequate experience. They will usually charge between £25 to £50 per hour.

It is also essential to consider that the job of fitting a new flat roof could take up to two days. In addition, most roofers require an extra hand to carry out their jobs effectively. Therefore, you will likely be paying two people for the job.

Most contractors will include their prices with the overall cost to replace the flat roof. So pay attention to the quote to ensure you arent charged arbitrarily. Generally, a flat roof replacement should cost somewhere between £200 to £500 in labour fees.

However, the price and timescale for the job could change in some circumstances. For instance, the material used could impact on the time necessary to carry out the job as some materials are easier to work with than others.

Also, ease of access is vital. The job will take a longer time if the labourers dont have an easy way to get to the roof. For this reason, a scaffold might be necessary. This not only ensures the safety of the worker, but also saves time.

How Much Does A Metal Flat Roof Replacement Cost

A screw down panel metal flat roof replacement starts around $4.50 per square foot. A screw down metal panel will be the cheaper option, but youll end up spending money in the future on the maintenance it requires.

For a flat roof with no penetrations, you can expect a 24 gauge steel standing seam metal roof to cost around $12.00-$15.00 per square foot. This number could be more or less depending on the size of your flat roof, the roofing contractor you hire, and other factors.

However, these are good numbers to give you an idea of the budget youll need for a metal roof.

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Roof Shingle Repair Cost

Roof shingle repair costs $200 to $600 on average for replacing a few missing or broken asphalt shingles or roofing over up to 100 SF. Fixing roof shingles costs $350 to $1,000 per square for a full tear-off and replacement.

• Skylight Skylight flashing repair costs $150 to $500. Replacing the whole skylight costs$800 to $2,400.
• ChimneyChimney repair costs$200 to $500 to repair flashing, while replacing flashing costs $300 to $1,500.
• Vent pipe Roof vent pipe flashing repairs cost $200 to $500, including re-sealing pipe caps. Pipe flashing prevents leaks at the joint where the pipe meets the roofing surface.
• Drip edge Replacing drip edge flashing costs $1 to $2 per linear foot and prevents water from going underneath the shingles at the roof’s edge and rotting the fascia, soffit, or roof decking.

Sheet Metal Roofing Cost

Sheet metal is incredibly durable and is used for a lot of structures. Not only does it last long, but it doesnt rust or corrode, which means it tends to look really nice. Therefore, this is an excellent option for sheds, barns and other outbuildings.

Pros

It is a durable material to work with.

It doesnt rust or corrode.

Cons

It is heavy which could lead to sagging.

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Mobile Home Roof Replacement Cost

The cost to replace the roof on a mobile home averages $2,000 to $8,000. In most cases, mobile homes can be roofed over if there is currently only a single layer. This is the most common method for mobile homes. If you do this, your costs are lower than a full replacement. But this can only be done once. If you have two layers, you must remove them to install another layer. The total mobile home size heavily influences the project costs.

How Much Does Tpo Roofing Cost

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For a decent quality TPO membrane, pricing starts at $5.50-6.00 per square foot installed, without tear-off. If you have a 1,500 sq.ft. roof, you total installation cost for TPO roofing will be $8,500-9,000.

On the low end, TPO roofing prices start at $3.50-4.00 per square foot , but that is for very large commercial projects.

To estimate how many square feet there are, simply measure the perimeter of your house. If you have a pitched roof, there are a number of ways you can measure pitch to determine the total square footage.

Cost-effectiveness is one of the primary reasons for the growing popularity of TPO roofing.

TPO offers similar properties, but better pricing than its direct competitor, PVC roofing, and mitigates all the shortcomings of the cheaper, but leak-prone EPDM rubber roofing.

You can use our Flat Roof Cost Calculator to quickly estimate how much it will cost to install most popular flat roofing materials: TPO, PVC, PDM Rubber, Modified Bitumen.

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Size Of The Flat Roof

Size matters. This is not only because of the material, but also the amount of labour required and the time needed to finish the project. As mentioned earlier, a felt roof could cost somewhere £40 to £70 per m2, and this means the total cost of the roof will depend on how large it is.

For instance, the price of installing a flat roof on the entire house would be significantly more than just doing the porch roof. Apart from materials, since larger roofs take more time, the labourers are likely to cost more money.

How Much Do Flat Roof Repairs Cost

Patching small tears and other minor flat roof repairs cost $300 to $600. Repairing storm damage, rerouting drains and other major overhauls could cost over $1,000. Remember to regularly take a close look at your roof for tears, holes and leaks. Promptly addressing these issues through DIY repair or by contacting a flat roof repair pro near you is the best way to extend the life of your roof.

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Removing A Flat Roof Cost

Removing a flat roof is usually done when it is about to be repaired, or a new one installed and is therefore usually added to the flat roof repair cost. That said, there are situations where removing the roof might be part of another project like converting the roof.

In this case, a professional will likely charge between £80 to £100 per m2. Once the removal is complete, disposal is the next problem, and while most companies will add it to the initial bill, some contractors will bill between £100 to £150 to get rid of the waste for you.

Factors That Impact The Price Of Flat Roof

• Height of the Roof:

  Tall flat-roofed properties tend to be more expensive that shorter houses, because a flat roofer will need to add a chute to bring the old roofing material down to the bottom.
• Accessibility:

  Generally, houses in Toronto are closer together than houses in Mississauga, so properties that are not as easily accessible for a dump truck to enter may require the need to remove old flat roofing material using wheelbarrows. This will tend to increase the price of your flat roofing quote. In some cases, the roofer may need to consider going from one roof to another to access the flat roof as well.

• Existing Flat Roof Layers:

  The number of layers on the flat roof has a big impact on the cost of replacing your flat roof. A flat roof with nothing on it will be much cheaper to install new flat roof material vs a flat roof with 8 inches of the old roofing material. And the cost is ever higher in older from the 1920s -1940s where fibrous material were used on flat roofs.

• Obstacles:

  The numbers of obstacles on the roof has an impact on the cost for replacing your flat roofs. Obstacles can include siding, vents, AC units and posts on decks. For example, if you have a house with a siding and posts all the way around, then before new flat roofing material can be installed, a roof contractor will need to take the siding off, cut the posts out or flash each posts.

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