Roofing costs will vary across the country. So if you recently relocated do not count on the costs from California or Oklahoma being same as they are in Cincinnati. Of course the same can be said for food prices, home prices and the price of the local YMCA. But, when faced with a new roofing job or roof repair, the price can sometimes be a challenge to the pocketbook. Especially since you are paying for something that is not readily visible to you, unless you are standing at the curve.
When a roofer makes a bid on a job there are several factors about the roof they consider:
- Will the current roof need to be removed and if so, how many layers?
- Is there damage to the decking (wood foundation for the shingles) under the shingles?
- Is there water damage around any other structure, such as the chimney, skylights, turbines or other structures?
- The size of the roof being replaced which will dictate the number of 'squares' of shingle. One square is equal to 3 bundles of standard shingles.
- The number of squares will help determine the cost of materials.
- Labor, overhead and subcontractors will be factored into the price of the repair or replacement.
Roofing companies have other costs that must be factored, such as insurance deductibles, permit fees, costs of hauling old material and waste, dump fees and clean-up costs.
Remember that a cheap roofing bid may be just that – a cheap and shoddy job that will require repair or replacement long before the warranty time has ended. Cheap installation or materials may also mean that your roof will easily sustain weather damage within the first couple years of being put in place.
A typical do-it-yourself installation on a gently sloping roof that is between 1700 and 2100 square feet will cost approximately $ 3,000.00, depending upon the quality of the material. The cost of re-roofing the home will also depend upon the shape and size of the roof. However, remember that those are only the costs of materials and do not include the time you spend on the roof, hauling away the old material, cost of cleanup and the aggravation of spending days in the hot sun on a hot roof.
You may save some money each year on your home owner's insurance with an impact resistant new roof. Before choosing your materials with your roofer speak with your insurance agent to factor in potential savings from a slightly higher roofing material. You'll also want to factor in how long you intend to live in the house. Remember, however, that while you may THINK you're moving in 3 -5 years, life may take you in another direction and you could be living there for 10 years.
Remember that quality work does not come cheaply – but shoddy workmanship will cost you more with repairs, mold amelioration, decking replacement and landscape repair work.
