Whether you are building a new home or replacing the roof on your current home, there are many factors to keep in mind in order to choose the right roof for your home.
Cost
You may want to first consider what your budget is for the new roofing. Replacing a roof is one of the costliest upgrades you’ll endure as a homeowner. Fortunately when you are first building a home, you can choose the right roof from the start that will stay durable for many years to come, but if you own a home in which the roof is ready for replacement, you are probably aware of the effect this will have on your wallet.
There are several variables that go in to determining new roofing cost. The factors that will affect the cost include:
• Size of the roof
• The pitch, or size of slope
• The cost of new roofing materials
• Accessibility to the roof by truck
The lowest number you may see in a new roof price would be around $5,000 if using the most common material, the asphalt shingle roof. For higher-end roof types, you could face a price tag as high as $25,000. The average cost is going to be $12,000. Typically roofs are charged per roofing akron square, typically a 10 by 10-foot area.
The pitch is the roof’s slope and a roofer will look at the height to length ratio. When the ratio is greater than a 7:12 steep roof, meaning 7 inches vertically for every 12 inches it runs horizontally, the charge will increase due to the extra safety harnesses required. If the roof isn’t easily accessible by truck and materials must be carried to the truck; that will be an additional cost to you as well.
Materials
Choosing a roofing material is going to be a huge decision for you as well. Not all roofing materials can be used on every roof. Slate and tile are going to be very heavy which means not all homes can support the weight. A flat roof or low slope may require a specific type of surface that would be different for a steeper pitch roof. The most common roof material is asphalt shingle because it’s the least expensive, requires minimal skill to install and can become more aesthetically pleasing when you choose a laminated shingle with the appealing textured appearance.
Wood was popular at one time but it’s not regulated by fire codes in certain areas. When you do find wooden roofs, they are typically made of redwood, cedar or southern pine lasting about 25 years bust costing double the price of asphalt shingles. Higher-end roofs would be made of metal, tile and cement, or slate. Metal roofs consist of aluminum, lead, copper, steel or copper-and-asphalt and these start at $250 per square, sometimes even double and triple that amount. Slate is probably the most durable material but varies in different locations. While it’s the most expensive, it’s often reused on houses even when it’s aged 100 years. Tile and cement are expensive and heavy but highly durable and commonly on Spanish Colonial and Mission style home.
