How To Figure Roofing Cost

Calculate The Simple Roof Areas

On a simple hip or gable roof, multiplying the eave to ridge length by eave length will give the area to be multiplied by pitch factor. Ridge vent openings are best finished with coil rather than partial shingle. Using flat coil stock allows the ridge caps to lay flat and can also be formed with an extra water stop at the ridge opening.

Area for the roof in Figure 3 is 1784 ft2 The blue dash line divides the roof into 2 rectangles. There is a small area calculated as 8/12 that is actually 4/12. On a small area such as this, it is better to err on the side of the higher pitch since it should not significantly affect the total.

Pro Tip: Pythagorean Theorem can be used to calculate the length of the valleys. A general rule of thumb is to add at least 12 lineal inches of valley material to be safe.

Figure 3. Calculating Simple Roof Areas

Roofing Labor Cost Per Square Across The Us And Canada

It just so happens that in most places and according to most roofers that Ive spoken to, the average cost per square that they charge ranges between $250 and $400 / square, so our calculation of $350 / square falls right in the middle of that average.

Our cost calculator formula is in large based on these calculations. It also takes into account additional items, such as chimney / skylight flashing, different roof slopes, houses that are 1, 2 or 3 stories high, different materials, and overall job complexity.

Therefore, you will get different prices depending on your homes conditions.

To figure out how roofing costs vary based on where you live, see our local roof prices guide.

Dos And Donts Of Roof Replacement

Naturally, your new roof should protect the inside and outside of the structure. So, if it leaks, you made the wrong choice. Needless to say, your roof should protect your home too. From draining properly to keep your family safe during extreme weather, there are many reasons why you should invest in a reliable roof.

Another perk of replacing your roof is that it will be much more efficient than before. This means that with proper ventilation and installation, your home will save energy. As a result, your heating and cooling bills will be dramatically lowered.

Plus, replacing your old roof helps your HVAC system last much longer. So, make sure that your roof prevents ice dams during colder months. Also, keep your eye out for possible energy efficiency tax credits as well.

If you play your cards right, you might just end up increasing your home value when you resell your house. Obviously, its original value will increase with the brand-new roof on top of it.

Lets move onto a few mistakes that you should avoid when it is time to replace your roof. For example, try to stay away from roofs that are:

• Unreliable
• Have high energy costs
• Potentially dangerous

It goes without saying the unreliable roofs are vulnerable to leaks earlier in their lifespan. Besides this, it can peel off in high winds. They also cant stand up to pressure from snow either.

Recommended Reading: What Causes Swollen Gums And Roof Of Mouth

Factors That Affect The How Much Youll Pay For A New Shingle Roof

So, youre building a new house or looking to renovate the one youre already in, and you want to know what could affect the final tally of your shingle roof cost.

This article will cover the majority of the factors in determining how much your next residential roof will cost.

The topic goes deep, so weve tried to make it as concise as possible without too much fluff.

What To Include In Your Roofing Bid

When compiling your bid, include the following crucial elements:

• A breakdown of your services, materials, and costs
• Your contact information so clients can contact you if they have questions
• Your clients name and contact information
• Your business name and logo
• Quote expiration date
• Deposit required before starting the roofing job

Find out everything you need to include and how to put together the perfect service quote here.

Need an easy bid template fast?

Don’t Miss: How To Determine How Many Shingles Needed For Roof

Why Should I Measure My Own Roof

If you plan on re-roofing your own home then you will need to calculate materials so you wont waste your own time and money. If youre like most people, youll need to hire a professional.

Knowing your numbers will help you figure out what roofing materials are within your budget and having your square footage handy is a great way to protect yourself from inflated quotes.

How To Calculate Rafter Length

The rafter length calculator lets you calculate truss dimensions using two slightly different sets of variables. It all comes down to what information you already have. Usually, that is either the pitch or the rise of the roof. What is more, the formula used to calculate roof truss dimensions is one you probably know very well – it’s the exact same formula you use to describe a** right triangle** – Pythagoras!

The formulas we use are the following:

rise² + run² = rafter length²,

meaning that:

rafter length = .

The formula used to calculate rafter length from roof pitch is, in fact, the same as the one above. The one difference is that we need to calculate the roof rise using the pitch first. So what you need to do first is to get the pitch, using the following formula:

rise / run = pitch,

expressed as a percentage, meaning that:

rise = run * pitch.

We can merge these two equations to get a single rafter length formula based on the roof pitch:

rafter length² = ² + run²

rafter length = ² + run²)

rafter length = run *

If you’re unsure about the terms such as roof run and rise, refer to the illustration below:

Don’t Miss: How Much To Build Roof Over Patio

Best Roofing Materials: Costs Features And Benefits

Depending on the roofing material you want to install, you can spend as little as $4,500 to as much as $30,000.

Today, the sheer number of options to choose from can be staggering. We have done all the research to help you select the best roof for your needs.

First, lets go over sloped roofing options and then discuss those appropriate for flat roofs. For each, we will focus on installation costs, durability, longevity, energy efficiency, as well as aesthetics.

Average Roof Replacement Cost:

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.

Don’t Miss: How To Start A Roofing Company In Georgia

Roofing Material Affects Replacement Cost

Two types of asphalt shingles are used in Raleigh roofing: 3-tab shingles and architectural shingles, also known as dimensional or laminate shingles.

The 3-tab asphalt shingle has three, square tabs of the same size and thickness at the down-slope edge which have a flat look when installed. These shingles weigh less than architectural shingles because they are slightly thinner, making them less durable and more prone to curling over time.

Most 3-tab asphalt shingles have a 20 to 25-year life expectancy, and they are the more economical roofing material of the two types.

Architectural asphalt shingles come in many designs and colors, but the main feature is varying shingle width and thickness, which adds more dimension and an extra element of aesthetic flair to the finished roof. They also cost more to install than 3-tab shingles.

Architectural shingles have a 30 year to lifetime warranty and cost between $16 and $25 more for materials than 3-tab shingles for every 100 square feet of covered roof. This adds about $500 to $750 of materials cost to the entire price of the average roof replacement job.

What Does A Roofing Calculator Do

Roofing calculators help you determine how much roofing material you need to cover your roof for the roof replacement. Because materials are a large part of how much a new roof costs, you can get a good idea of material costs this way. If you intend to do the work yourself, using a roofing calculator can help you accurately get a handle on what your new roof costs. If you intend to hire a professional, the calculator can still give you a sense of what youll be paying, because while it cant factor in labor, you can still figure out what the barest minimum costs will be.

Read Also: How To Install Snow Stops On Metal Roof

Find Out The Area Of Your Roof

Now that you have both the pitch and the ground area, you can get the actual area of your roof. If your roof has a small pitch, multiply the ground level by 1.06. Write the number down and multiply by 1.08 and write that number down. This is going to be your short pitch range. Repeat the same procedure if you have a medium or high pitch, except do it with 1.12 to 1.25 on a medium pitch and 1.3 and 1.42 for a high pitch.

So for example, if our 1,700 square foot home has a small pitch, were going to multiply by 1.06 to get 1,802 and by 1.08 to get 1,836. Convert that number into squares by dividing by 100.Book Roofing EstimateUsing Your Square Footage to Get the Total Cost

Finding The Size Of The Roof In Squares

Roofing contractors estimate projects and materials by the square, so it is crucial to find this measurement to estimate the amount of material needed accurately. A square simply refers to a 10 x 10 square of roofing. This is simply 100 square feet of roof.

To find the squares, divide the overall roof area by 100 and then round up. For instance, if the roof is 1550 square feet, then it is 16 squares.

You May Like: How To Figure Shingles For A Gable Roof

Get Your Free Roofing Estimate Template

Another common mistake is to give unclear or unprofessional bids. If your client doesnt understand exactly what youre charging for or what value youre bringing, they might haggle you down to a lower price or worse, go with a competitor.

If youre unsure about your roofing business pricing strategies, chances are that youre in the 90% that has underbid a roofing job.

The good news? You can learn how to price and bid roofing jobs and be among the 10% that know how to price for profit.

Heres how.

What Is The Best Type Of Roofing Material For Cold Climates

If you live in a cold climate with punishing winters full of snow, ice and high winds, your roof will undoubtedly take quite a beating. The ideal roof for this type of environment is a slate tile roof. Made of stone, this type of roof can easily stand up to harsh winters, and can last up to 100 years.

A slightly less expensive option is a metal roof, which, when installed properly, allows snow and ice to slide off rather than adhering to your homes roof. Metal roofs are also great at bringing extra heat from the sun into your home, which can help lower heating bills during the cold months.

Read Also: What Is The Most Durable Type Of Roof

Cost To Redo A Roof With A Different Type

If you are replacing your existing asphalt roof with a roof type that is heavier, like slate or stone tiles, the potential exists where you may need some structural reinforcement for the rafters and joists in the roof framing structure to support the additional weight. The reinforcement alone will average between $500 and $1,500 depending on the size of the home and the amount of reinforcement needed. Add the cost for your chosen roofing material plus labor on top of that.

How Much Does A New Roof Cost: Roofing Calculator

There are a lot of factors that go into what a new roof can cost. From the type of shingles that you choose to the size and pitch of your roof, it can sometimes be difficult to estimate just how much you should be budgeting for this expense. While the most accurate way you can get a quote for your new roof is to get a free estimate done by a professional, using a roofing calculator is also a way you can determine how much does a new roof cost.

Typical Roof Replacement Cost

$6,000

Cost to have roofing replaced varies greatly by region, material type, tear off costs and many other factors.

Get a FREE accurate estimate for your project:

Don’t Miss: Does Insurance Cover Roof Damage From Storm

Home Size And Design Affect Roofing Replacement Costs

The average residential roof is approximately 1,700 square feet, but your roof may be bigger or smaller. To calculate the approximate size of your roof, measure the overall outside width and length of your house to the edge of the eaves and multiply the two numbers to determine a rough estimate of your roofs square footage.

Roofing in Raleigh is calculated in 100-foot squares. To figure out the approximate number of roofing squares in your roof, simply take the total square feet and divide by 100. For example, if your roof is 2,000 square feet, 2,000 divided by 100 equals 20 squares of roofing.

In most cases, roof replacement costs between $350 to $500 per square, including materials and labor for installation. The removal of old roofing material can add an additional $100 or more per square. If the wood under the roof also needs replacement, costs increase as well.

Valleys and gables in a roof are where two slopes meet, and every valley and gable need a special layer of metal flashing. The more gables and valleys a roof has, the more expensive it is to replace.

Chimneys, vent pipes, and skylights also need a special metal flashing, affecting the cost. Each skylight or chimney can add between $150 and $200 to the total roof replacement price.

Steep roofs and multi-story buildings also add to the overall difficulty of roof replacement, adding to the final cost.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Roof On A 2500 Square Foot House

As an example, let’s figure out how much it could cost to replace a roof on a 2500 square foot house.

Your replacement cost depends primarily on two things: the company that installs it and the material you choose to use.

If you choose asphalt shingles, usually the most cost-effective roofing solution, the roof costs can range from $11,250 to $18,750.

That’s assuming that the cost range is from $4.50, which is about average, to $7.50 per sq. ft. for the top end.

And the prices will go up from there.

For example, here are the costs of other popular materials:

• Slate shingles: $800 $4,000 per 100 square feet
• Tile shingles: $500 $4,000 per 100 square feet
• Metal roofs: $500 $1,800 per 100 square feet

After paying for materials, you have to add in other expenses roofing contractors will charge for like labor costs and the cost of materials needed for the roof installation.

You May Like: How To Tell When You Need A New Roof

Create A Winning Roofing Bid With Jobber

Jobber not only saves you time and minimizes human error but it also lets you:

• Build professional bids in no time
• Manage all your roofing quotes centrally
• Upsell services with optional add-ons and packages
• Invite clients to approve bids online in one click
• Easily accept deposits, so youre never out of pocket

Roof Repair Vs Replacement

Your roof could still be in good condition, and not show any signs of leaking, but if it is 20 years old or older, you can prevent an extensive amount of damage to the interior of your home and its contents by having someone come out to assess the situation. According to building supplies manufacturer Owens Corning, the following is a list of signs you’re roof needs to be replaced:

• Shingle edges are curled, or shingle tabs are cupped or cracked.
• Bald spots where granules are missing
• Your roof is at least 20 years old.
• The roof looks old and worn.
• Dark streaks from airborne algae
• Moss

Read Also: How To Shingle A Shed Roof Pictures

What Is A Roofing Bid

A roofing bid, also known as a quote, is a professional document that shows your client the cost and pricing breakdown of their roofing project before they hire you. Roofing quotes include the services your company will provide your clients information, how much each service will cost, additional service notes, and important terms and conditions. Quotes must be approved by the client, and cannot change once agreed upon between the service provider and the customer.