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Roof Cost

Whether you're building a new home or renovating an old one, roofing costs often represent a significant chunk of the budget. Many homeowners are sadly quite ignorant when it comes to how roofing estimates are tabulated. While the formula can get complicated, the cost of installing a new roof can be estimated with great accuracy based on a number of criteria.

A Few Factors That Impact Roofing Costs

While there are a myriad of factors that dictate the cost of roof installation or replacement, these are some of the most important.

Total Area to Be Covered

More so than any other consideration, square footage will largely dictate how much it costs to roof any given home or business. Roofing outfits typically generate quotes based on the cost to cover a "square" of surface area equivalent to 100 square feet. Shingles typically come in bundles. Three bundles will cover a square. A square's worth of mid-range architectural shingles cost about $100.

Type of Roofing Material

As with any other commodity, the quality of roofing materials runs the gamut from superlative to unacceptable. While cheaper shingles cut down on up-front construction costs, they reduce the warranty coverage that roofers are willing to offer. Likewise, there's a broad range of metal roofing options available to those who prefer a standing seam solution. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for.

Roofing Material Quality

Standard asphalt-based shingles will always be the most economical choice when it comes to roofing materials. Metal roofing is more expensive than traditional shingles but will last longer given the appropriate maintenance. If you'd like to opt for a more antiquated material like cedar shake or slate, there's no telling what the final cost might be depending on where you happen to live.

Local Cost of Living

A new roof will always cost far more in the Greater Boston area than in an affordable locale like rural Montana. Local and state tax rates as well as labor costs significantly contribute to the final price tag of any given roofing project. While smart contractors find ways to slash budgets to the bone, there are always local cost variables that are unavoidable.

Distance From the Roof to the Ground

A seasoned roofing crew can shingle a typical single-story home in a day or so if the weather cooperates. Two and three-story homes will necessarily require more time to get the job done. For one thing, transporting shingles up multiple stages of scaffolding is a laborious process. Furthermore, shingling multi-story homes necessitates the use of additional safeguards like harnesses and roof anchors.

Complexity of Roof Layout

Installing a new roof on a cookie-cutter raised ranch home that features two low-sloped planes is child's play for experienced roofers. More elaborate roof layouts such as the ones you'd typically find on Victorian or Craftsman-style homes kick up the difficulty level a notch. Having to flash every valley in a roof before nailing down shingles slows the roofing process and raises costs.

Pitch of Roof Surfaces

The steeper the roof, the longer it'll take for laborers to cover a given area. That's because it takes more people to safely tack down roofing material. Tasks like rolling out ice and water shield become far more complicated when roofs exceed a 4:12 pitch. The extra man-hours required to shingle steep roofs will have a big impact on the final bill.

Ease of Access to the Job Site

In many cases, installing a new roof is as simple as stripping off the old shingles and nailing down new ones. Unfortunately, there may be trouble lurking just beneath the surface that homeowners didn't anticipate. Sagging rafters and rotted decking will require replacement or remediation before new roofing can be installed. Such repairs can add thousands of dollars to the cost of replacing a roof.

Condition of Existing Roofing

It's a lot easier to replace a roof or install a new one in record time if contractors have plenty of room to work. If there's no place to put a dumpster, old roofing material will have to be removed in a piecemeal fashion. What's more, tight spaces make it harder for roofers to quickly and efficiently bring in shingles and underlayment.

Local and State Regulations

Depending on where you live, bureaucratic red tape can make a roof cost far more than you'd expect. Permits and inspections alone will bump up both labor and material costs over the course of a roofing project. In addition, an increasing number of jurisdictions are enacting energy efficiency regulations that necessitate the use of more costly building materials that are harder to source.

Regional Climate Conditions



In many ways, weather will dictate what level of protection you need when it comes to roofing. If your roof is going to be subjected to extremely high winds on a regular basis, roofers will need to use more nails per shingle to prevent damage and leaks. If you live in a particularly humid area, additional ridge venting is highly recommended.

How We Generate Accurate Roof Cost Quotes

When we set out to provide an initial roofing estimate, we start by using satellite views to come up with a ballpark figure for your project. After that, we sit down with homeowners and go over their options as far as materials and design are concerned. We always provide a detailed rundown of our projected labor costs and ancillary expenses like waste disposal.