Heres 5 Ways You Can Lower Roof Replacement Costs
Saving money doesnt have to mean compromising on quality. The below budget-friendly tips will help you make the most of your money
Membrane Puncture Is The Most Common Flat Roof Repair
The most commonly reported flat roof leak is due to membrane punctures. This will require the recommended flat roof repair material and cement to be spread in and around the punctured area to seal the leaky defect. The average cost to repair a flat roof solely depends on the severity of the damages and the amount of surface area that is affected. You could be looking at anywhere between $800-$5000 for flat roof related repairs. The average flat roof replacement cost is $15,000. As a roof ages and repairs costs increase, it may make more sense to replace the roof.
How Long Does It Take To Replace A Flat Roof
Its crucial to know how long it will take to replace a flat roof because you may have to take time from work. Well go through how long it takes to replace a flat roof here.
Roof replacement might take as little as one day or as long as three weeks. The average roofing replacement for a single-family home takes roughly 2-3 days.
Several factors influence the length of time it takes to replace a roof. The kind and condition of the current roof, the new roofing, materials, and the size of the house are all factors to consider.
Flat EPDM roofing utilises fewer materials than sloping EPDM roofing. Installing them takes less time than heavy tiles or wood shakes. Because flat roofs hold more water than pitched roofs, proper drainage is essential.
Its also worth noting that a new flat roof can take up to two days to install. In addition, most roofers require an extra pair of hands in order to finish their work efficiently.
As a result, youll almost probably need to hire two workers to complete the project. A roof replacement will take much longer, with the removal and replacement of a single garage roof requiring an average of 7 to 8 hours.
Flat roofs with distinctive shapes or that require extensive cutting around roof windows or pipelines, as well as flat roofs on the second or third floors that require scaffolding or access towers, will take longer.
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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 Does Home Depot Roofing Cost Per Square

A recent quote from Home Depot for replacing a 2,000 square foot roof with a new asphalt roof was $21,481 which is $1,074 per square, or $10.74 per square foot. Another quote from Lowes for a 1,650 square foot home was $16,800, which is $1,018 per square or $10.18 per square foot. Both houses had a pitch in the region of 5/12.
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Flat Roof Replacement Costs
The exact material you use will have an impact on the cost of the roof, with basic felt solutions costing around £50 per square metre for the material itself, and more high-end materials such as modern GRP going up to £90 per square metre, but allowing unlimited options in terms of colour, and generally being more long-lasting. Labour costs may then cost around £150 to £250 per day per worker. Generally, we would expect a flat roof replacement for a typical garage to cost from £1,000, to around £1,800 in London.
Roof Size And Complexity Of The Job
The size of the building plays a significant factor in the total costs for flat roof membranes. However, roofing contractors will also charge more for a project for a building in a congested or hard-to-get-to area. Flat roofing projects are tricky to complete in metropolitan areas especially if the original flat roofing material needs to be removed.
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How Much Are The Most Popular Flat Roof Repairs
Flat Roof Flashing Repair Cost
Repairing flat roof flashing costs $200 to $500. Flashing is a thin metal material used to seal the edges of the roof and prevent water damage. It is usually made from steel, copper, or aluminum and resists water and weather. However, it naturally wears down over time or may become damaged due to impacts in storms.
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Benefits Of Replacing A Flat Roof
Flat roofs are one of the most divisive roof types for buildings and residences. The most usual areas to find them are outbuildings and large structures. Flat roofs have their own set of problems and demands.
It is vital to understand the benefits of flat roofs and what you will gain by changing a flat roof if you are intending to install one on a home or construction.
Can You Replace A Roof If You Have Solar Panels
It is easy to remove and re-install solar PV panels before and after the roofing works. But how complex and how costly it will be depends on these factors:
In general solar PV panels are relatively flexible, theres a wide variety of solar PV panels and inverters on the market, so removing/re-installing or replacing parts is not complex.
We recommend speaking to your original solar PV panel installers at the same time as your roofer. The works are heavily linked and will generally follow the schedule PV system electrical isolation, PV system removal, roofing works, and PV system re-installation.
Please note: Be aware of any warranties/guarantees that may be in place, and speak to your original installer before doing any work. You could potentially void the warranty by not using the original installer for any modification works.
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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?
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Location Of The Property

The cost of living in large cosmopolitan cities is pretty expensive. This usually has a knock-on effect on other things, including food, and, in this case, labour costs. Therefore, if you live in a big city, a new flat roof cost could be higher than initially expected.
This is also true in rural areas as the availability of competent tradespeople might be hampered due to the location which could lead to an increase in the price.
Also, if your home is distant from the company or tradesperson coming over to embark on the project, this could increase. This is due to the common practice of contractors billing clients from the moment they leave their offices or workshops. Therefore, a long commute could end up costing you a lot of money.
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Roll Asphalt Flat Roof
Roll asphalt flat roofing is made up of layers of asphalt coated fibreglass, tar, felt, and water-resistant materials, all of which are kept in place with nails or asphalt cement. The top layer is covered with gravel, which protects the roof from ultraviolet rays. This type of flat roof has been in existence for over a century and is generally the cheapest. However, it doesnt usually last longer than ten years.
Beware Of Rouge Flat Roofer Contractors
We see some of our customers had made the unfortunate error of going with a local contractor, who appeared to know exactly what they were doing.
When asking how much does it cost to replace a flat roof you should not only consider the points we discussed earlier in this article, but how capable and qualified is the contractor.
To help potentially limit the risk to you falling for this trap these so-called rogue tradesmen use we have complied a list of question you should ask.
- How long have you been replacing flat roofs?
- Whats the average cost of replacing a flat roof?
- What qualifications do you have?
- What accreditations and approvals do you have? .
- Ask for previous customer reviews and if possible numbers to either text or call to confirm the legitimacy.
- Ask for pictures or videos of previous flat roofing jobs they have worked on.
- Request a full quote breakdown with the exact materials to be used and labour costs.
- Will the old flat roof material be removed before the new layer.
- Are there any other associated costs not included in the quote?
If any of these important questions are answered vaguely or without the appropriate proof, then you can move onto the next roofing company to save yourself the potential cost of having to rectify mistakes made due to a poorly skilled tradesman.
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Cost To Install Flat Roof
For the installation of 1,500 sq.ft. PVC single-ply membrane flat roof, expect to pay $3,000 to $5,000 in labor and $4,000 to $5,500 in materials, for a total average cost of $7,000 to $10,500. The material costs $2.50 to $3.50 per sq.ft. Labor costs between $1.50 and $3.50 per sq.ft. The total cost of the labor is generally based on the material. Single-ply membranes are the least expensive to install, while a built-up roof can be labor-intensive. Other issues that may impact the cost of the labor can be the condition of the roof, whether you have any cuts in the roof for lights or a chimney, and whether the roof needs to be reinforced to hold things like an air conditioner unit. In these instances, labor may climb as high as $10 to $15 per sq.ft.
Fiberglass Flat Roof Cost
A fiberglass flat roof averages between $4 and $8 to install. Fiberglass is a newer roofing material that works well for both pitched and non-pitched roofs. It is installed using panels that are installed on the roof overlapping each other. Most times, fiberglass roofs are double layered. This type of roof is popular due to its cost and water-resistant properties. A fiberglass roof is much more durable than other materials and lasts for 25 plus years. A few disadvantages include the installation is based on the weather, and they arent recommended for larger roofs.
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How Much Does It Cost To Remove A Flat Roof
If you wish to have your flat roof removed, you should usually find out how much it would cost before proceeding. Well go over the costs of removing a flat roof here.
This cost would cover removing old roof felt, inspecting existing timber, supplying and installing underlay, supplying and installing cap sheet, supplying and installing any edgings, and removing any waste materials from the job site.
A flat roof in a habitable portion of the structure would require more insulation, and the presence of asbestos in the current roof, as well as access or height concerns necessitating scaffolding, would greatly raise costs.
If you want to change your roof, youll need to have your flat roof removed. You may not have a choice if your roof is constantly leaking or has rotten wood decking, necessitating roof removal.
Professional removal costs on average £80 per square metre, though this might vary depending on the type of material used, as certain materials are more difficult to remove than others.
You should also consider rubbish removal costs, which can run from £100 to £1,000 if you hire a professional. Expect to pay between £200 and £1000 for a skip rental.
Recap On Alternatives To Replacing Flat Roofs
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Flat roofs are expensive to repair and replace.
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Most flat roof materials only last 20 to 30 years with some needing to be replaced every 15 years.
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There are secondary costs to roof replacement.
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Before you reach out to your local roofing contractor, its crucial that you realize that you can reduce your flat roof cost with an alternative material.
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EverSeal is a permanent solution to a leaking flat roof.
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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.
Cost To Install Plywood Sheathing Or Replace Roof Decking

The average cost to replace roof decking in a 2,400 square foot home is between $1,050 and $1,575. It will take approximately 75 sheets of plywood sheathing at an average cost of $14 to $21 per sheet. A smaller 1,100 square foot home will only need around 34 sheets for an average price of $600. For roof sheathing, plywood typically comes in sheets of 4 by 8 that measure either 11/32 or 3/8 thick.
Cost to Replace Roof Decking
Home Size |
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$1,122 $2,414 |
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Hiring Someone To Replace A Flat Roof Checklist
Before you hire a professional to work on your flat roof, consider the following:
- What qualifications are needed: A good example is a Level 3 Diploma in Roofing Occupations.
- What experience do they have? Two years plus experience might be a good start, depending on your budget.
- Whats their previous work like? A good portfolio will give you an idea of what to expect.
- Have their previous customers rated them highly: Check for online reviews/feedback of their work.
- re they part of any accreditation? The more proof they offer of their skillset, the more confidence you will have in their ability.